When old window tint starts to bubble, the glass looks like it has malignant melanoma. Light splotches disbursed over dark tint give the car that urban-beater attitude – whether that’s your intent or not.
The typical warranty on window film is two years against cracking, bubbling or delaminating. The tint’s adhesive eventually dries out, at which point bubbles start to appear.
You may be tempted to try to repair the damage, but one bubble indicates that the glue is nearing the end of its life cycle. Instead, remove all of the film. This will save time and money whether or not you intend to re-tint the glass yourself or take it to a shop.
No special tools or talent are necessary to remove old window film. All you need are a few household items and a sunny day. The operation shown here applies to all tinted windows, particularly ones that have defroster lines, which can be damaged by razor blades. As such, heat and chemicals are the best ways to proceed on this type of glass. This rear-windshield job took about an hour and a half.
Step One
Old tint can be removed with common household items, including black trash bags, ammonia, steel wool and a razor blade or knife.
Step Two
Spray the window’s exterior with soapy water, cover it with a black trash bag, smooth the plastic flat, then trim the bag to fit the glass. This will absorb heat, which makes the film expand so that both layers will peel off together.
Step Three
Inside, protect any close-by upholstered surfaces, and then spray the window film with undiluted ammonia. Make sure to spray all the way to the edge.
Step Four
Trap the ammonia against the tint with another trash bag or, for small windows, plastic wrap. Then let the window bake in the sun for about an hour to soften the tint’s adhesive.
Step Five
Lift a corner of the film with a fingernail or, failing that, a razor blade. Be careful not to nick the defroster lines. The film should peel off in whole pieces; keep the tint moist with ammonia as you strip. Use a razor blade to scrape off any tint that didn’t peel.
Step Six
Remove glue residue with ammonia and 0000 (Super Fine) steel wool, wiping with paper towel as you go before the ammonia dries. Finish by removing the exterior trash bag and cleaning both sides of the window with glass cleaner.
