New plastic windows have a coating that many people do not remove immediately. Over time it dries out, making it difficult to get rid of. How to remove dried film from plastic windows without damaging them?
How to remove film from plastic windows
Why does the protective film need to be removed immediately?
New plastic windows have a film that protects them from dust, dirt and damage in the form of scratches. By design, it is two-layer and is glued to the window using special staff. Influenced sun rays inner layer the coating breaks down and sticks to the plastic. Every day the film will become more and more difficult to remove.
How to remove protective film from plastic windows
For this purpose, several methods are used: mechanical (using tools) and chemical (household mixtures).
The first includes:
Scraper for cleaning glass ceramic surfaces. It can be used to remove the protective coating. And then remove traces of paste with window cleaner. You need to work with the scraper carefully, as it leaves scratches.
Industrial dryer. It can be replaced with a regular one. First point the device at the film (the hot air stream will peel it off) and then stationery knife scrape off the remains.
No less effective way– use of a steam generator. The principle of operation is almost the same as that of a hair dryer.
An ordinary eraser will also help to cope with the problem.
Mechanical methods remove the protective coating, and adhesive residues are easily removed with either a cleaner or an acrylic solvent.
Chemical methods:
Denatured alcohol. Pour a few spoonfuls into a flower sprayer and spray the coating. After a few minutes, peel off the film with a knife.
Paint remover. Apply the composition to the surface and wait 10 minutes. Over time, the coating will begin to swell and can be easily removed from the window.
Using chemical compositions You should wear gloves to avoid damaging your skin. It is also recommended to wear glasses for safety reasons.
How to remove film from plastic windows - a problem that arises when moving to new apartment, and during the renovation of an already inhabited living space. Often the owners come to their senses after the transformation is completed - in this case, the window has to be cleaned of pieces stuck to the window frame. Having managed to remove them, the apartment owners are forced to struggle with sticky glue.
Some people resort 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 to ensuring a clean window is to remove the film immediately after installation plastic construction. If you lose 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 methods for removing film. However, to get a truly clean window, you need to be prepared to remove the adhesive.
So, to clean the window from film and glue, you need to use one of two main ways to solve this problem. As alternative option– for greater efficiency, they often resort to a combination of these technologies.
The main methods allowing are presented the following options:
- mechanical;
- chemical
The mechanical option, in turn, implies several of the most effective varieties.
Clean windows from old film can be done using a special scraper, which is traditionally used when processing hobs or their glass-ceramic analogues.
You can remove glue residues and get rid of minor scratches by using cleaners such as FENOSOL and COSMOFEN 10. If these products are not available, it is recommended to use some acrylic solvent. As practice shows, it is convenient to finally clean windows from old solar control 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 industrial. In the absence of one, a powerful one is acceptable home hair dryer. The effectiveness of the technology is based on heating, which greatly facilitates film removal.
After heating the film coating, you need to pry it off with a sharp stationery knife. The technique allows you to easily and quickly remove the film. To deal with glue residue, you need to use the first method.
Many users successfully achieve their desired goal using a steam generator. Unusual, but according to reviews, the method of erasing film is quite effective office eraser. To combat residual marks, you can choose white spirit or one of the mentioned cleaners.
In the pursuit of purity, diligence often turns sideways - new and not always solvable problems. Particular care must be taken when manipulating the scraper.
The fact is that even the safest scraper can leave PVC profile Quite noticeable scratches. To avoid such an unpleasant side effect, it is best to remove the peeled film with your fingers.
Chemical cleaning methods are no less in demand. As a container used to solve the problem, you can use a regular water spray. Denatured alcohol is poured into it.
Then the product is applied to the surface, and after a few minutes you can begin removing protective coating. To simplify the work, you can pry it off with a stationery knife.
When solving the problem of how to remove film from plastic windows, you should pay attention to the “Shumanit” detergent (manufactured by the Buggy company, Israel).
The glass unit can be easily cleaned with a paint remover: RP 6. It is applied liberally to the surface to be treated. After ten minutes, the protective tape begins to swell literally before our eyes.
Before you begin the actual cleansing, be sure to wear gloves and goggles. When washing off glue and alkali residues, use soapy water.
Do not fight with the protective tape by using solvent. As a result of the efforts, the film will remain in its place, and side effect the profile will become hopelessly damaged.
Having completed the main part of the task - choosing how to remove the old solar control film and using the most attractive method for yourself - you need to finish the job by washing the windows, for which you will need certain time and attention.
It is best to resort to one of the following two proven methods - to wash with:
- paper, spray, rags;
- sponges, screeds.
First way
You can resort to it only if the surface is not very dirty.
The “working tools” in this situation will be:
- paper napkins;
- water container;
- product with a spray nozzle;
- cotton fabric.
A little gets into the container warm water. The rag is wetted and wrung out well. Dirt is wiped off the window. The spray is distributed over the surface in a zigzag pattern.
Use a dry piece of cloth to remove dirt. To consolidate the results, wipe the surface with newspaper or paper napkin.
Second way
As a rule, this technology is used when access to the window is difficult. A tie with a handle 25 to 30 centimeters long will help solve the problem. An additional advantage of the method: the absence of streaks and stains upon completion of the work.
You should stock up on:
- water container;
- dishwashing detergent;
- a screed with a sponge on a long handle;
- with a clean piece of cloth.
Proportions for preparing the cleaning solution: a couple of drops of the product per 2 liters of water. IN ready solution The sponge is dipped and then 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, into which the screed is dipped and passed over the entire surface. Finally, use a dry cloth to wipe everything with horizontal movements from left to right. Water accumulated at the bottom 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 tested many times in practice. On the Internet you can find confirming reviews for any of the versions.
Protective film on the frames of metal-plastic windows is necessary to protect against dust, dirt and scratches that form during transportation and installation. Manufacturers indicate that after installing the structure, it should be removed immediately, without delaying it, especially in the summer. Why you need to rush and how to remove the film - we’ll talk in this article.
So, remember that it is necessary to remove the protective film from the frame in a timely manner, namely, immediately after installing the windows or in the next 10 days. If the film remains on the frames for one or two months, then you can easily deal with it. But if this period increases to 3 or more months, you will have to sweat and put in a lot of effort to get rid of it, since it sticks tightly. It is worth removing not only the film from the PVC profile, but also the one that is located on the ebb and window sill.Factors that enhance film adhesion:
- Action of ultraviolet light. This takes into account which side of the house the windows are located on. Film with shadow side It can be easily removed even after a few months. In the sun, it’s hard to tear it off after just a couple of days.
- Quality of adhesive composition. Film glued bad glue, more difficult to remove. This happens very often when installing inexpensive metal-plastic windows.
- Heat. When installing windows in summer, the film dries very quickly, eating into the frame, winter period this process occurs later.
- Fill the spray bottle with denatured alcohol. Take an ordinary container for indoor plants. Spray the mixture onto the frame metal-plastic window, wait a while - as a rule, a few minutes are enough, prying up the edge, carefully pull off the film.
- According to numerous reviews, the product “Shumanit”, produced by the Israeli manufacturer Buggy, has a miraculous effect. However, it is very strong, and you should act with extreme caution.
- White spirit will also help you with this difficult task. However, remember that it is not applied on top of the film, but in the space formed between it and the plastic. To do this, you need to pry off the protective film with a cutting object and pour the substance into it. After some time, the film can be easily peeled off.
All these methods will allow you to remove not only the film from the profile, but also the stickers located on the double-glazed windows, since usually the same glue is used in these cases. But it is better to remove the film in time. And if there are still repairs to be made, and you are afraid of staining the frame, cover it with masking tape.
The hot summer days are gone... Shining mirror shine Has the window of your room begun to bring trouble instead of life-giving coolness? Has your favorite ficus dropped its leaves? Did your favorite canary start to wake up and chirp just before lunch? And all because there was not enough light in the house! A miracle of technology - the thinnest sun protection film, which saved you from the oppressive heat in the summer, began to show its negative properties with the arrival of autumn.
Light transmission through a plastic window decreased by 20-30%. It's time to think about how to remove the film from plastic windows without damaging the PVC profile and without scratching the glass...
Methods for removing light protective film
The negative qualities of sunscreen films begin to manifest themselves in the autumn-winter period. And they are connected with the fact that the light transmittance of these films is 90% - 5%. Manufacturers recommend removing the film from the plastic window for the winter. And they do this not to increase sales volumes, but to prevent complaints from consumers who, when buying and gluing reflective film, did not carefully read the instructions.
The vast majority of sun protection (mirror) films are currently glued to a plastic window using the “wet” method - using a soap solution. But the composition of the glue, in most cases, remains a trade secret of the manufacturer.
We can only state that any reputable manufacturer strives to ensure that the glue is of high quality and resistant to UV rays, precipitation, temperature changes and mechanical stress.
It is these properties of the glue that create insurmountable obstacles for some home craftsmen who have successfully coped with the problem of high-quality gluing of film when the time comes to get rid of it.
Of all the methods invented, with the exception of contacting the manufacturer with the question: what solvent should you use for the sun you produced? protective film what to remove it?
And this information is usually placed on the packaging of films from reputable and trusted companies from the Netherlands, Germany or France.
90%+ of products from companies in the region South-East Asia, either do not indicate the brand of solvent at all, or place this information encrypted, in hieroglyphs that defy the Russian mind, in the list of technical characteristics.
Craftsmen have come up with 3 main ways to remove film:
- soaking;
- warming up;
- use of solvents.
Soaking reflective films
If the film is glued to the glass of a plastic window using an aqueous solution with the addition of surfactants (surfactants), then it is logical to assume that the glue used by the manufacturer is water-soluble.
The simplest would be old method soaking.
For this you will need:
- cotton or semi-synthetic fabric that fits perfectly in size window glass;
- spray;
- foam paint roller;
- basin for solution with surfactant;
- construction scraper with replaceable blades;
- plastic or rubber spatula.
Step 1
Over the summer, the film has time to dry out, and the structure of the polymer becomes fragile. It needs to be thoroughly soaked in water to remove it. Cut a piece of canvas 10-20 mm larger in length/width than the dimensions of the plastic window glass, so that it bends slightly onto the PVC profile window frames. Soak it in a solution with a surfactant. To do this, you can use any detergent, but the best one is dishwashing detergent - “Fairy”, “Sorti”, “Dosya”, “Kaplya”, etc. or window cleaner.
Step 2
Moisten the surface of the film with a solution containing a surfactant from a spray bottle and stick a wet cloth on it. Spray the fabric periodically to keep it moist. Take your time! The longer the film soaks on the plastic window, the easier it will be to remove it from the glass. Minimum exposure – 1 hour.
Step 3
Using a fingernail or a sharp object (toothpick, plastic spatula), pick up the film at the upper corner of the window and try to separate it from the glass by 10-20 mm. After this, moisten the separated area with a spray bottle so that the solution gets between the adhesive surface of the film and the glass. Leave for 5-10 minutes.
Step 4
It is better to do it with an assistant. Grab the peeled corner with your fingers and very slowly and smoothly, without any sudden effort, pull it towards you. If the film begins to peel off, you can clean the glass without any problems. You will be successful!
Holding the corner of the film with your fingers and your other hand, use a hard rubber (plastic) spatula to peel off a narrow strip along the entire upper edge of the window and moisten it again with a spray bottle.
Step 5
All further work will consist in the fact that you will smoothly and evenly pull the film towards you, trying to prevent it from tearing, and an assistant will moisten the surface of the glass at this time so that the soap solution gets between the film and the glass.
The main thing is not to rush. Intervals after moisturizing should be 5-10 minutes.
Step 6
If there are pieces of film that have not come off on the window, moisten them generously and remove them using a construction (office) scraper with replaceable blades. After the film is completely removed, the window is washed with a solution of window cleaner. You can add a few drops of ammonia solution to it ( ammonia) to add shine to the glass.
Removal with a hair dryer
All polymer coatings sensitive to temperature increases. When heated, they become more flexible and much easier to bend or separate from each other. Reflective films are made from heat-resistant polymers. So that during active heating in the Sun they do not peel off spontaneously. Therefore, their heating temperature should be quite high - 50-100°C.
Ordinary household hair dryer It is not suitable for drying hair (the overheating protection relay will work).
To clean the window you need to use a hair dryer. The film separation technology does not differ significantly from that when using a soap solution.
Step 1
Heat the entire surface of the window with the film glued evenly, holding the hairdryer at a distance of 100-150 mm from the surface. Do not hold the hair dryer in one area. Glass may burst due to overheating.
Step 2
Point the hairdryer at the corner of the film at the top edge of the window for 2-5 seconds.
Pick up the softened film with a spatula and separate it from the glass.
Step 3
Need help from an assistant. Evenly, holding the hairdryer 50-100 mm from the glass, move it along the film in a horizontal plane. An assistant must keep the film taut while separating (pasting) it from the glass.
The main thing is not to overheat the film and glass; the film may begin to deform and stretch out in threads, and the glass may burst due to the high temperature.
Step 4
After removing the film, wash the glass.
Removal using solvents
All polymer films, including reflective ones, are sensitive to nitro solvents. Therefore, to remove them, you should never use liquids containing acetone or similar chemicals. Otherwise you risk dissolving polymer base, turning it into a viscous mass, leaving glue on the glass.
As a solvent for glue, it is necessary to use either the solvent recommended by the manufacturer, or select it experimentally by conducting a series of tests.
For testing, use pieces of film left over after repairs, or peel off a corner of the film on the window glass using one of the methods described above.
Important to remember! Working with solvents requires the mandatory use of respiratory protection - a protective respirator with cartridges for working with chemicals, or a gas mask.
Remove all plants and pets from the room (especially cold-blooded ones - fish, amphibians, reptiles)! Work without children!
Windows must be open when working!
The most suitable solvents for film removal are those based on petroleum distillation products - gasoline, naphtha, solvents:
- nefras C2;
- Z-646;
- toluene;
- ethylgasoline;
- orthoxynol;
- solvent, etc.
Or alcohol-based - isopropyl alcohol, formic alcohol, formaldehyde, etc.
All these solvents are toxic!
After peeling off a corner of the film, use a pipette to apply a few drops of solvent between the film and the glass. If the solvent is effective, a rainbow-colored spot should form between the film and the glass, and the film should separate from the glass without any effort.
Apply the solvent between the film and the glass using a pipette. The exposure between the application of the solvent and the film separation time is 1-3 minutes.
The process can be controlled visually by the formation of a rainbow layer between the film and glass.
Before starting work on the interior PVC surface profile, determine the resistance of the PVC window profile to the selected solvent. To do this, soak a piece of cotton wool in a solvent and apply it to the PVC profile. If after this there are cotton wool fibers left on the window profile, you cannot use such a solvent!
Apply solvent especially carefully along the edges of the film. He shouldn't get on rubber seals windows, otherwise they will melt! Immediately wipe off any solvent that gets on the rubber with a dry cloth.
You can only work in rubber gloves Gasoline resistant!
Instead of a conclusion
These are not tricky, time-tested, but very unreliable ways to remove reflective film from the glass of a plastic window. All of them require time and painstaking, leisurely work.
Newly installed plastic windows are always covered with a protective film. It is advisable to remove it as soon as possible, otherwise the coating will stick firmly to the glass unit and it will be very difficult to remove it. There are several ways to remove film.
Why does the film stick to the window?
New PVC windows are covered with a protective film that needs to be removed
Double-glazed windows can be scratched during transportation and installation, so manufacturers cover them with a protective film. Upper layer It is dense and easy to wash. But inside there is a delicate material that quickly breaks down and sticks tightly to the structure. This “addition” spoils the appearance of the room; it must be removed no later than 10 days after installing the windows.
The adhesive layer hardens over time. Temperature can affect the speed of this process. The windows are located above the heating radiators; warm air flows rise upward and heat the glass unit. The film begins to dry quickly, and it becomes difficult to tear it off. If the sun's rays shine on a window, the heating from the radiation is exacerbated by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Good materials, even in heat and direct sunlight, will not harden within 10 days, but film manufacturers are trying to save money. They may use cheap, low-quality glue that sets very quickly.
The speed at which the film adheres tightly to the glass depends on the quality of the material and the conditions in which the structure is operated. Take your choice of a company that installs plastic windows seriously. Remove the coating immediately if glass units are exposed to heat or sunlight.
Mechanical methods for removing protective coating
A hair dryer will help remove the film from the window
Do not try to scrape off the film with a knife or scraper, no matter how firmly it adheres. If you use tools ineptly, you can scratch PVC frames and glass, expensive windows will look sloppy. Do not use a wire brush; its teeth will likely leave marks.
You don’t need to scrape it with a knife, but just pry up the edge of the film, and then tear it off with your hands. If you do not take too long to remove the coating, it will easily come off the glass. All that's left to do is wash it window unit to remove any remaining adhesive. Instead of a knife, it is better to use a special scraper for glass-ceramic tiles; it scratches the surface of the plastic less.
Heat the tightly adhered film construction hairdryer. Using a steam generator or hair dryer will not always give the desired result: the air flow temperature is household appliances too small. Direct the air stream not at the glass, which can burst due to temperature changes, but at the frame. Pick up the loose edge of the film with a knife and use your hands to separate it from the glass unit.
Mechanical methods only help initial stage– within a few days after installing the windows, or even better – immediately after the installers leave. If they do not work, you have to move on to other measures.
Chemicals for cleaning glass from film
When working with aggressive substances, protective equipment is useful.
You can clean windows from dried film using chemicals. All of them are harmful to the skin of the hands and dangerous to the eyes. Wear gloves and safety glasses. It is advisable to wear a respirator.
You can reduce the adhesion of the protective coating to the glass or frame using the following means:
- White Spirit. Separate the edge of the film and pour a little solvent into the resulting gap. The softened part of the coating should come off well. Repeat the procedure until the entire area has been cleaned.
- Denatured alcohol. Apply it to the entire surface with a spray bottle. After a few minutes the film will become softer, pick it up by the edge and remove it. You can wash off the remaining glue with soapy water or acrylic solvent.
- "Cosmofen". Special solvent, which, depending on its aggressiveness, is numbered 5, 10 or 20. The strongest is No. 5, it can dissolve plastic bindings. Take No. 10 or 20 and follow the instructions.
- Paint remover SP 6. Apply it to plastic windows in a thick layer.
- "Shumanite." A detergent that must also be used according to the instructions. After 10 minutes the coating will begin to bubble, remove it.
Be careful that the aggressive drug does not damage the glass and frames. Try it on an inconspicuous area first: some drugs can damage the plastic.
Folk remedies for removing coatings from windows
If you heat the film with a hairdryer, it will be easier to remove it
Instead of aggressive chemicals, you can use safer traditional methods. Try using:
- hairdryer complete with wooden sticks;
- brush;
- eraser.
A combined method can be used. First, heat the film with a hairdryer, then clean it from the window using a sharp object. To remove adhesive residue, use detergents or acrylic solvent.
Wooden toothpicks or nail sticks and wooden kitchen spatulas work well, but they will need to be sharpened periodically. Wipe off sticky adhesive tape with a hair or synthetic brush. detergent, this method can give good results.
Sometimes it is necessary to wipe off the old coating from the windows, not the construction film, to protect the apartment from sunlight. It is made from lavsan, which is not affected by solvents. Clean the glass with a sponge and a strong detergent, such as Schumanite. If it doesn’t help, there is only one way out - slowly peel off the film with a knife.
Application traditional methods does not provide a 100% guarantee. It all depends on the materials and the strength of the connection between the film and the coating. For example, an eraser on some windows quickly wipes the entire surface, on others it cleans a palm-sized piece in half an hour.
Alternate different methods. If none of them help, you will have to use chemicals.