How to remove old film from pvc windows. How to remove film from plastic windows? Why does the film stick to the window

The repair is over, there are brand new double-glazed windows on the windows, the builders have put the openings in order. It would seem that you can safely wait for winter to check if PVC windows are as good as they say. But you are absolutely in vain to think that you have got rid of all the problems. All windows are covered with a protective layer, and you will have to tear it off. We will talk about how to remove the film from a plastic window if it is not removed.

Why is this film necessary?

Why don't the masters who install PVC windows tear off this film themselves? The fact is that the installation of double-glazed windows usually does not end the repair, but only begins. This is followed by repair of openings, and even the entire room. In addition, glass can be scratched during transport and during installation. To avoid all these troubles, stick a protective material.

The instructions say that the protection must be removed from the plastic windows no later than ten days after installation. It is best to do so, because otherwise you will not have to remove it with a slight movement of your hand, but solve a much more difficult question - how to tear off the film from plastic windows.

Important! It is necessary to remove not only the film, but also the adhesive layer, which always remains on the profile.

What is the film made of?

Before you think about the question of how to remove the protective film from PVC windows, you need to find out what you have to deal with. Then it will be easier to choose cleaning methods. The protective material has:

• the outer layer, which is usually removed without difficulty;
• the inner layer;
• adhesive strip, which is tightly attached to the profile.

Important! The inner layer is so capricious that it melts even from the spring sun.

How to clean plastic windows from old film mechanically?

For a mechanical cleaning method, you will need:

Option 1

You will have to act very carefully so as not to scratch the profile. The protective material peels off more easily if it is properly warmed up. For this, you need a hairdryer - you can also take a household one, but it’s better if there is an industrial one, which they rent in some hardware stores. Having prepared everything you need, get to work to remove the film from plastic windows:

1. Heat the surface with a hair dryer to puff up the protection. In this case, the jet of hot air should not fall on the PVC profile - it can be extremely sensitive to high temperatures.
2. Pry the edge of the film with a sharp object - it should come off easily.
3. Solvent remove the adhesive strip.

Important! It is necessary to remove with a knife or blade evenly and quickly so that the material does not have time to cool. Otherwise, the result may turn out to be the opposite, the film will not only not be removed, but will stick even more strongly.

Option 2

This method is good if the windows face the shady side. Make a soap solution, moisten the brush and wash away all the protective coating inch by inch.

Important! A metal brush cannot be used for such work.

Option 3

The film from plastic windows can be removed using a regular school eraser. True, the process is laborious, therefore, in this way it is better to remove small fragments that remain, for example, after being removed with a knife.

Option 4

Perfectly removes such a protective material with a construction scraper for cleaning ceramic and glass surfaces. You can buy one at a hardware store.

Important! The advantage of this method is that the scraper does not scratch the plastic.

How to remove the film chemically?

This method is more gentle than mechanical. There is much less danger of scratching your precious plastic. In addition, even heavily adhered coating fragments can be removed with solvents. There are many chemical ways to remove the film from plastic windows if it does not come off.

Suitable for the procedure:

• "Cosmophen";
• White Spirit;
• any other solvent.

Option 1

To remove the protection, the special tool “Cosmofen” is just perfect. You can buy it from the same company that installed PVC windows for you. There are several varieties of this drug. It is best to buy it from those who installed windows, since a reputable company selects related products precisely for the material from which the main products are made.

Option 2

An excellent tool for cleaning PVC material is white spirit. But remember that he does not dissolve the film, but separates it from the window. Therefore, you will need some kind of sharp object, such as a blade or knife:

1. Pry off the edge of the protective cover.
2. Pour white spirit into the resulting gap.
3. Remove the film.

Option 3

You can try using a solvent. The method is not very reliable, but sometimes gives good results. Not every solvent is suitable, and it is better to pre-test it somewhere in an inconspicuous area.

How to wash plastic windows?

After the protective coating has been cleaned, it is best to wash the window. Mild detergents are suitable for cleaning the profile - do not forget to look at the markings in the hardware store. There are special products for washing such products, but those designed for ceramic surfaces are also suitable.

Important! It is better to wash not with a rag, but with a foam rubber sponge.

Process order:

1. Wipe dust off window sills and window frames.
2. Make a detergent solution.
3. Wash the glass in zigzag motions.
4. Wipe it with a soft cloth or blot with paper.

Important! To give the glass a shine, finally wash it with an aqueous solution of ammonia - a few drops per 1 liter are enough. If you wash windows for the winter, then to prevent frost and snow on the window, wash it from the outside with saline.

The owners of plastic windows are often faced with the question of how to wash the protective film. Of course, it is much easier to remove it immediately after installing the window, but often, the owners do not immediately peel it off or completely forget about it.

However, there comes a time when the protective material will still have to be removed. Then the question arises, how to remove the dried film from plastic windows?

Naturally, it is important not to damage the window during this process, and you also want to do everything as soon as possible and without any extra effort. What can be done in such a case? Effective methods exist, which means they can be safely used.

But in order to successfully remove the protective film, you must first understand the essence of the problem in more detail. Then it will be much easier to solve it.

Causes of Hard Film Adhesion

Why do you need a film on metal-plastic profiles? Companies through its gluing ensure the integrity of the product during transportation and installation. On the one hand, it is good that such protection is pasted on plastic windows. However, how can ordinary people get rid of it then? When the product is already in place and the protective layer is no longer needed.

Very often, windows are changed during a complete renovation of an apartment or house. This means that after the installation of PVC window profiles, a thin film coating remains for some time, until the repair is completed, and dries up.

After a few weeks, the film adheres more strongly to the plastic and practically merges with it. Dealing with dried up protective material is no longer easy.

Why does protective tape stick more strongly over time:

1. Unscrupulous window manufacturers usually save on some nuances. Their range just includes glue, which is used to glue the protective material. There is such an unusual pattern, the lower the quality of the adhesive used, the stronger it attaches the film to the window. In this case, there are only two options, either to remove the film layer immediately after installing the metal-plastic product, or to choose the manufacturer more carefully.
2. The time of year, oddly enough, also greatly affects the adhesiveness of the protective tape. In winter and autumn, for example, the frame is cold, the glue seems to curl up and the adhesion of the film to is minimized. If outside the window is a warm season, then the stickiness increases, and it becomes difficult to clean the profile.
3. If you have a sunny side, then we can say with confidence that already a week after installing a PVC window, the film will stick strongly if it is not removed immediately. The fact is that under the influence of constant heating from sunlight, the protective tape seems to dissolve, connects with the adhesive mixture and adheres strongly to the plastic. And then it dries up. Therefore, draw your own conclusions, and it is better to immediately tear off the tapes from the frames.

These are the main reasons why the film protective layer can be difficult to remove even a month after installation. The whole essence is hidden in the adhesive composition. He must be fought with.

How to remove the protective film from plastic windows correctly? There are several ways. Choose individually the most suitable for you.

Mechanical Elimination Techniques

There are only two such ways. These are the most effective and proven methods.

Let's take a closer look at them:

1. Scraper application. If the question arose of how to remove the adhesive tape, then the scraper will help. In winter, of course, it is better not to use this method, since the adhesive remains dense, and it will be difficult to scrape off the protective layer without damaging the plastic. But in the summer, this is the best option, the protective coating should be removed well and quickly. The scraper is able to effectively cope with the melted adhesive composition on frames and double-glazed windows. Depending on the length of stay of the tape on the windows, it can be removed in different ways, in small parts or in large segments.
2. Stationery tape. How to tear off PVC film? Very easy with duct tape. The bottom line is that, as already mentioned, the adhesive protective paper is very thin, so it can not be easy to remove it with a continuous tape. Here an ordinary wide adhesive tape will come to the rescue. It is denser, and therefore stronger, than window tape, that's the whole point. All you need to do is simply stick the tape tightly on top of the film, and then tear it off along with it. Thin ribbons can be easily removed and remain on the tape strip.

All other methods are based on chemical exposure. But there is also a heating technique, which is also considered good and uncomplicated. However, it also has its own nuances.

Removal by heating

How to remove film from plastic windows? If you have a building hair dryer at home, then you can use it to quickly remove the old protective film from the metal-plastic window. You can also try using a household steam generator. The main point is to melt the adhesive layer between the film and the window surface, so that the tape will come off more freely.

The following points must be taken into account:

• you shouldn’t heat it too much, as the ribbon can melt, then the task will only become more complicated;
• after warming up, be sure to first let the window cool down;
• do not rush, otherwise the tape will be removed unevenly;
• you can not keep the hair dryer too close;
• hot air should not be directed to the plastic profile, but to the glass.

If you follow all the recommendations and perform the procedure correctly, then tearing off the sticky protective paper will not be difficult. It will be enough just to pry off the edge of the tape with a knife or scraper, and then remove the coating in a continuous piece without interruption.

Chemical removal method

You can also remove the film from plastic windows using chemistry. The basis of such methods for removing a protective coating from profiles are chemical agents. They are able to dissolve sticky material, which then will be easily peeled off, and then it can simply be washed off.

So, you can use the following cleaning products:

• Shumanite;
• Anti-scotch;
• Mellerud;
• LABEL OFF;
• composition of RP-6;
• composition of WD-40.

All these tools will come to the rescue to peel off old stickers, adhesive tape and wash off adhesive stains from PVC windows, as well as help to remove old paint. They are perfectly capable of scrubbing the protective tapes on the profiles, while not damaging the plastic surface at all.

If after removing the film there are still traces of glue, then they should be completely wiped off so that dust does not stick. You can use white spirit or acetone to remove them. And also try to clean the stains with a clerical eraser.

Removal of the sun protection layer

Another fairly common question, which concerns not only plastic, but also wooden products, is how to remove the sun-protection film from the window? Is it possible to rip it off at all? Yes, of course it's real. However, any kind of strong solvents are inappropriate to remove the film. How to wash the glass in this case? An ordinary knife and a soapy solution will suffice, or you can use Shumanit.

It should be said right away that removing sun protection will not be so easy. But if you spend some time and make an effort, then everything will work out.

How to clean film from glass? It is advisable to slightly warm the surface of the glass with a hair dryer before starting work. Next, carefully wipe the window with soapy water and proceed to remove the coating. The glue will gradually dissolve, and the protective canvas, tearing off, will have to be carefully pry off with a scraper.

Finally, the glass unit and the frame are washed off the sun-protection film by a store-bought glass cleaner. If scratches were found on the plastic after the work done, then Cosmofen will come to the rescue. However, before using it, you should carefully study the instructions.

Here are some simple ways to clean the film on the windows. The main thing is to do everything slowly and carefully. Then the result will be excellent, and there will definitely be no traces or defects left.

October 14, 2016
Specialization: facade finishing, interior finishing, construction of dachas, garages. The experience of an amateur gardener and horticulturist. He also has experience repairing cars and motorcycles. Hobbies: playing the guitar and much more, for which there is not enough time :)

After installing double-glazed windows, many people are interested in the forums - how to remove the film from plastic windows? The fact is that this operation, which at first glance is extremely simple, sometimes becomes a real problem and headache. Therefore, in this article, I will introduce you to some of the most effective ways to remove the protective film from plastic frames.

A few words about the protective film

The film on plastic windows protects the plastic surface during the transportation of windows and their installation. Moreover, manufacturers use special adhesives for gluing it, so that in the future there will be no problems with removal. But, the coating is not intended to be on the windows for a long time.

The fact is that gradually the glue under the film dries up and eats into the surface of the plastic. In addition, the coating itself is destroyed in the sun and loses its characteristics. As a result, when removed, the old film begins to tear or even crumble.

From this it can be concluded that it is necessary to remove the film in the near future, after the installation of windows. True, if the windows are cheap, then problems may arise even when removing the recently glued coating, due to the use of low-quality glue.

But, in any case, you should not despair, because there are quite effective ways to remove the old film from plastic windows, even if it has “tightly” eaten into the plastic. The main thing is to be patient and some means, which I will discuss below.

In summer, glue dries much faster and eats into plastic than in cold weather.

Film removal methods

So, the dried protective film can be removed from the surface in the following ways:

Method 1: using a scraper

First of all, try to remove the film with a scraper or other sharp object, such as a mounting or even a blade. The only thing, work with sharp tools must be very careful not to damage the plastic.

The instructions for removing the coating with a scraper are as follows:

1. first of all, you need to pry off the edge of the protective coating with a scraper or other sharp object. The unglued edge must be large enough to be grasped;
2. then you need to pull the foam and try to tear it off in one quick movement;
3. if the tape starts to break, pry it up again, but try to use the cutting tool as little as possible and work more with your fingers so as not to scratch the plastic.

A similar method can be used if the protective coating has not had time to collapse under the influence of the sun. Otherwise, it will not work to tear off the film, and it is not advisable to constantly pick it with a scraper, as it will take a lot of time, and besides, it will certainly lead to scratches on the plastic surface.

Even if you successfully peel off the protective coating in this way, there will probably be areas with glue on the surface of the plastic. You can remove them in the ways that I will discuss below.

Method 2: with an eraser

If the old coating has become easily torn or even crumbled, it can be removed with an eraser. True, this method is only suitable for small areas, for example, if there is a film or glue residue left in some places after working with a scraper.

To clean the surface, choose the most elastic band possible. With it, simply rub the contaminated area with your hands, as if you were erasing a pencil from paper. As a result, the remaining adhesive and protective coating will roll into a roller that can be removed with your fingers.

It is very difficult to completely clean the frames in this way, so it is better to use a less time-consuming method.

Method 3: hair dryer

If the coating cannot be removed with a scraper alone, you can heat the film with a hair dryer before peeling off the film. This is done as follows:

1. turn on the hair dryer at maximum power and thoroughly heat a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe coating;
2. then tuck in the tape and pull on the edge. After heating, the glue should become much more "pliable";
3. after that, you need to heat the next section and remove it in the same way;
4. the remaining glue must be reheated and then wiped off with a paper towel.

An even more effective way to tear off the protective coating is to heat it with a steam generator. It is also mono to use a building hair dryer, however, work with it carefully so as not to melt the film, and especially the plastic frames.

I must say that this method is quite effective. As a rule, it allows you to get rid of even the most stubborn glue in the plastic surface.

Method 4: medical or industrial alcohol

Now consider how to remove the film from plastic windows with alcohol. This method is effective in removing film and adhesive residues.

The procedure is carried out as follows:

• the contaminated area should be treated with medical 96% alcohol or denatured alcohol using a sprayer or cotton solution. As the alcohol dries, it should be reapplied within a few minutes;
• then you can start removing the old adhesive and film residue with a paper towel. In the process, you may need a scraper or other tool to pry off the film.

I must say that alcohol allows not only to clean the surface of the old protective coating, but also to bleach the plastic, as well as get rid of other contaminants.

Method 5: vegetable oil

Choosing how to wipe off the remnants of the coating and glue, you can give preference to vegetable oil. The last one can be anything, the only thing to keep in mind is that after the oil on the surface of the window will remain, even after you wash it. Therefore, it is best to use an essential oil that smells good.

The instructions for removing the coating with this tool look like this:

1. before washing the surface, you need to apply oil to the contaminated areas with a cotton swab, then wait an hour. As the oil dries, the surface should be periodically lubricated;
2. after the specified time, the contaminated areas should be wiped off with a paper towel;
3. at the end of the work, you need to wash off the oil with a non-abrasive detergent.

Method 6: white spirit

White spirit is quite potent. The only thing before using it, wipe a small, inconspicuous area of ​​plastic with a solvent. The fact is that not all PVC windows are resistant to this solvent.

If you are sure that the solvent will not harm the plastic, do the work in the following order:

1. the edge of the film must be torn off with a scraper or other sharp object, as far as possible;
2. then the space between the film and the plastic surface should be treated with a solvent;
3. wait a few minutes before peeling off the film. After that, the tape should easily fall behind;
4. in the area where the film has not begun to tear, white spirit should be applied again.

If vapor barrier tape was used when installing the window, make sure that the solvent does not get on it, as it may deteriorate.

Method 7: "Shumanite"

"Shumanit" is a powerful detergent, which is intended primarily for removing grease from the surface. However, it also does a good job with adhesives that are used when gluing a protective coating. The only thing to remember is that Shumanit contains substances that can react with frames, so you should not apply it for a long time.

Dried film and old adhesive are removed with this tool as follows:

1. old glue should be treated with a composition. If the old coating remains on the surface, the area under it, as well as the edges along the tape, should be processed;
2. almost immediately after applying "Shumanit", the coating should be peeled off, and the remaining glue should be wiped off with a damp towel;
3. at the end of the work, the plastic surface must be washed with any suitable detergent.

Method 8: "HG Sticker Remover"

Talking about how easy it is to remove the old film, one cannot fail to mention such a tool as HG Sticker Remover. It is sold in household chemical stores, usually in 300 ml bottles.

In general, this composition is designed to remove stickers and all kinds of self-adhesive stickers from the surface. However, as practice shows, with the help of Sticker Remover, an old protective film can also be easily removed.

The principle of its use is similar to working with other solvents:

1. before tearing off the film, you should pick it up and treat it with a tool;
2. after a few minutes, the coating can be peeled off;
3. then the surface should be treated again with the composition;
4. After a few seconds, the product with adhesive residue must be removed with a paper towel or a clean cloth.

Method 9: "Cosmofen 10"

If you ask plastic window manufacturers for advice on a protective coating remover, they will most likely tell you about Cosmofen 10, which is a mild PVC solvent designed specifically for this purpose.

You can also use its analogue, which is called "FENOSOL". The price of these compounds ranges from 300 rubles per liter.

As in previous cases, the old film is pre-tucked, after which the composition is applied. Also, these products can be used to remove adhesive residue.

Before washing the surface of the glue, you need to wait a few minutes until the product reacts.

Method 10: "P-12"

Finally, I will talk about the RP-6 product, which is an acrylic solvent. With it, you can easily remove adhesive residue.

The only thing before doing the job, be sure to check if the solvent reacts with plastic frames. The fact is that some types of plastic under the influence of "RP-6" can change color.

The composition is applied in the same way as other solvents. As a rule, several minutes are enough for it to react with the old adhesive.

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

When do you need to remove the protective film from plastic windows?

Ideally, the protective coating is removed immediately after the windows are installed or within a couple of days after that. However, if repair work is still ongoing in the room and the risk of damaging or staining the frames is large, this period can be extended. But not to infinity: after 1-2 months, especially in hot weather, it will be difficult to remove the film. If it is so necessary to protect the frames, instead of the factory coating, they can be pasted over with masking tape - there will be much less problems with its removal.

Why the film sticks and does not peel off well

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

• Adhesive coating. The worse in 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.
• UV exposure. As in the case of heat, the sun's rays change the structure of the adhesive and the film, as a result, they stick to the window very quickly.

How to remove film from plastic windows: all possible ways

Even the old film is sometimes removed relatively easily, it turns out to be difficult only to pick up its edge. In such a situation, any thin and sharp object will come to the rescue: a knife, nail scissors, a needle, or something similar. But you need to work with them carefully so as not to injure yourself and not scratch the plastic of the frame. If that 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 not to damage the hydro- and vapor barrier coatings located at the junctions of the frames with walls and roofs during the removal of the film.

hair dryer

The hair dryer is brought as close as possible and a jet of hot air is directed onto the frames. Under the influence of heating, the dried glue and the film soften, and after fresh traces, the protective coating becomes really pry and remove. Practice shows that it is more efficient to blow not under the film, but at an angle from above along the course of tearing off the film.

The higher the temperature provided by the device, the more efficient the method becomes. The best option is to use not a weak enough technique for drying hair, but a powerful hair dryer. An alternative to a hair dryer 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 building fluids will most likely help remove the film from a plastic window. Acetone (and even acetone-based nail polish remover), mineral spirits and other kerosene-based liquids, car chemicals for tar removal, special decal removers, and more can work. The effectiveness of such funds in each case may be different, so it is better to check them empirically.

Procedure:

• Pry off the tip of the film at least a little. If this does not work out in any way, then at least cut or otherwise violate the integrity of the film, otherwise the solvent will be ineffective or useless at all.
• Apply the product - carefully pour, smear with a brush or rag.
• 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 hold for some more time.
• At the end of the work, wipe the frames with a damp cloth, you can add detergent.

It is important to observe safety precautions - if the instructions for the tool recommend working with gloves and well ventilating the room, this should not be neglected. Otherwise, you can earn intoxication of the body and a chemical burn of 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 off a piece of wide adhesive tape at least 4-5 cm long (a smaller size will be inconvenient to hold in your hands). It is glued to the sections of the frame with the film, carefully smoothed, and then pulled very sharply. Ideally, the entire protective coating should remain on the tape strip.

Use only stationery tape (transparent or colored - it does not matter). Masking and double-sided adhesive tapes on a fabric and paper basis are covered with a less sticky adhesive composition.

Cold

The effectiveness of this method is based on the property of many polymeric materials to become rigid and brittle under the influence of 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 in your region frosts reach at least -10 ° C, just wait for the cold weather and let the frames cool down well by opening the windows in the room for a couple of hours. If not, you can try to cool problem areas artificially by applying frozen bottled water to them and immediately trying to peel off the film following fresh tracks. But the effectiveness of this option is much lower.

Scraper

If the film has stuck so strongly that even intense rubbing with a brush does not help, it remains to use a sharp object. A knife is not suitable for this purpose - it will take a very long time to pick off the film with a tip, and it is inconvenient to hold a narrow blade flat. You can use a construction spatula, but a scraper for a glass-ceramic coating of electric stoves is even better. 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. She actively rubs the surface of the film until it is removed. An alternative to a brush is a metal sponge for dishes. Made from thin strips of metal, it cuts the film like a knife or a scraper, but unlike them, it does it more delicately, i.e. with less risk of scratching the frame plastic.

Vegetable oils

If the film itself was somehow removed from the plastic window, but a sticky layer of adhesive composition remained on the frames, vegetable oils will help here. They are abundantly lubricated with contaminated areas, left for several minutes so that they are saturated with liquid, and then removed 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 it will harden over time and form dark and sticky stains, to which dust will quickly adhere. Remaining oil can be removed with soap, dishwashing detergent, acetone or alcohol.

Oil alternatives:

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

Video how to clean a plastic window from an old film

See also the video instruction for removing the protective film from plastic window frames that was not removed in time:

Contacting a cleaning company

If it was not possible to clean the film from plastic windows on your own, you should contact those for whom such tasks are the main activity. Cleaning company employees have a variety of tools and substances to remove dirt, and, no less important, experience.

How to remove the film from the plastic window sill

For a 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 ordinary baking soda. For a smooth surface, it is better not to use them, the risk of leaving scratches on it is too great. Read more about pollution, because this is not uncommon during repairs.

The protective film on the frames of plastic windows is designed only for their short-term protection against dirt and scratches. After installation, this coating should be disposed of as soon as possible, otherwise it will be quite difficult to remove it later, although it is realistic.

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

It must be said that the removal of the film itself is only part of the issue, since there is still an adhesive on the surface of the double-glazed window, which is also very difficult to remove.

Methods for cleaning double-glazed windows from film and glue

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

• Mechanical
• Chemical.

Sometimes, for greater efficiency, both methods are combined.

Mechanical window cleaning options

Of the options for cleaning mechanically, several of the most effective can be distinguished:

1. The remains of the protective coating are removed with a special scraper designed for cleaning hobs or glass-ceramic panels. Minor scratches and adhesive residues can then be removed with a FENOSOL or COSMOFEN 10 cleaner. If these cleaners are not available, then you can use an acrylic solvent, for example, P-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 the 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 clerical knife or scalpel. In this case, the coating should be easily removed, adhesive residues 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 efficient.
4. There is another interesting tip on how to peel off the film from plastic windows, which will help solve the problem - the film is erased with an ordinary clerical eraser. Adhesive residues can be removed with white spirit or the cleaners listed above.

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

Chemical Options

And so, we examined how to remove the film from plastic windows mechanically.

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

• Denatured alcohol should be poured into a water sprayer, for example, for spraying houseplants with water. Then the 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 clerical knife. (See also the article.)
• The detergent "Shumanit", which is 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 of this remedy is quite affordable.
• It is easy to clean the double-glazed window using RP 6 paint remover. This chemical composition must be applied thickly to the surface and wait 10 minutes, after which the protective tape will begin to swell before our eyes. Before cleaning plastic windows from the film, you should put on goggles and gloves, alkali and glue residues can be washed off with soapy water.

Note!
Many owners of PVC double-glazed windows make a gross mistake - they try to remove the protective tape with a solvent.
The fact is that the film will still remain on the packages, but the profile will be hopelessly damaged.

How to clean plastic windows

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

• With spray, rags and paper;
• With a screed and a sponge.

Now let's look at each of these methods.

Washing with a spray cloth and paper

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

For him we need:

• Pure cotton fabric;
• Window cleaner with spray nozzle;
• Water tank;
• Paper napkins.

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

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

Cleaning windows with screed and sponge

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