How to remove car window tint: the not messy, cheap, easy way

Removing tint & stickers from car windows
So easy you'll slap yo' mamma!!!

This instructable covers removing tint (and stickers) from windows. It is specifically geared to removing tinting from 5th generation Honda Preludes from 1997 to 2001, but can be used on anything from Kias to Hummers, to house windows.

Background:
I recently bought a nice 5th generation Honda Prelude with tinted windows. I always liked the way that tinted cars looked, but didn't think it was practical because most of the driving I do is at late at night. The new car also had radio reception problems. The antenna in my car is a thin wire layer on the back window above the defroster lines. Asking around I learned that the tint in my rear window was likely causing my poor reception (it was). These two reasons drove me to removing the professionally installed tint the car came with.

After calling a tint shop and getting a quote of $140 to get the 5 window (2 doors, 2 rear quarters, and rear window) tint removed I decided there had to be a better way. I did some research online and prepared myself for a messy painful process. It turned out to be easy, so easy I figured I'd write it up for you.

The advantages of this method are that you do not need to cut the tint off at all (no razorblades = no mess) and so it is safe on your rear window without any fear of messing up your rear defroster or antenna lines. The method is also significantly faster, cleaner, greener, less messy, and less hazardous to your health.

General idea:
The goal here is to steam the window and tint so much that the glue releases itself from the window. Then all you have to do is slowly pull the tint off of the window (as you continue to steam) and the glue comes with it - no mess!

References:
This write-up is a basic version of the special technique used by the professionals at Tint Removers (tintremovers.com).  Tint Removers uses a specialized green method of tint removal that does not leave toxic chemicals for professional car, home, commercial office and store window tint removal services.  This write-up is based on an interview with Tint Removers.  If you are interested in professional service or have specific questions for Tint Removers, they can be contacted at [e-mail].  Feel free to reproduce this article but make sure to include a link to this article.

Disclaimer:
Steamers release extremely hot steam... which translates to hot condensate. When combined with tight spaces and or the use of beer as a motivational tool, injury can result. Use common sense, don't burn yourself with the steamer.
Tint will make your car look better to the opposite sex, protects from the UV rays, and wards off thieves. Removing it however, will make it easier to actually see while driving, sometimes important.

Thanks for all of the positive comments. If you liked this article, please rate it, and include your pre-tint-removal & post-tint-removal pictures! (if you didn't like it, let me know what is missing)

Keywords:
Window tinting,remove tinting, tinted, car tint, prelude, steamer, window steamer, remove tint, removing car tint, removing window tint, removing tinting, tint removal, bubbling tint, old tint, how to remove tint.

Step 1 Gather Supplies!

Gather the following supplies

• Cheap clothing steamer (hey, it works on your clothes too!)
• Long extension cord
• Bottle or cup of water (so you don't have to go inside to refill the steamer every 10 min)
• Some rags
• Windex
• 6 pack of beer & a good CD (to keep you entertained while steaming the windows)

Clothing Steamer
This is the lynchpin of the entire operation.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a cheap clothes steamer on sale at walgreens for $12.99 to stay stylish, and I figured it just might do the trick on my tint too. Apparently, I got quite the deal, when looking for examples for this write up they were all about $25-$30. If you want to find a deal, you might try your local thrift shop, Ross, Tuesday Morning, yard sales, Kohls, TJ Max, etc.

Here are some examples of fabric steamers
Target: SteamFast Compact Fabric Steamer $24.99
Walmart: Conair Portable Garment Steamer $29.93
Walgreens: Conair Compact Fabric Steamer $29.99
Sears: Conair GS16 Hand Held Fabric Steamer $22.49 (on sale)

Comments

[roomba]

I was so cheap, I used a hot iron turned up all the way with the steam put on max. A little more awkward but it worked.

Your handheld steamer is a better option.

[paintphone]

Defiantly going to try this out, sounds better then the windex and steel wool that the detail shop uses

[asd-markett]

Not bad!
http://asd-market.com.ua

[no_cookies4you]

You are my hero!

I picked up a new (old) driver's side door for my poor, wrecked car from the junkyard today, and brought it home to find old, grody tint all over the window once I rolled it up. Since I'm fortunate (?) enough to have the door currently sitting on my living room floor and not attached to a vehicle outside, steaming off the tint with my iron worked like a charm, and it only took about 15 minutes tops (and not even half a beer).

Oh, and I didn't bother removing the panel, just gave the sheet of tinting a good tug once I reached the bottom of the window, and it all came right off. Probably again because it's old, so YMMV.

Thanks for the instructable!

[doingy]

You deserve the Nobel Prize for something. I've hated the tint on the back window of the car we bought 2 years ago - impossible to see through it at night. I used the large steamer on wheels that was given to me as a gift years ago and never used until today. It was so easy and there was no glue residue. THANK YOU!!

[dflack]

thanks for this post. I followed it, rather loosely, and it was a success! I bought a six pack of an Avery holiday release and was finished during my second beer, so now i'm tasked with finding a new project and finishing the rest.

I didn't have a clothes steamer but had an iron with the steaming capabilities which worked.

thanks!

[pdarcy]

He states not to use a razorblade on the window. I used a small coin like and australian 5 cent coin to assist peeling back the tinting, it did not scratch the glass and was very effective.

[AlvinMaker]

Thanks a bunch for the ible. I just got an old acura and the back tint is so dark i can barely see though it in the day.

[cwintercorn]

well, Florida didn't seem to have a problem with my 28% window tint, But Minnesota's law is 50% or higher, all I got was a warning for the windshield and a ticket for the front 2. 5 Police stops is all it took for the warnings to actually turn into a ticket, guess my luck ran out.

[jwagner-1]

Believe it or not, you've "stumbled" upon a method the professionals have been using in the shop for many many years. Only difference of course is a shop steamer is more powerful and costs alot more.

This method works on MOST applications, but not ALL.

If you are pulling film and all the glue is staying behind, you're just as well off to snatch the film off and save the time with that step and move on to the adhesive removal process(es).

Good article overall though and very close in process to one of the ways a professional does it!!

[deznewcomb]

We moved from MT to MS and my tint was apparently "very illegal". He had some little device that read 28.8 and he stated it should read 12. So... not inspection sticker for me.


So as most of you probably did, I searched the internet for "easy" ways to get tint off my windows. I came across this and tried it last night. I actually did it with the steam from an iron, which worked very well. It took me and my husband about an hour and a half to get the tint off.

I DID use an S.O.S. pad toward the end to get the last of the glue off and it worked WONDERS as well with NO scratches whatsoever. I tried the alcohol... it just dried it out. I tried the WD-40 and no luck. I bought a bottle of "Simple green" and it worked better than the other three, but it was still taking a TON of elbow grease. So I took my chances with the SOS pad and was amazed at how quick it came off. I did use Hot soapy water to wash them off after scrubbing. When I was done I shined them up with glass cleaner and "TAAA-DAAA" it was done. Pretty painlessly.

[jwagner-1]

OMG!!

Please people, whatever you do, DON'T do this!

SOS pads will scratch the hell out of automotive glass - I can guarantee the windows on this car are now COVERED in a fine scratch haze.

STRAIGHT alcohol is used for LOCATING glue spots, not REMOVING it. The alcohol makes the glue turn white and easily visible. Water and a few drops of soap in a squirt bottle and a razor blade are all you need to remove glue from a side window. #0000 steel wool (NOT SOS!) can be used on a rear glass. WD-40? Really? wow...

BTW - 12% would be DARKER than 28.8. By ALOT. The lower the number, the darker the film.

[phx2slc]

Great humor in the instructions. Apologies to all of you who ran out and purchased a steamer. I was able to remove my tint from the front driver and passenger windows with a hot air hair dryer kindly "donated" by my spouse. No water mess required. I had a few small patches of glue which I removed with some adhesive solvent.

[katreese]

This worked awesome. So awesome that I had to add to the 111 existing comments to comment on it myself. I had to do my driver's side and passenger's side windows in order to pass inspection, and with my handy little steamer, each window took not even 10 minutes. I did end up with some glue on one window - maybe I rushed! Thanks for the splendid advice!

[ac1D]

Try some "GooGone" or "Goo Gone" to remove the glue, worked like a charm on mine.

[katreese]

Thanks!

[Jarita]

Thank you for the great and humorous information. To those not familiar with old tint, it often has to be removed because it peels, cracks or gets cloudy. It will also fade and this is most often due to the use of glass cleaners that have amonia in them, My 3 yr old tint has faded to where I can now see items on the floor in the back of the car, where originally they were "in the dark". The company I partner with makes a line of "green" auto products for seats, windows, tires etc as well as a "body wash". Nah I enjoy the carwash and at my age I don't look cute washing a car on the front lawn any more. It used to be an MG and now its a Volvo Stn Wgn. lol. Anyway we are going to remove the tint froma our new/handmedown 2002 Stratus. i will take pix if not for the site then for posterity....Off to buy a steamer, thanks again.

[Hellchild]

Im not sure why you would want to do this. can someone explain, please?

[bmohr]

The reason I needed to do it is the tint started to bubble and it got cloudy. As stated this method prevents damage to the rear window defroster.

One thing I was to use a long pair of tweezers the one shaped like forceps to pull the tint. Kept my fingers away from the steam.

[blackproducer21]

You get a ticket in california if your windows ANY of your front windows are tinted. The 3 in the back are ok just not driver and passenger side... $175 EVEN IF YOU BOUGHT IT LIKE THAT!!!

[ggoodman1]

i just got a fix-it ticket in CA for my front 2 windows. $25 + Proof of correction. Not $175.

[sgrose]

True that!!! I am on this forum for that very reason. :( Stupid law.

[adamadamadam]

$250 in Chicago.

[Hellchild]

I know that. Its generally illegal everwhere if your widsheild is tinted. Not just California. and I dont see a reasonin "yelling" in the comments, i can still read it.

[nowheat]

My daughter's car just failed inspection due to heavily tinted windows. That's one reason, another, as stated in the article, is that it can be hard to see through tinted windows which affects ability to drive safely.

[earthcipher]

If you have yet to remove the tint please read my reply feed. I also was removing this tint for my daughter's (16) vehicle. Thanks

[Hellchild]

what kind of inspection?

[nowheat]

State of Texas, safety inspection.

[Hellchild]

is that a law that it has to be removed?

[billybobjhonson]

your tint can only be so dark before the cops make you take it off, for safety reasons

[mrlunna13]

I am from WA state In Seattle, And I have to take Coumadine (blood thinner) for the rest of my life, my Dr. gave me a note that I took yo the DOL and now I have a "permit" to drive my car with tinted windows.
I know this post is old, but to me it's new!

Cheers,

[Hellchild]

That's weak.

[earthcipher]

HI I know nothing about tint on vehicle windows but this instruction was awesome. I tweeked my steamer a little and got the Conair Compact Steamer(24.99 @ Walmart ) because it is 1000 Watts therefore much hotter. It took me about 20 min total. The tint pulled right off no glue residue just clear windows. Warning the condensation drips alot so be sure to have a towel around the head of the steamer so you don't get burned and to keep the water mess to a minimal. Thanks!!

[Ronnie MJII]

Thanks for the quick tip info. I own a 2004 Chevy SSR and the tent is getting a little old. So, I figure I'll just replace it. As well as you, I had a high quote for removal which was more than the actual tint job and that's insane to me. Once again I would like to thank you for saving me $Money$!! Ronnie MJII

[hundra]

hi! i live in the Philippines and i was looking for some DIY ways to remove tint on windows ... NOT WINDOWS ON CARS THOUGH. I recently signed a lease on a commercial space and I am removing the tint because I want my merchandise to be seen from outside. The place used to be an internet cafe (these areas are usually dimmed so that the computer screens are protected from the glare of our tropical sun). the windows are big (about 5ft x 2ft) and there are about 5 panels of them. Thank you for this instructables. I will post my results soon. ...and let me add, (that like a previous poster did) I just signed up here so that I can post a comment. I think this instructables is awesome.

[summer heat]

By reducing fading you increase the lifetime of your possessions, thereby saving replacement costs and maintaining drapes, paintings, photographs, carpets, and other surfaces far into the future.Window films are one of the most efficient way to decrease the transference of undesirable solar energy through your windows, and can provide up to 98% infared heat reduction when compared to unprotected windows. In addition, window films can reduce temperature imbalances in your home, office, or retail space, creating a more comfortable environment for you and your customers, clients and co-workers.

[pirateredbird]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your method works great. I took the tint off my wife's Z yesterday because she recently got a warning ticket from a Texas trooper. I was anticipating a messy problem. Some of my more mechanically inclined friends told me to not attempt doing it. But, I am stubborn and I decided to give it a try. Following your instructions it only took about 30 minutes and I had perfect looking windows with no tint or glue residue. This was great advice and it saved me money and now I have bragging rights with some of my gearhead friends.

[akaidabat]

Hey, I going to do this on my car soon. Thank for USEFUL advises ^.^

[tcmomo3]

One hour!! That's all it took to remove tinting off a 2002 Saturn we bought for our daughter. One hour, a $25.00 steamer, and a quick cleaning with window cleaner and and waa laa good as new. Thanks so much for the tip, you saved us hundreds of dollarss!!!

[cmrubin]

After two uneventful years of driving my Nissan, I got pulled over & was informed that the tint on the front windows was illegal. I was all ready to raise hell with the dealer who sold me the car (used) when a little on line research informed me that it isn't illegal to *sell* a car with tinted front windows in CA, only to *drive* it. Anyhow, let me add to the comments below by saying thank you so much for the excellent instructions. The steamer cost me $30, and that was the only expense. Doing both front windows took three hours, including getting all the little bits of glue that were left behind. For that, I used the steamer and a plastic ice scraper. You would never know there had been tint film on the windows. Thank you!