How to Remove Film From Car Windows

Many car windows have a layer of film along the inner side, mainly to protect the interior from the sun's rays. If you ever need to change the film due to cracking, peeling or the desire to use a darker tint, you must remove the old film from the window first. This is not an easy task since the film uses a very strong adhesive. You must soften the glue with heat and soapy liquid to peel it off. Once it's removed, you must then deal with the residue from the glue.

Things You'll Need

• Tarp
• Garbage bag
• Window cleaner
• Razor blade
• Steel wool
• Towel
• Ammonia

Instructions

1. Let the car sit outside with the rear facing the sun for at least a couple of hours. This is needed to heat and soften the window film.

2. Cover the car's interior (especially the seats) with protective sheeting like a tarp.

3. Take a plastic garbage bag and cut it along its sides (not the bottom) to make a single sheet of plastic that is now twice as long as the original bag.

4. Spray the door window's inside surface with window cleaner and immediately press the garbage bag against the sprayed area. Peel the bag off the window after 20 minutes, spray more cleaner on the window and reapply the bag. Repeat this for 2 hours.

5. Peel away at the corner of the film very carefully with a razor blade, making sure you don't scratch the window. Peel the film off with your hands once there is enough peeled off to grip. Peel it off in one piece, if possible; this is more difficult with side windows.

6. Spray more window cleaner on the window as you remove the film to keep the glue residue soft. Clean the residue from the window using steel wool or a towel and ammonia.