How to Clean Window Film

Window Film Maintenance: Cleaning Window Film

Tim Traxler 3M, Tips & Tricks

You’ve invested in window film installations around your home or office, and now you’re interested in window film maintenance. When it comes to cleaning your windows, it’s important to do your research and use the right products to avoid scratching or peeling your film.

We’ve created a step-by-step guide with instructions and the best store-bought and homemade products to use to clean window film.

DIY: Make Your Own Window Film Cleaner

To create your own window film cleaning solution, you’ll need:

  • The softest sponge you can find
  • A large bowl or small bucket filled with warm water
  • A squeegee
  • Mild, liquid dish soap
  • A lint-free towel
  1. To begin, squirt a small amount of mild dish soap into your bowl or bucket. Swirl your sudsy solution around in the bowl until bubbles form and squeeze out your sponge a bit.
  2. Starting in a corner of the window, use gentle, circular motions until you’ve touched every inch of the glass.
  3. Quickly take your squeegee to a top corner of the window and begin to firmly wick the solution downward in a straight line, overlapping each stroke as you make your way across the window. You want to do this before the solution dries to avoid streaking.
  4. Take your lint-free towel and gently wipe the solution from the bottom window frames. If streaking occurs, follow up with a gentle glass cleaning solution listed below.

How to Maintain Window Film with A Store-Bought Solution

If you’re looking for quick window film maintenance, you’ll need:

  • Your average glass cleaning solution like Windex (see recommendations below)
  • A lint-free towel

Once you’ve gathered the supplies. You’ll want to follow these steps:

  1. With your lint-free towel at the ready, spray your cleaning solution into one corner of the window.
  2. Wipe the solution away in a circular motion. Do not leave the cleaning solution on the windows for more than 10 seconds before wiping.
  3. Continue to clean the window in small sections, using a circular motion.

The Best Window Cleaners for Window Film

Common cleaning solutions, including ammonia-based products like Windex, can be used to clean the surface at least 30 days after application. Invest in lint-free towels instead of wipes or paper towels that may scratch your film.  We recommend:

Residential 3M Window Film is backed by a lifetime warranty that lasts as long as you own your home. To add years to your window film, we recommend treating your film with the utmost care. Be gentle when cleaning your windows and remember to use a soft sponge or lint-free rag. For more tips on cleaning window film or information about installations, call PA Window Tint today!

PA Window Tint is celebrating 50 years of service to Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. Give us a call to learn more about the benefits of window film and we’ll pair you with one of our knowledgeable representatives. PA Window Tint is offering you a free estimate and $100 off of your first 8 windows ( minimum of 100 sq ft ) until December 31, 2018. Make the smart move and save money on your electric bills this winter with PA Window Tint!