The protective film under the influence of ultraviolet, sunlight and time strongly sticks to the plastic profile and glass, bursts, cracks, dries up. clean up protective covering no later than 10 days after the installation of a new window. To separate the film from the plastic, use a scraper, a dull knife, or a stiff brush. Heat the dry tape with hot air from a hair dryer or use solvents (white spirit, RP6), denatured alcohol, Schumann, professional plastic cleaners. Remove the remaining glue with a school eraser, nail polish remover, vegetable oil. Use a holistic approach to remove self-adhesive window tint or sunscreen.
Adhesive tape protects new windows during transportation, installation, construction work in the room. Untimely removal leads to its drying out. Knowing how to film plastic windows, you can quickly and effectively restore their attractive appearance and remove dust adhering to the adhesive base without damaging the surface.
Why does the film stick to the window
Protective film for new metal-plastic frame applied using adhesive composition.
Its quality largely determines how easily and quickly it will be removed. Unscrupulous manufacturers use a cheap coating that "sticks" to the window, bursts and peels off. It is difficult to tear off such a film even on time.
Hot summer weather, as well as the south side of the window, exacerbate the situation.
A profile installed in winter is somewhat easier to clean if done on time. In frost, the coating also collapses, bursts, loses elasticity.
Important! Remove the protective film no later than 10 days from the date of installation of the new profile, so that it does not have time to stick and collapse.
How to remove the protective film from the window
To remove undamaged film from plastic frame or window sill, it is enough to pick up its corner with any sharp object (scissors, knife, fingernail), and then carefully separate along the entire length. The coating will easily move away from the profile, will not tear and will not leave sticky marks.
The old, stuck film will have to be removed using improvised means or solvents.
Conventionally, methods for removing dried film can be divided into:
- mechanical (brushes, scrapers, blades);
- chemical (solvents);
- temperature (heating with a hairdryer).
In some cases, a complex approach may be required to remove a very old, damaged coating.
Mechanical methods for removing the protective coating
Using a scraper, a knife, a hard brush is one of the most popular methods for cleaning a profile from a protective film. You need to act very carefully so as not to damage the plastic or glass.
Hard brush
Any brush with stiff, non-metallic bristles or dishwashing sponge with an abrasive layer will do.
Action algorithm:
- Use your hands to remove the coating from the maximum possible surface area.
- Dilute laundry soap in warm water.
- Wet the brush.
- Remove in a circular motion sticky layer.
- Wipe the plastic with a clean cloth.
Scraper
Use a special glass-ceramic scraper or a construction rubberized spatula.
- Remove the coating with your hands as far as possible.
- Wipe the frames with a damp soapy cloth to remove dirt and dust.
- Holding the tool at a comfortable angle, remove the sticky layer.
- Wash the windows with a hard sponge and soap, wipe with a fresh cloth.
Knife, blade
Use a dull knife or blade to avoid damaging the profile and injuring yourself. Wash the frames with soapy warm water, clean gently with a blade.
Important! Metal tools can leave deep scratches on plastic, where dust and dirt can clog. Their use is not recommended.
Scotch
After removing the tape, wash the frame well
The method is effective for removing cracked, dried-out film from PVC windows.
Cut off a small strip of wide stationery tape, stick it to the frame, tear off sharply. Small, dried pieces of the protective coating will stick to the adhesive tape and with it will move away from the plastic.
Chemical preparations for cleaning double-glazed windows from the film
Chemical solvents corrode the adhesive base, quickly and effectively remove the film from the windows.
A protective film on the frame of a plastic window is necessary in order to protect the frame from minor damage and dirt during transportation and installation. According to the instructions, it is required to remove the old film from plastic windows no later than 10 days after installation. During this period, it is very easy to clean the windows from the film, but if you carry out the procedure after 3 or more months, you will have to make a lot of effort.
Why is old film difficult to remove?
The protective film has two layers and is fixed on the frame with a special adhesive. Under the influence of solar radiation and high temperatures, a thin layer inside the film is destroyed and firmly adheres to the plastic surface. It is not difficult to peel off the outer layer of the film, but you will have to tinker with the inner one.
Causes that cause the protective film to stick to the plastic:
- Influence of the ultraviolet spectrum of sunlight. It will not be difficult to peel off a film that is in the shade even after a few months, while a protective coating that is exposed to sunlight will begin to stick more strongly to the plastic after 10 days.
- The quality of the adhesive. Removing a film fixed with low-quality adhesive will be more difficult. Typically, these compounds are used to protect cheap plastic windows.
- Thermal impact. If the windows were installed during the cold season, then the film will begin to dry later than when installed in the summer season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3RjCSQOgEE Video can "t be loaded: How to remove the old one protective film with PVC windows (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3RjCSQOgEE)
Effective Methods for Removing the Protective Film
There are many ways to remove film from plastic windows. The following is a list of the most effective methods, which will help to 100% remove the film from the surface of the frame without damaging the window:
- Building hair dryer.
The use of a building hair dryer is considered the best way to help remove the film. The main thing is that you should direct the device only at the frame and in no case at the double-glazed window, as it may crack. The flow of hot air heats the adhesive composition of the film, which makes it more elastic. After heating, the protective tape should be easy to remove.
The problem with this method is that not everyone has a building dryer in their home workshop. The problem is solved by using a conventional household hair dryer at maximum mode. However, this option will only help if the protective layer is not strongly adhered to the window profile.
- Scraper for cleaning glass ceramics.
Such devices are present in many kitchens and are used to clean glass-ceramic stoves. Even in the absence of one, it can be purchased at the nearest hardware store. It is required to pick up the film with gentle movements and apply it. The process is laborious, but allows you to achieve results, even if the building hair dryer could not help.
- Stationery or construction knife.
This method is not much different from the previous one. To remove the adhesive tape from plastic windows, you will need a knife, so safety precautions must be observed. The film is picked up by the corner of the knife, after which it is removed by hand. The remaining sticky mass can be removed with ordinary detergent and dishwashing sponge.
- Solvent.
You need to use only weak compounds so as not to damage the plastic. Test on an inconspicuous area before removing. It is necessary to moisten a rag with a solvent and wipe the film. The film will corrode from exposure to the solvent. After removal, the frame is washed with a regular detergent.
- School eraser.
With the help of an eraser, you can remove the film that has not been exposed to the sun for too long. The process is laborious, but the result can pleasantly surprise you.
- Hard brush.
It is necessary to moisten the brush in soapy water and proceed with the removal, exerting moderate pressure on the surface of the film. Do not use metal-bristled brushes or metal sponges, as they will damage the plastic, leaving deep cuts.
- White spirit (nefras-C4-155/200).
Using this tool, you can also clean plastic windows from the old film, however, it is necessary to apply the product between the film and the window surface so that the composition has an effect on the adhesive. To do this, you need to pick up the edge of the film and moisten the treatment area with the product. After a couple of minutes, the film can be removed by hand.
- Cosmofen.
You can remove the protective film using a tool that is sold by installation companies. plastic windows. "Cosmofen" is designed specifically for cleaning plastic. Depending on the activity of the active ingredients, this tool is marked with a serial number from 5 to 20 in increments of 5 units. "Cosmofen No. 5" is the strongest solvent capable of dissolving plastic, so it must be used with extreme caution.
A little advice: it is better to remove the protective film immediately after installation, and to protect the surface of the window for the period finishing works masking tape can be used. This solution will avoid damage and contamination of the window surface during the repair process. And at the end of the work, you do not have to tear off the adhering protective film from the plastic window.
The described film removal methods are suitable for all structural elements of a plastic window. Before removing the protective material from the plastic, it is necessary to finish all construction work held next to the window, which will save appearance window elements for a long time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTV-7VJ6Nq8 Video can "t be loaded: How to remove an old film from a plastic window (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTV-7VJ6Nq8)
How to remove film from plastic windows - a problem that occurs when moving to new apartment, and during the repair of already inhabited living space. Often, the owners catch on already at the end of the transformation - in this case, the window has to be cleaned of pieces stuck to the window frame. Having managed to remove them, the owners of the apartment are forced to fight with sticky glue.
Someone resorts to various detergents, one way or another, but in any case it is very difficult to cope with the problem.
It is worth noting, first of all, that the most reliable approach that provides a clean window is to remove the film immediately after installing the plastic structure. Having missed the time, you will have to deal with a thoroughly dried coating, which is quite difficult to remove.
Readers are given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with several ways to remove the film. However, to get a really clean window, you need to be prepared to remove the adhesive.
So, to clean the window from the film and glue, you need to apply one of two main methods to solve this problem. As alternative- For greater efficiency- often resort to a combination of these technologies.
The main ways to clean windows are presented the following options:
- mechanical;
- chemical.
The mechanical option, in turn, implies several of the most effective varieties.
Clear windows from old film you can use a special scraper, which is traditionally used in the processing hobs or their glass-ceramic counterparts.
Remove adhesive residue and dispose of small scratches you can use cleaners such as FENOSOL and COSMOFEN 10. In the absence of these products, it is recommended to contact any acrylic thinner. As practice shows, it is convenient to finally clean the windows from the old sun-protection film using P-12.
The next method, which allows you to remove the protective coating and all its traces, is based on the use of an industrial hair dryer. In the absence of such, a powerful home hair dryer is acceptable. The effectiveness of the technology is based on heating, which greatly facilitates the removal of the film.
Heating the film coating, it must be pry off with a sharp clerical knife. The technique allows you to easily and quickly remove the film. To cope with the remnants of glue, you must use the first method.
Many users successfully achieve their desired goal with the help of a steam generator. Unusual, but, according to reviews, the method of erasing the film with a stationery eraser is quite effective. To combat residual marks, you can choose mineral spirits or one of the mentioned cleaners.
In the pursuit of purity, zeal often turns sideways - new and not always solvable problems. Particular care must be taken when handling the scraper.
The fact is that even the safest scraper can leave on the surface PVC profile quite noticeable scratches. To avoid such an unpleasant side effect, it is best to remove the film that has already departed with your fingers.
Chemical cleaning methods are no less in demand. As a container used to solve the problem, you can use a conventional water sprayer. Denatured alcohol is poured into it.
Then the agent is applied to the surface, and after a few minutes, you can begin to remove the protective coating. To simplify the work, you can pry it with a clerical knife.
When solving the problem of how to remove the film from plastic windows, you should pay attention to detergent"Shumanit" (manufacturer - the company "Buggy", Israel).
The double-glazed window is well cleaned with a paint remover: RP 6. It is abundantly applied to the surface to be treated. After ten minutes, the protective tape begins to swell before our very eyes.
Before proceeding with the direct cleaning, it is imperative to wear gloves and goggles. When washing off the remnants of glue and alkali, use soapy water.
You should not fight with a protective tape, using a solvent. As a result of efforts, the film will remain in its place, and side effect will become a hopelessly damaged profile.
Having dealt with the main part of the task - choosing how you can remove the old sun protection film and applying the method that is most attractive to you - you need to finish the job by cleaning the windows, which will require some time and attention.
It is best to resort to one of the following two proven methods − to wash with:
- paper, spray, rags;
- sponges, ties.
First way
It can be resorted to only if the surface is not very dirty.
"Working tools" in this situation will be:
- paper napkins;
- water tank;
- means with a spray nozzle;
- cotton fabric.
Some warm water is drawn into the container. The rag is wetted and squeezed out well. Dirt is wiped from the window. The spray is distributed over the surface in a zigzag pattern.
Dirt is removed with a dry piece of cloth. To consolidate the results, wipe the surface with a newspaper or paper towel.
Second way
As a rule, this technology is used when access to the window is difficult. A coupler with a handle from 25 to 30 centimeters long will help to cope with the problem. An additional plus of the method: the absence of streaks and stains upon completion of work.
Stock up on:
- water tank;
- dishwashing detergent;
- screed with a sponge on a long handle;
- clean piece of cloth.
Proportions in preparation washing solution: a couple of drops of the product in 2 liters of water. A sponge is dipped into the finished solution, after which it is squeezed out.
Washing is done in a circular motion. The largest accumulations of dirt are characteristic of the edges and corners, which must be taken into account when working.
Next, the container is filled with clean warm water, in which the screed is dipped and carried out over the entire surface. Finally, with a dry rag, horizontal movements from left to right wipe everything. Water that has accumulated in the lower part of the window must be properly removed.
For hard-to-reach segments, it is convenient to use pieces of cloth or paper towels.
Removing old sun protection film is quick and easy
Each of the listed options for solving the problem has been repeatedly tested in practice. On the Internet, you can find confirming reviews for any of the versions.
Today there are several types of film, each of which is designed for reliable protection dwellings from the scorching sun. At correct use such material allows you to reduce the summer temperature in the rooms by five to ten degrees.
Such a protective agent has only one serious drawback - the difficulty of removing it from windows. The composition of each film includes an adhesive substance with which it is fixed on the glass. And in many cases, when removed, it can leave visible marks on the window, which will negatively affect its appearance.
Sun protection film on the window
All existing species films are made from materials that reflect light, and many of them contain aluminum, which can also leave ugly stains on glass. It is quite difficult to remove them without causing any harm to the glass surface. But if we use the series chemical substances designed to clean difficult dirt, you can try to remove traces of the use of a protective film with minimal damage to the glass.
All modern materials, which are designed to protect the premises from excessive high temperature, contain aluminum and other substances that make them difficult to remove from surfaces. In order not to leave ugly streaks and noticeable spots on the glass, the removal of such protective equipment should be approached as carefully and responsibly as possible. There are several of the most common ways to be careful, each of which can lead to success.
Steaming
If you peel the sun protection material from the windows without pre-training, then the likelihood of stains and noticeable traces of adhesive is huge.
The ideal way to prepare the film for removal is to use a modern steamer.
The procedure for cleaning windows from material using a steamer is carried out in several stages:
- A small area is heated with hot steam from a steamer. It is very important that the steam is directed to a specific place on the window.
- About five minutes after steaming, you should pick up a piece of film and gently pull it towards you, separating it from the window.
- The new section of the window is reheated until the material begins to move away from the glass.
The section of the film is heated with a steamer 
After five minutes, it separates from the window
This is the most gentle and easy way to remove solar control film. In this case, the window remains minimal amount traces that can be easily removed with a simple soap solution. This is just one of the simple answers to the question of how to remove the film from the window glass without visible marks.
Detergents and cleaners
From others effective ways we can highlight the use of powerful ones designed for cleaning glass surfaces. They allow you to remove stains and traces of the film from the window without much effort, but when using them, you should follow safety precautions, which consist of the following rules:
- when treating surfaces with chemicals, the prescribed protective equipment must be used. These include gloves, closed clothing and a respirator;
- compliance with the dosage indicated by the manufacturer on the detergent container;
- compliance with the manufacturer's recommendations to avoid contact of the substance with some materials that are sensitive to the components of the cleaning agent.
Use protective equipment 
Learn Dosage
You can clean windows with effective means, How:
- Domax. This substance is intended for gentle care of glass ceramics and does not contain abrasive substances;
- Cosmofen;
- Shumanite;
- Fenosol.
Shumanit is an effective remedy
However, even modern powerful preparations designed for cleaning surfaces cannot always cope with the consequences of the presence of a protective film material on window glass. In this case, stains and other marks will have to be removed with a harder scraper, which is designed for cleaning glass ceramics. The remaining traces are then removed with a modern Fenosol cleaner. After that, the glass is washed first soapy water and then warm clean water.
All the methods described above, which tell how to remove the sun-protection film from glass, are also suitable for cleaning wooden windows and for modern PVC and metal-plastic profiles. Compliance with safety precautions and dosage of cleaning products will allow you to rid your windows of residues protective material without much harm to glasses and without harm to health.
Scraper for cleaning glass ceramics
other methods
There are other ways by which you can try to remove the film from the window. One is to use a utility knife or other sharp object such as scissors. During the procedure, you need to gently pry the edge of the film with a knife to separate it from the glass, and then pull it towards you. It is recommended to roll the already peeled off sections with a tube so that they do not stick to the window again.
You can also remove some types of film with newspapers and soapy water. The procedure is carried out in several stages:
- Ordinary newspapers are placed on the entire glass area.
- Newspapers are sprayed with soapy water until they begin to stick to the surface.
- Leave for an hour, regularly wetting the paper.
- Newspapers and film are removed, which will come off much easier after the procedure.
Newspapers are placed on all glass 
They are sprayed with soapy water 
Leave for an hour constantly wetting 
Easily remove newspapers and film
Precautions for removing film stains from glass
When cleaning windows from traces of solar film, the recommended precautions should be observed. Some of the chemical cleaners can have a negative effect on the skin and respiratory tract of a person, and when using sharp objects, you can get hurt. Therefore, when removing stains from the film, you must adhere to the following rules:
- carry out all work related to chemical cleaning agents only with strong impervious gloves;
- when wiping marks, do not press hard on the glass, as this may violate its integrity;
- when working with sharp objects (knife, scissors, scraper), you should act as carefully as possible so as not to get hurt or damage the window;
- avoid being hit chemicals on unprotected skin, in the eyes or in the respiratory tract;
- keep materials and tools intended for removing traces from glass surfaces out of the reach of children.
Many users, faced with the problem of a window film firmly “soldered” with a PVC profile, are in a hurry to experiment, which does not always end well. Especially in the case of colored windows, there is a risk of destroying them. How to effectively and without disastrous consequences remove the old protective film from plastic windows, the WINDOWS MEDIA portal will tell.
All plastic windows come on the market with frames protected by the manufacturer with self-adhesive film. By law, the protective film should be removed as soon as possible after the installation of the windows is completed - especially when the PVC window is exposed to direct sunlight.
Why is it so difficult to remove the old protective film from PVC windows?
Unfortunately, it happens quite often that due to the negligence of the installers or the user himself, the protective film on the PVC profile can remain even for several years. In this case, when the hands reach the point of putting the new plastic windows in order, the user will be in for an unpleasant surprise - it is almost impossible to remove the protective coating.
It is difficult to remove the old window film from the profile of a plastic window, because it consists of two layers. The outer layer (transparent film) begins to peel off under the influence of ultraviolet rays and is relatively easy to clean. But at the bottom there is a second layer of white plastic with markings - it is he who adheres so strongly to the substrate.
The presence of an old film looks especially bad in the case of a tree-like profile, because usually a protective coating is used white color. Under the influence of UV rays, the film undergoes vulcanization and adheres very firmly to the surface of the PVC window. At the same time, it becomes less durable and breaks easily.
Some try to wash off the protective layer with gasoline, acetone or other solvents - this helps a little, but in parallel, you can remove the wood texture that is applied to the frame lamination (white PVC windows are, of course, insured against this). Experts do not recommend exposing the surface of a colored PVC profile to too much mechanical stress (scraping or sanding), because it is very easy to damage the lamination layer.
Eureka: there is a way to get rid of the old protective film!
Fortunately, there are several ways to get rid of the protective film, we suggest considering one of them. This method is simple, effective and, most importantly, will not destroy the plastic window. However, the procedure will take quite a long time and will require the use of a device with a steam cleaning function.
Such a device can be bought without problems, they are often sold in supermarkets. Please note that the package includes a special hose that allows you to fix the nozzle. Versions of this device often appear on the market, in which steam exits directly from the tank through a nozzle. In this case, you will have to constantly hold the heater in your hands during cleaning, but it will soon become clear that heating the film in the lower part of the frame is impossible in this case (the window sill interferes).
Work begins with filling the purifier with water and connecting it to the mains. After a few minutes, you can start heating a small area of the protective film with a steam jet (hold the nozzle directly over the film or even touch it). Heat up a small piece of 1-2 cm across the entire width. If window film already too old and not flaking, you will have to reheat it (after cooling). At this time, you can heat the protective coating of the window from the other end.
To remove the protective film with steam, shortly after heating a small area, you should try to separate the film from the substrate with your fingernail. This must be done carefully and slowly, across the entire width of the tape. This is the most important point. It is necessary to make sure that a small piece of the film is peeled off across the entire width. Then you can grab the end and slowly (!) tear off the film with parallel heating with steam from above and below (at the points of contact with the substrate).
If the protective film begins to tear and its fragment does not come off, you need to use a fingernail in this place and lead to a situation where it will peel off again over the entire width. After removing a sufficiently long fragment, cut it off with scissors, leaving 2-3 cm so that there is something to catch on to continue further cleaning the PVC profile.
After removing the protective layer on the surface window frame remains white coating, which is quite difficult to wash off. And here there is a proven way - you can use a glass cleaner for this purpose (for example, Mr. Muscle).
When buying new plastic windows, do not ignore the advice of the window company, which is clearly stated in the instruction manual, when it is worth removing the protective film from the PVC profile. This will save you both time and money, and save your nerves. In general, compliance with the manufacturer's recommendations, not only in this paragraph, but also in all others, is the key to the impeccable appearance and durability of your plastic windows.
