How to Remove the Front Windshield Film of a Car?
4 Answers
Methods to remove the front windshield film of a car are as follows: 1. Use a wallpaper knife to lift a corner (the car window film is attached inside the car); 2. Slowly peel off the film. 3. Then, you need to remove the adhesive; wiping with some gasoline will help clean it better; 4. After that, you can apply a new film. More details are as follows: 1. There are many reasons for waves in the front windshield film of a car. If the waves are caused by water, use a hair dryer to blow them away or leave the car under the sun to dry; the water stains will disappear, and the bubbles on the film will also be removed. 2. If the bubbles do not disappear, peel off the film and reapply it following the film application process. However, it's generally better to avoid applying the film yourself as poor technique may result in more bubbles. 3. If the bubbles are caused by poor-quality film, puncture the bubbles and use a brush to smooth them out, and the bubbles will disappear. 4. If the bubbles are caused by excessive dust, it's best to take the car to a professional for treatment. In such cases, it's usually necessary to replace the film with a new one.
Never yank off the windshield film by force! Having handled over a hundred cars, the key is to first evenly heat the film surface for 2-3 minutes with a heat gun (a hair dryer on the hottest setting works too). Once the adhesive softens, quickly use a small blade to lift a corner. When peeling, pull parallel to the glass at a steady speed while reapplying heat to prevent the adhesive from resticking. Crucial tip—use adhesive remover sprayed on a towel to wipe off residual glue in circular motions 2-3 times for instant cleanliness. Finally, rinse twice with glass cleaner, or else the wipers will skid dangerously! For cars with rearview mirror bases, remember to detach the base before peeling, or the edge adhesive will surely crack. The whole process takes just half an hour, but be gentle with older, fragile glass.
Last time I helped my dad remove the windshield film from his old Crown, and I finally figured out the trick. You don’t need any professional tools—just a plastic scraper and 75% alcohol will do. Before peeling, lift the window seal to avoid scratches, then use a bank card to pry open a small triangular gap—yes, a bank card, as metal tools can easily damage the glass. If the film is severely aged and crumbles, just cover it with a wet towel for half an hour to soften the fragments, then scrub in circles with the rough side of a dish sponge. The trickiest part is the gap around the rearview mirror—soak a cotton pad with nail polish remover, press it on for five minutes, and the residue will come off easily with tweezers. Finally, leave the window slightly open for two hours to let the glue smell dissipate before closing it.
I learned the hard way about DIY film removal. The consequence of peeling it off without heating first was leaving tiny adhesive spots all over the glass, and I even scratched three marks with a steel wool pad! The correct procedure is: Remove ETC devices and dashcams, let the glass cool below 40°C. Use a heat gun at 15cm distance, sweeping back and forth until you hear crackling sounds indicating adhesive melting. Start peeling from the driver-side corner for easiest handling, being careful not to roll the film too tightly - rolls exceeding 30cm tend to snap. For adhesive residue, essential balm works better than professional removers, but you must follow up with a glass degreaser afterwards, otherwise oil stains will glare under night lights.
