How to clean the film on plastic windows. How to remove old protective film from plastic windows? How to remove protective film from plastic windows

According to the rules, after installation plastic windows The protective film must be removed within 10 days. This is due to the fact that the film in direct contact with the frame is very thin and delicate, and under the influence of sunlight and high temperatures she is destroyed. As a result, we see a “tightly” adhering composition, and the longer it is not removed, the more it will dry out. Therefore, it is better to remove protection in time.

How to remove film from plastic windows? What is needed in order to clean the surface and prevent the adhesive base from sticking even harder? And what should be done if it was not possible to remove the protective film from the window in time? There are a number of ways to solve this problem.

How to remove sun protection film from a window

If you decide to do everything that is necessary in a timely manner, the film will be removed much easier. How to remove the film from plastic windows and not damage the material? Use one of the above methods that will allow you to solve the problem at home, without the help of specialists.

"Cosmophen"

This is a special solvent that can be bought from a company that installs plastic windows. There are 3 types of "Cosmofen" that differ in the degree of impact: No. 5, No. 10 and No. 20.

The strongest is number 5, and with careless use, you can "dissolve" not only the adhesive base, but also the plastic itself. Therefore, it is better to use the least aggressive composition.

In the process, follow the instructions for use, and it will not be difficult to remove the protective film.

Knife, blade or scraper

When using sharp objects, be careful not to damage the surface. The edge of the protection is hooked with a knife or blade, and the rest is removed by hand. Remember, the less cutting accessories you use, the less damage there will be on the plastic.

After you remove the film from the plastic window, noticeable traces of glue may remain on the surface. You can wash them with a sponge with a hard bristle and any foaming agent.

Building hair dryer

How to remove sun protection film from a window with a hair dryer? Follow the basic rule: when removing the protection, direct the air stream only at the frame, without affecting the double-glazed windows. Otherwise, the glass may not withstand the temperature difference, and cracks will appear on it.

The mechanism of action is simple - under the influence of heat, the adhesive base softens, and its removal will not take much effort from you. Similarly, you can use a steam generator or a regular hair dryer. The latter is effective only in cases where the film has not had much time to dry.

Solvent or white spirit

Before using one of these products, test it on an inconspicuous area of the surface. If the chemical did not harm the plastic, you can get to work.

How to remove the protective film from plastic windows and clean the surface with a solvent or white spirit? First pry the edge of the protection, and then apply the substance in the gap between it and the plastic. Thus, gradually clean the entire surface.

Paint remover RP6

You will need to apply the product to the surface in a thick layer and wait 7-10 minutes. During this time, you will notice that the remnants of the protection begin to “bubble”.

After that, put on gloves and goggles and remove the film from the plastic. The remains of the product and the adhesive base can be washed with a concentrated soap solution.

Hard brush and soapy water

This method is effective when the window is on the shadow side. The adhesive base does not have time to heat up much, and its adhesion to plastic is not so strong.

Prepare a solution from warm water and soap and clean off the remaining protection using a stiff brush (not a metal one!).

Denatured alcohol

How to remove film from plastic windows with denatured alcohol? Pour the substance into the sprayer and "irrigate" the surface evenly. After 3-5 minutes, pry off the edge of the film with a knife and carefully remove it with your hands.

Be sure to protect your hands with rubber gloves when handling chemicals.

Detergent "Shumanit"

This chemical can be purchased at a hardware store. Clean the plastic strictly following the instructions for use, as this substance has a very strong effect.

Wash the area to be cleaned after treatment clean water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.

If, after removing the main part of the protection, small “islands” of it remain on the surface, take a regular eraser and clean the surface.

Why does the film dry up?

How to delete old film from plastic windows, if it dried up “tightly”? First you need to figure out why this happens.

How to remove old film from plastic windows if it is dry

How to remove old sun protection film from windows if it is stuck? You can use the following options:

Reach out to the experts who have special means to solve the problem quickly.
Use a special scraper designed for cleaning plastic and glass surfaces.
Use a strong concentration solvent, having previously tested it on an inconspicuous area of \u200b\u200bthe plastic.
Use dishwashing liquid and sharp knife. Moisten the surface with a soapy substance, and when it “sags” a little, remove the protection with a knife.
In some cases, the chemicals used for cleaning help to remove the old protective film. cookers. The principle of operation is the same as in the case of dish gel.

How to remove the old film quickly and easily? Take note of one caveat: sunny weather when the windows warm up well, it will be easier to remove it. If you do not want to wait for the right weather, warm the window with a hair dryer before starting work.

If the protective film on metal-plastic windows is not removed in time, then it can stick very strongly to plastic profile and it will be extremely difficult to remove it. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of the protective films that cover the profiles of new metal-plastic windows in time. But what if the film is already “tightly” stuck? Let's look at a few ways how remove the film from the plastic window.

The following recommendations will help you remove the protective film not only from window frame, but also from window sills and ebbs. First of all, you need to pay attention to the fact that during the removal of the old film, another problem may arise - the need to clean the profile from the adhesive with which it was glued protective covering.

There are two ways to remove the film: chemical and mechanical.

Consider how to remove the film from a plastic window mechanically. This option requires a special scraper for cleaning glass ceramics and a good cleaner (eg COSMOFEN 10). First, the film is removed with a scraper, and adhesive residues are removed with a cleaner or R-12 solvent.

There are also several other ways to mechanically remove the film and adhesive residue from window profiles, ebbs and window sills. The second option is to use an industrial hair dryer and cleaner COSMOFEN 10.

With this method of removing the film, we first heat it with a hairdryer as much as possible and quickly pry off the edge with a clerical knife. It is necessary to tear off the film from the surface gradually, but without stopping, otherwise it will tear and you will have to pry the edge again. We remove traces of the adhesive base with a solvent or cleaner. If there is a steam generator, then it is better to use it instead of a hair dryer. So it will be faster.

You can also remove the film from the plastic window using chemicals. The first method is the use of technical alcohol and COSMOFEN cleaner. To apply alcohol to the surface of the film, you will need a conventional spray gun to indoor plants.

After spraying denatured alcohol, the film should get wet for a couple of minutes. After this time, pry off the edge of the film and slowly pull. Repeat the procedure until the final removal of the protective coating. As in the previous versions, we remove the remaining glue with a cleaner.

Is it possible to remove the film from a plastic window with detergents? As practice has shown, the Shumanit detergent has proven itself very well from this side. This tool is quite strong, so you need to work with it very carefully. But in order to save yourself the hassle of removing the protective film, you need to remove it on time (immediately after the windows are in place and all the finishing work is completed) and not wait until it firmly sticks to the window.

Detergent "Shumanit"

Among unusual ways removing the protective coating on the profiles of new metal-plastic windows is the use of gum and white spirit. Some craftsmen can remove the film even with a simple eraser, and glue residue, according to some, is well removed with white spirit. But in order not to check all the methods in practice, seek the help of specialists. After all, they know exactly how to quickly and correctly remove a “tightly” protective film from your new windows.

Where can I get a film removal specialist?

Manufacturing and assembly company plastic windows and doors" open windows» offers its customers a full range of services, starting from the stage of metal design plastic structures until the final installation. If necessary, our specialists can remove the protective film from your windows immediately after installation is completed.

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:

The remains of the protective coating are removed with a special scraper designed for cleaning hobs or glass-ceramic panels. small scratches and adhesive residues after that can 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.
The second method requires an industrial hair dryer, or at least a powerful one. 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.
Similar to the previous method, you can use a steam generator, this method is even more efficient.
There is another interesting advice how to peel off the film from plastic windows, which will help solve the problem - the film is erased with an ordinary stationery 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, since even a safe scraper leaves PVC profile scratches.

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, keep in mind that this is very strong remedy, therefore, it should be used carefully. The price of this tool is quite affordable.
It is easy to clean a double-glazed window with RP 6 paint remover. This chemical composition it is necessary to apply thickly on the surface and wait 10 minutes, after which the protective tape will begin to swell literally 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 PVC double glazing 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.

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 double-glazed window, and it will be very difficult to remove it. There are several ways to remove the 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. Its top layer is dense, it is easy to wash it. But inside there is a delicate material that quickly collapses and is tightly glued to the structure. Such an “addition” spoils the appearance of the room, it must be removed no later than 10 days after the installation of the windows.

The adhesive layer hardens over time. Temperature can affect the rate of this process. The windows are located above the heating radiators, warm air flows rise up and heat the double-glazed window. The film begins to dry quickly, and it becomes difficult to tear it off. If the sun's rays hit a window, the heating from the radiation is exacerbated by exposure to ultraviolet light.

Good materials, even in heat and direct sunlight, will not harden within 10 days, but film manufacturers are trying to save money. They can use cheap low-quality glue that sets very quickly.

The rate of dense adhesion of the film to glass depends on the quality of the material and the conditions in which the structure is operated. Be serious about choosing a company that installs plastic windows. Remove the coating immediately if the insulating glass units are exposed to heat or sunlight.

Mechanical methods for removing the protective coating

Building 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. Inappropriate use of tools can scratch PVC bindings and glass, expensive windows will look messy. Do not use wire brush, its teeth will surely leave marks.

Do not scrape off with a knife, but only pry off the edge of the film, and then tear it off with your hands. If you don't take too long to remove the coating, it will easily come off the glass. It remains only to wash window block to remove adhesive residue. Instead of a knife, it is better to use a special scraper for glass-ceramic tiles, it scratches the plastic surface less.

Heat the firmly adhered film with a building hair dryer. Using a steam generator or a hair dryer will not always give the desired result: the temperature of the air flow at household appliances too small. Direct the air stream not at the glass, which can burst from temperature changes, but at the frame. Pick up the lagging edge of the film with a knife and separate it from the double-glazed window with your hands.

Mechanical methods help only at the initial stage - within a few days after installing the windows, and even better - immediately after the installers leave. If they do not work, you have to move on to other measures.

Chemical preparations for cleaning double-glazed windows from the film

When working with aggressive substances, protective equipment is useful

You can wash windows from dried film using chemicals. All of them are harmful to the skin of the hands and dangerous to the eyes. Work with gloves and goggles. It is advisable to wear a respirator.

To reduce the adhesion of the protective coating to the glass or frame, you can use the following means:

White Spirit. Peel off the edge of the film, and pour a little solvent into the resulting gap. The softened part of the coating should be well removed. Repeat the procedure until you have cleared the entire area.
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. You can wash off the remaining adhesive with soapy water or acrylic thinner.
Cosmofen. A special solvent that is number 5, 10 or 20 depending on the aggressiveness. The strongest is number 5, it can dissolve plastic bindings. Take number 10 or 20 and follow the instructions.
Paint remover SP 6. Apply it to plastic windows in a thick layer.
"Shumanit". Detergent, which must also be used in accordance with the instructions. After 10 minutes, the coating will begin to bubble, remove it.

Be careful that the aggressive preparation does not damage the glass and frames. First, try it on an inconspicuous area: some drugs can ruin the plastic.

Folk remedies for removing coatings from windows

If you heat the film with a hair dryer, it will be easier to remove it.

Instead of aggressive chemicals, safer folk methods can be used. Try to use:

hair dryer complete with wooden sticks;
brush;
eraser rubber.

Can apply combined method. First, heat the film with a hairdryer, then clean it from the window with a sharp object. Use detergent or acrylic thinner to remove adhesive residue.

Wooden toothpicks or sticks for cleaning nails, kitchen spatulas made of wood are good, but they will need to be sharpened periodically. Wipe the stuck adhesive tape with a brush made of hair or synthetics with detergent, this method can give a good result.

Sometimes it is necessary to wipe off not the building film from the windows, but the old coating to protect the apartment from the sun's rays. It is made from lavsan, which is not affected by solvents. Clean the glass with a sponge and a strong detergent such as Shumanite. If it does not help, there is only one way out - to slowly clean the film with a knife.

The use of folk methods does not give a 100% guarantee. It all depends on the materials and the strength of the bond between the film and the coating. For example, an eraser on some windows quickly wipes the entire surface, on others it cleans a piece the size of a palm in half an hour.

A protective film on the frame of a plastic window is necessary in order to protect the frame from damage during transportation and installation. minor damage and dirt. According to the instructions, it is required to remove the old film from plastic windows no later than 10 days after installation. During this period, it is very easy to clean the windows from the film, but if you carry out the procedure after 3 or more months, you will have to make a lot of effort.

Why is old film difficult to remove?

The protective film has two layers and is fixed on the frame with a special adhesive. Under the influence of solar radiation and high temperatures, a thin layer inside the film is destroyed and firmly adheres to the plastic surface. It is not difficult to peel off the outer layer of the film, but you will have to tinker with the inner one.

Causes that cause the protective film to stick to the plastic:

Influence of the ultraviolet spectrum of sunlight. It will not be difficult to tear off a film that is in the shade even after several months, while a protective coating exposed to sunbeams, will begin to adhere more strongly to the plastic after 10 days.
The quality of the adhesive. Removing a film fixed with low-quality adhesive will be more difficult. Typically, these compounds are used to protect cheap plastic windows.
Thermal impact. If the windows were installed during the cold season, then the film will begin to dry later than when installed in the summer season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3RjCSQOgEE Video can "t be loaded: How to remove the old protective film from PVC windows (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3RjCSQOgEE)

Effective Methods for Removing the Protective Film

There are many ways to remove film from plastic windows. The following is a list of the most effective methods, which will help to 100% remove the film from the surface of the frame without damaging the window:

Building hair dryer.

The use of a building hair dryer is considered the best way to help remove the film. The main thing is that you should direct the device only at the frame and in no case at the double-glazed window, as it may crack. The flow of hot air heats the adhesive composition of the film, which makes it more elastic. After heating, the protective tape should be easy to remove.
The problem with this method is that not everyone has a building dryer in their home workshop. The problem is solved by using a conventional household hair dryer at maximum mode. However, this option will only help if protective layer not strongly stuck to the window profile.

Scraper for cleaning glass ceramics.

Such devices are present in many kitchens and are used for cleaning glass-ceramic plates. Even in the absence of one, it can be purchased at the nearest hardware store. It is required to pick up the film with gentle movements and apply it. The process is laborious, but allows you to achieve results, even if the building hair dryer could not help.

Stationery or construction knife.

This method is not much different from the previous one. To remove the adhesive tape from plastic windows, you will need a knife, so safety precautions must be observed. The film is picked up by the corner of the knife, after which it is removed by hand. The remaining adhesive mass can be removed using a conventional detergent and sponges for washing dishes.

Solvent.

You need to use only weak compounds so as not to damage the plastic. Test on an inconspicuous area before removing. It is necessary to moisten a rag with a solvent and wipe the film. The film will corrode from exposure to the solvent. After removal, the frame is washed with a regular detergent.

School eraser.

With the help of an eraser, you can remove the film that has not been exposed to the sun for too long. The process is laborious, but the result can pleasantly surprise you.

Hard brush.

It is necessary to moisten the brush in soapy water and proceed with the removal, exerting moderate pressure on the surface of the film. Do not use brushes with metal bristles or metal sponges, as they will damage the plastic, leaving deep notches.

White spirit (nefras-C4-155/200).

Using this tool, you can also clean plastic windows from the old film, however, it is necessary to apply the product between the film and the window surface so that the composition has an effect on the adhesive. To do this, you need to pick up the edge of the film and moisten the treatment area with the agent. After a couple of minutes, the film can be removed by hand.

Cosmofen.

You can remove the protective film using a tool that is sold by companies involved in the installation of metal-plastic windows. "Cosmofen" is designed specifically for cleaning plastic. Depending on the activity of the active ingredients, this tool is marked with a serial number from 5 to 20 in increments of 5 units. "Cosmofen No. 5" is the strongest solvent capable of dissolving plastic, so it must be used with extreme caution.

A little advice: it is better to remove the protective film immediately after installation, and to protect the surface of the window for the period finishing works masking tape can be used. This solution will avoid damage and contamination of the window surface during the repair process. And at the end of the work, you do not have to tear off the adhering protective film from the plastic window.

The described film removal methods are suitable for all structural elements of a plastic window. Before removing the protective material from the plastic, it is necessary to finish all construction work held next to the window, which will save appearance window elements for a long time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTV-7VJ6Nq8 Video can "t be loaded: How to remove an old film from a plastic window (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTV-7VJ6Nq8)