How to clean plastic windows from film. How to remove film from plastic windows if it cannot be removed. Using a hair dryer or steam generator

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. Under the influence of the sun's 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. You can use it to remove protective covering. 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 (a hot air stream will peel it off) and then use a utility knife to scrape off the remaining residue.

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.

When using chemical compounds, you should wear gloves to avoid damaging your skin. It is also recommended to wear glasses for safety reasons.

Often the owners plastic structures Do not remove the protective film immediately after installation. But, as you know, if you wait a while with this, then over time the protective coating “dries out” and it becomes very difficult to remove it. Next, we will look at several ways to remove film from plastic windows.

It must be said that removing the film itself is only part of the issue, since an adhesive substance still remains on the surface of the glass unit, which is also very difficult to remove.

Methods for cleaning double-glazed windows from film and glue

There are two main ways to remove old film from plastic windows:

• Mechanical
• Chemical.

Sometimes, both methods are combined for greater efficiency.

Mechanical window cleaning options

From cleaning options mechanically There are several most effective ones:

1. Remains of the protective coating are removed with a special scraper designed for cleaning cooking or glass ceramic panels. Minor scratches and glue residues can then be removed with FENOSOL or COSMOFEN 10 cleaner. If these cleaners are not available, you can use acrylic solvent, for example - R-12.
2. The second method requires an industrial hair dryer or at least a powerful home hair dryer, since it is much easier to remove film from plastic windows after it has been heated. This method is very simple - you need to heat the film and pry off its edge with a sharp stationery knife or scalpel. In this case, the coating should come off easily; any remaining adhesive can be removed using the method described above.
3. Similar to the previous method, you can use a steam generator, this method is even more effective.
4. There is another interesting tip on how to peel off film from plastic windows, which will help solve the problem - the film can be erased with a regular office eraser. Glue residues can be removed with white spirit or the above mentioned cleaners.

Advice!
You should work with the scraper as carefully as possible and, if possible, remove the film with your fingers, since even a safe scraper leaves scratches on the PVC profile.

Chemical options

And so, we looked at how to remove film from plastic windows mechanically.

However, some chemical cleaning methods have proven to be no less effective:

• Denatured alcohol should be poured into a water sprayer, for example, for spraying with water indoor plants. Then denatured alcohol must be applied to the surface and wait a few minutes. Before removing the protective film from plastic windows, you may have to pry it off with a utility knife. (See also article.)
• The “Shumanit” detergent, produced by the Israeli company Buggy, copes well with the task. However, it should be borne in mind that this is a very strong remedy, so it should be used carefully. The price for this remedy is quite affordable.
• It is easy to clean glass units using paint remover RP 6. This chemical composition You need to apply it thickly to the surface and wait 10 minutes, after which the protective tape will begin to swell literally before your eyes. Before cleaning plastic windows from film, you should wear glasses and gloves; alkali and glue residues can be washed off with soapy water.

Note!
Many owners PVC double glazing They make a grave mistake - they try to remove the protective tape using a solvent.
The fact is that the film will still remain on the bags, but the profile will be hopelessly damaged.

How to wash plastic windows

Moreover, there are also several washing methods, here are the most effective:

• Using spray, rag and paper;
• Using a screed and sponge.

Now let's look at each of these methods.

Spray washing rags and paper

This method can be used if the surface is not too dirty.

For it we will need:

• Clean cotton fabric;
• Window cleaner with spray nozzle;
• Water container;
• Paper napkins.

The instructions for washing windows using this method are quite simple:

• First of all, you need to fill the container a small amount of warm water and wet the cloth. The fabric should be wrung out so that it is damp but not wet.
• Then use a rag to wipe off the dirt from the window.
• After this, you need to distribute the spray over the surface in a zigzag motion.
• Next, the surface should be washed with a dry piece of cloth.
• The obtained result must be secured by wiping the surface with newspapers or paper napkins.

Cleaning windows with a screed and sponge

This method is especially good if you cannot get to the windows with your hands or need to reach them. In this case, you can use a coupler with a handle 25-30 cm long. With this cleaning, there will be no streaks or stains on the glass.

Today there are several types of film, each of which is intended for reliable protection homes from the scorching rays of the sun. At correct use This material allows you to reduce the summer temperature in the rooms by five to ten degrees.

There is only one such protective agent serious drawback– this is the difficulty of removing it from windows. Each film contains an adhesive substance with which it is fixed to 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 unsightly spots on glass. It is quite difficult to remove them without causing any harm to the glass surface. But if you use a number of chemicals designed to clean complex stains, you can try to remove traces of the use of protective film with minimal damage to the glass.

All modern materials, which are designed to protect rooms from excessively high temperatures, contain aluminum and other substances that make them so difficult to remove from surfaces. In order not to leave unsightly streaks and noticeable stains on the glass, remove such protective equipment should be approached as carefully and responsibly as possible. There are several most common ways to be careful, each of which can lead to success.

Steaming

If you peel the sun protection material from windows without preliminary preparation, then the likelihood of stains and noticeable traces from the adhesive is enormous.

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:

1. A small area is heated using hot steam from a steamer. It is very important that the steam is directed to a specific place on the window.
2. About five minutes after steam treatment, you should pick up a piece of film and gently pull it towards you, separating it from the window.
3. The new section of the window is heated again until the material begins to move away from the glass.

The film area is heated using a steamer
After five minutes it separates from the window

This is the most gentle and simple way to remove sun protection film. In this case, a minimal amount of marks remain on the window, which can be easily removed with a simple soap solution. This is just one of the simple answers to the question of how to remove film from window glass without visible marks.

Detergents and cleaning products

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 film from the window without special effort, but when using them, safety precautions must be observed, which consists of the following rules:

• When treating surfaces with chemicals, it is necessary to use the provided protective equipment. These include gloves, closed clothing and a respirator;
• compliance with the dosage specified by the manufacturer on the detergent container;
• compliance with the manufacturer's recommendations to avoid contact of the substance with certain materials that are sensitive to the components of the cleaning product.

Use protective equipment
Study the dosage

You can clean windows using these effective means, How:

• Domax. This substance is intended for gentle care of glass ceramics and does not contain abrasive substances;
• Cosmofen;
• Schumann;
• Fenosol.

Schumanite is an effective remedy

However, even modern powerful preparations designed for cleaning surfaces cannot always cope with the consequences of the protective film material remaining on the window glass. In this case, stains and other marks will have to be removed using a more rigid scraper, which is designed for cleaning glass ceramics. The remaining traces are then removed using a modern Fenosol cleaner. After this, the glass is washed first with a soap solution and then with warm, clean water.

All the methods described above, which tell you how to remove sun protection film from glass, are also suitable for cleaning wooden windows and for modern PVC profiles and metal-plastic. Compliance with safety precautions and the dosage of cleaning products will allow you to rid your windows of remnants of protective material without much harm to the glass and without compromising your health.

Scraper for cleaning glass ceramics

other methods

There are other ways you can try to remove film from your window. One of them is to use stationery knife or other sharp object, such as scissors. During the procedure, you need to carefully 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 up the already peeled off areas into a tube so that they do not stick to the window again.

You can also remove some types of film using newspapers and soapy water. The procedure is carried out in several stages:

1. Regular newspapers are placed over the entire glass area.
2. The newspapers are sprayed with soapy water until they begin to stick to the surface.
3. Leave for an hour, regularly wetting the paper.
4. Remove newspapers and film, which will come off much easier after the procedure.

Newspapers are placed on the entire glass
They are sprayed with soapy water
Leave for an hour, constantly moistening
Easily remove newspapers and film

Precautions when removing film stains from glass

When carrying out work to clean windows from traces of solar control film, you should follow the recommended precautions. Some of the chemical cleaners can be harmful to the skin and respiratory tract, and sharp objects can cause injury. Therefore, when removing film stains, you must adhere to the following rules:

• carry out all work related to chemical cleaning substances only with strong, impermeable gloves;
• when wiping off marks, do not press hard on the glass, as this may damage 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 getting hit chemicals on unprotected skin, eyes or respiratory tract;
• Keep materials and tools intended for removing marks from glass surfaces out of the reach of children.

Enterprises producing metal-plastic windows, supply their products with protective film. Its role is to protect frames from dust, dirt and scratches during storage, transportation and installation of window units. After this, it becomes completely useless and needs to be removed. Let's figure out how to do this.

When to remove protective film from plastic windows

Ideally, the protective coating is removed immediately after the windows are installed or within a couple of days thereafter. However, if indoors are still ongoing renovation work and the risk of damaging or staining the frames is high, this period can be increased. But not indefinitely: after 1-2 months, especially in hot weather conditions, it will be difficult to remove the film. If it is really necessary to protect the frames, instead of a factory coating, they can be pasted over masking tape– there will be much fewer problems with its removal.

Why does the film stick and come off poorly?

The strength of the connection between the film and the frame is influenced by several factors:

• Adhesive coating. The worse quality and cheaper the glue used, the faster it will stick tightly to the frame.
• Room temperature. Under the influence of heat, both the glue itself and the film begin to slowly melt and literally eat into the plastic of the frames.
• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation. As with the heat, Sun rays change the structure of the glue and film, as a result they stick to the window very quickly.

How to remove film from plastic windows: all possible methods

Even old film sometimes it can be removed relatively easily; it is only difficult to pick up its edge. In such a situation on help will come any thin and sharp object: knife, nail scissors, a needle or something similar. But you need to work with them carefully so as not to injure yourself or scratch the plastic of the frame. If this doesn't work, it's time to move on to more radical options.

Whichever method is chosen from those described below, it is very important during the process of removing the film not to damage the hydro- and vapor barrier coatings located at the junction of the frames with the walls and roof.

Hairdryer

The hairdryer is brought as close as possible and a stream of hot air is directed onto the frames. Under the influence of heat, the dried glue and film soften, and following fresh traces, the protective coating becomes really easy to pry and remove. Practice shows that it is more effective to blow not under the film, but at an angle from above as the film is torn off.

The higher the temperature the device provides, the more effective the method becomes. The best option– do not use a weak enough technique for drying hair, but a powerful one construction hair dryer. An alternative to a hairdryer can be a heater, if its mechanism of action is also based on blowing hot air, or a clothes steamer.

Solvents

Chemicals for diluting or dissolving paints, varnishes and other construction liquids will most likely help remove the film from a plastic window. Acetone (and even acetone-containing nail polish remover), mineral spirits and other kerosene-based liquids, automotive tar removal chemicals, special sticker removers, and much more can work. The effectiveness of such remedies in each specific case may vary, so it is better to test them experimentally.

Procedure:

• Pry up the tip of the film at least a little. If this does not work, then at least cut or otherwise disrupt the integrity of the film, otherwise the solvent will be ineffective or useless at all.
• Apply the product - carefully pour, spread with a brush or cloth.
• Wait 2-3 minutes.
• Pull the edge of the film and try to remove it from the treated area.
• If there is no result, add solvent and let stand for some more time.
• Upon completion of work, wipe the frames damp cloth, you can add detergent.

It is important to follow safety precautions - if the instructions for the product recommend working with gloves and ventilating the room well, this should not be neglected. Otherwise, you can cause intoxication of the body and a chemical burn to the skin.

Scotch

This method is most effective if you need to remove individual small pieces of protective film from plastic windows. It is necessary to cut a piece of wide tape at least 4-5 cm long (a smaller size will be awkward to hold in your hands). It is glued to areas of the frame with film, carefully smoothed, and then pulled very sharply. Ideally, the entire protective coating should remain on the strip of tape.

You should only use stationery tape (transparent or colored - it doesn’t matter). Masking and double-sided tape on fabric and paper based coated with a less sticky adhesive.

Cold

The effectiveness of this method is based on the properties of many polymer materials become hard and brittle when exposed to low temperatures. In the case of a protective film, the glue will simply harden and stop adhering it so tightly to the frame.

If in winter period In your region, frosts reach at least -10°C, you just need to wait for the cold weather and let the frames cool thoroughly by opening the windows in the room for a couple of hours. If not, you can try to cool the problem areas artificially by applying frozen bottled water to them and immediately trying to peel off the film using fresh traces. But the effectiveness of this option is significantly lower.

Scraper

If the film is stuck so tightly that even intense rubbing with a brush does not help, you can only use a sharp object. The knife is not suitable for this purpose - it will take a very long time to pick out the film with the tip, and holding the narrow blade flat is inconvenient. You can use a construction spatula, but still would be better suited scraper for glass ceramic coating electric stoves. It is even more difficult for them to scratch the plastic of the frames.

Hard brush

In this case, you will need a stiff, but preferably non-metallic brush. The surface of the film is actively rubbed with it until it is removed. An alternative to a brush is a metal dish sponge. Made from thin strips of metal, it, like a knife or scraper, cuts off the film, but unlike them it does it more delicately, i.e. with less risk of scratching the plastic of the frame.

Vegetable oils

If you somehow managed to remove the film from the plastic window, but there was a sticky layer left on the frames adhesive composition- they will help here vegetable oils. They generously lubricate the contaminated areas, leave for a few minutes so that they are saturated with liquid, and then remove with a cloth, sponge or brush. You can use absolutely any vegetable oils or drying oil.

The oil itself must also be removed from the frames, otherwise over time it will harden and form dark and sticky stains, to which dust will quickly stick. You can remove residual oil with soap, dishwashing detergent, acetone or alcohol.

Butter alternatives:

• hard sponge with soapy water;
• weak solvent;
• regular office eraser. It is advisable to choose an elastic grater that matches the color of the frames (so that it does not stain them). From rubbing with an eraser, the remaining glue and film will roll into large lumps, which will fall off on their own or can be easily removed with your fingers or a damp cloth.

Video on how to clean a plastic window from old film

See also video instructions for removing protective film from plastic materials that was not removed in time. window frames:

Contacting a cleaning company

If you were unable to clean the film from plastic windows yourself, you should turn to those for whom such tasks are the main activity. Cleaning company employees have the most different instruments and substances for removing contaminants, and, last but not least, experience.

How to remove film from a plastic window sill

For the window sill, all the same methods are applicable as described above for window frames: heating with a hairdryer, solvents, sharp scrapers, a stiff brush, etc. But if the window sill is not perfectly smooth, but has a rough texture, then in addition to them you can try abrasive substances - powdered detergents or regular baking soda. For smooth surface It is better not to use them, the risk of leaving scratches on it is too great. Additionally, read about protection from contamination, because this is not uncommon during repairs.

The protective film on the frames of plastic windows is designed only for short-term protection from dirt and scratches. After installation, you should get rid of this coating as quickly as possible, otherwise it will be quite difficult to remove it later.

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Owners of plastic windows often do not know how to wash plastic window film. Indeed, this is not a simple matter. The film comes off poorly, traces of glue remain on the frame, and many owners are afraid to use more “radical” measures (solvents, scrapers). It is important to get rid of traces of film and maintain the aesthetic appearance of the frame.

There are several simple secrets How to safely and effectively remove the protective coating on plastic windows.

The price of tools and materials for film removal is low. However, it is better to peel off the protective tape from the window frames immediately after installing the double-glazed windows rather than spending a lot of time on it later.

The fact is that the protective shell consists of two layers. The bottom layer with glue is thinner. When exposed to sunlight and heat, the layer dissolves and is absorbed into the plastic. This is why simply peeling off the film from top to bottom is not successful. It will remain in your hands upper layer, and the glue will still stick to the frame.

Quickly remove protective film After a long time after installing the windows, it will not work. Most likely, the entire process will take several hours. The shell can be removed using physical or chemical exposure. In most cases, both the first and second methods should be used.

Mechanical

Many new residents are interested in how to clean plastic windows from film. Often, after installing windows, builders break the rules and do not remove the protective tape immediately. The house may stand for several years before it is fully completed. During this time, the tape will “tightly” stick to the frames. In this case, it is better to resort to a mechanical method.

Using various tools, you can pick up the film and remove it from the surface. In this case, most likely, an adhesive layer will remain on the frame. It can also be removed using tools without resorting to chemical methods.

Information on how to remove the protective shell using tools can be found in the table.

Image	Tool	Instructions
	Household or construction hair dryer	1. heat up an industrial hair dryer (a household hair dryer must be turned on at maximum power); 2. carefully, without touching the glass unit, heat the film with a stream of hot air; 3. Using a utility knife or scraper, remove the protective tape; 4. Remove any glue residue with solvent.
	Scraper for hobs and glass ceramic hobs	1. pick up the edge of the protective shell; 2. Carefully guiding the scraper forward, gradually remove all the protective tape; 3. treat any remaining glue with a chemical.
		1. trim the film and pick it up with a stationery knife; 2. slowly, without making sudden movements, pull the protective shell towards you with your hands; 3. Using a knife, completely peel off the protective tape; 4. Wash off any remaining marks with a sponge and detergent.
		1. remove the protective shell by hand (as needed); 2. “erase” the remaining traces of glue with an eraser; 3. wash the frame with soapy water.
	Brush and soap solution	As with the eraser, if there is any glue left on the surface of the frame, it can be washed off with a stiff brush and soap.

The most effective is an industrial hair dryer. The hot air flow melts the adhesive layer, so efficiency complete withdrawal film without subsequent surface treatment increases. It is worth noting that a household hair dryer is not well suited for this task. The power of a household hair dryer is not enough, so you will have to additionally “fight” with the adhesive layer.

Advice! If you are not confident in your abilities, then you should use the services of a cleaning company. Specialists will remove the protective tape without damaging the frame and glass unit.

Chemical

You can wash the film from plastic windows using chemicals. It is not recommended to use aggressive solvents, including alcohols, as such products can deform the plastic frame. In particular, denatured alcohol, White Spirit, RP-6 and Cosmofen will help get rid of glue.

It should be remembered that when working even with weak solvents, you should follow safety rules. Work must be carried out in a ventilated area or wearing a respirator. It is better to wear gloves to wipe off traces of glue with rags soaked in the substance.

Features of the use of chemicals on plastic windows are presented in the table.

Photo	Means	How to use
		Denatured alcohol or industrial alcohol must be poured into a small spray bottle and sprayed evenly over the protective tape on the frame. After about 2 minutes, pick up the edge of the film using a utility knife and pull slowly. In this case, traces of glue may remain on the plastic, which can be easily removed with acrylic solvent or white spirit.
		"Cosmofen" is a series of cleaners with a solvent or non-solvent effect, developed specifically for PVC windows. Cosmofen-10 is suitable for cleaning film. This is a weakly solvent cleaner that will help remove traces of glue from plastic frame, maintaining its integrity. Just wipe it off problem areas with a cloth soaked in the product. "Cosmofen" is recommended to be used in combination with a hair dryer.
	RP-6	RP-6 is used to remove old paint from different surfaces. The mixture is also suitable for getting rid of the protective shell on PVC. To work with RP-6, you must wear goggles and gloves. RP-6 is applied in a thick layer to the surface to be treated and left for 10 minutes. During this time, the film will rise and begin to lag behind the frame. All that remains is to remove the protective tape and treat the residue with a weak solvent.
		White spirit is a universal means for removing complex stains. This is a rather weak solvent, so it must be applied not on top of the film, but on the adhesive layer. To do this, just pick up the upper edge of the protective layer, pull it a little and pour the product into the resulting free gap. After a few minutes, you can easily peel off the film. If the film is long, then the procedure must be repeated until the White Spirit gradually dissolves the entire adhesive layer.

Advice! Also suitable for removing glue from plastic universal remedy"Shumanite." However, it is worth remembering that it contains caustic substances that can damage the PVC profile. Therefore, you should apply the product to the sticky surface of the frame and immediately wipe it off along with the glue.

Cleaning the glass

Many owners of plastic windows are also interested in ways to clean a window from mirror film. Special protection that reflects the sun's rays is sold in hardware stores. Living on sunny side Residents of houses purchase film for the summer. However, with the onset of cloudy days, it turns out that peeling off the protective layer is not so easy.

The problem is the same as with the protective tape on the frames. Although mirror film It does not have an adhesive layer and is glued with water; under the influence of ultraviolet rays, it practically eats into the glass unit. It can be very difficult to peel off such protection.

Advice! To solar protection for windows came off easily, don’t delay removing it. If the windows face south and the sun shines from April to October, then it is easier to leave the film or initially refuse to use it and hang blinds.

Simple methods for removing solar control film from windows:

• Using denatured alcohol and a spray bottle, similar to removing the film from the frame, you can get rid of the sun protection layer on the glass unit. Denatured alcohol is sprayed onto the surface of the window and left for several minutes. Then, using a stationery knife, pry up the edge of the shell and gradually remove the entire layer with your hands. It's better to start from the top.
• Using a steam generator, you can melt the surface of the sun protection layer, and then remove it by picking it up with a knife. This method is well suited for ingrained film that is difficult to pick up.
• Clean the glass unit with a sponge containing Schumanite. This is a strong product that must be handled with gloves. You should also avoid contact of the product with plastic parts window.

Sometimes pulling the film off the glass unit is not enough. Often mirror-like, “silver” traces of the film remain on the surface of the window. You should not handle solvents: lavsan, the material from which the protection is made, does not come into contact with solvents. Everything is much simpler. Just wash the window hot water with soap, and rub the “silver” spots with a hard metal sponge. There is no need to worry about scratches on the window: the glass unit will withstand such cleaning and become as good as new.