Cleaning Guides

How to Clean Tinted House Windows Fast

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Tinted house windows are an excellent investment – they can protect your flooring and furniture from harmful UV rays, and they help keep your home cooler during the summer months. However, the process of cleaning your tinted windows can be a painstaking task – you have to be careful not to damage the film.

There are numerous window cleaning products made from ingredients that can harm a tinted glass window. The last thing you want is to strip the film off the window while cleaning it. Don’t worry though, because you’re about to learn how to clean tinted windows quickly without causing any damage.

Table of contents:

When do tinted house windows need cleaning?

Firstly, cleaning tinted house windows is not that different to cleaning regular windows. In most cases, it happens less frequently because light stains, which you’d usually clean on a regular window, are harder to notice due to the darkened look. Thanks to that, unless your windows get dirty during some vigorous event, like a wild party that leaves the house in need of professional cleaning, you shouldn’t worry about cleaning tinted windows more often than once every three or four months.

Secondly, if you recently installed the tint, then you should give the film at least four weeks to cure and adequately stick to the glass. Trying to clean it before the curing process has finished might create bubbles between the film layer and the glass. Not only do these bubbles look ugly, but they also shorten the lifespan of the tint by making it peel itself off sooner than expected.

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What to avoid when cleaning tinted windows

When wondering how to clean the tint of your windows, there are two everyday items you should scratch off your list – ammonia and baking soda. Both of these substances can cause harm to the fine film:

  • Ammonia – Highly damaging to most types of protective film. Its strong potential to tackle filth can cause scratches, or worse – whitening, which would defeat the purpose of tinting your windows in the first place. Also, ammonia is present in most standard window cleaning solutions you can find in shops. Unless the tint manufacturer has specifically labelled their film as ammonia-resistant, you should avoid cleaning products that contain the substance.
  • Baking soda – You should avoid using it, as well as any other abrasive substance, simply because you risk scratching and, eventually, causing the film to start peeling off. On top of that, baking soda’s abrasiveness can cause a sort of matte effect on some types of tints, reducing the glass’ overall transparency.
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How to clean tinted windows at home

The most valuable players on the “Tinted house window cleaning” team are vinegar, dish soap, and isopropyl alcohol. Any of these three can help you achieve that spot-free darkened glass look. Once you pick your champion, put a pair of gloves on and take an hour or two out of your daily schedule to tend to your windows.

The other tools you need are:

  • Microfibre cloth 
  • Spray bottle
  • Soft sponge

Cleaning tinted house windows with dish soap

Dish soap is often the first choice that comes to mind when you think about cleaning anything. It’s easily accessible, and mild brands of dish soap, in particular, are manufactured to protect the skin of your hands. Naturally, if it’s good enough for your hands, it’s good enough for cleaning your tinted windows. 

A simple recipe for a window tint soap mixture is 2 glasses of warm water and 1 teaspoon of mild dish soap. Spray it evenly on the tinted surface and use the soft sponge to rub the stains gently. After you finish, rinse the sponge with clean water, and use it to clean the soap off the glass. Polish the glass with the microfibre cloth, and you’re all set.

Clean house window tint with isopropyl alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol is a great product to use when cleaning your windows. The good thing about it is that it doesn’t just help break stains down. Isopropyl alcohol 70% is the most efficient alcohol-based disinfectant, which makes it favourable in the COVID-19 crisis. 

How to clean tinted windows with isopropyl alcohol:
1

Spray a good amount of isopropyl alcohol on any stains you see.

2

Use the soft sponge to rub the stains.

3

Spray the microfibre cloth with isopropyl alcohol and polish the window.

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Cleaning tinted windows with vinegar

Vinegar can do a great job cleaning your windows, but it’s strongly acidic, so you have to dilute it before you start. A good tinted window cleaner recipe is mixing one part distilled water with one part vinegar and a few drops of lemon juice. Shake the mixture well in your spray bottle and let it rest for a few minutes. After that, all you need to do is:

How to clean tinted windows with a vinegar solution:
1

Spray the tinted window cleaner on the film surface.

2

Give it a few more minutes to soak the stains.

3

Use the sponge to rub the glass clean.

4

Take the microfibre cloth and polish the surface until you feel satisfied with its look.

Of course, sometimes a tinted glass window can be way too smeary to clean using household supplies. If you feel like the matter might be out of your hands, hiring a professional window cleaner is always an option.

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Takeaways

  • Window tint needs time to cure after installation – never clean it right away.
  • Don’t use ammonia, baking soda, or other harsh substances.
  • Use a microfibre cloth or a very soft sponge to avoid damaging your tinted house windows.
  • Opt for isopropyl alcohol if you wish to further disinfect your windows on top of keeping them clean.

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