Plastic stuck on glass sunroom window. How do I get it off?

Question

We bought our home in Nov. 2013 and I noticed in the sunroom (built on the back patio slab) that the North window had this plastic (very thin) stuck on it. It's as if the previous owner used a paste or the heat to stick plastic. It's ugly and not uniform. It clouds the view and I want to get it off w/o scratching the glass. Does anybody have any natural ideas. I'm sensitive to chemicals, but can handle them with care. So I won't turn away ANY ideas. Thanks! Michelle

Dee · Answer

Try fabric softener in a spray bottle. Let it sit and then use a razor blade to scrape it off.

Joy · Answer

try a hair dryer.

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

Sounds as though there was a radiant barrier film installed on the glass. Simply use a safety razor and carefully scrape the film off. Its not glued on, although it seems that way. The plastic film over years becomes brittle and darkens which is why it looks as it does. 
Its a time consuming project. No chemicals or soaps are going to work as the surface is plastic and liquids will not get through the surface to do any good. 
Once you got the majority of the film off, then a good quality ammonia based window cleaner and another fresh razor will remove the gooey film left over. Buy lots of blades and a good quality holder as your going to go through a lot of them and your hands are going to be tired. 
Once your all done when it gets dark out. Take a lit match and hold it close to the glass surface. Look for how many reflections of the flame it is that you see. If you have a double pane glass that is not low E type you will only see two flames in the reflection. Thus the reason for the film being installed. If you see three flames then you have Low E glass and the film that was installed was simply used to darken the room preventing light from coming in. You do not want a low E film installed on glass that already has it as it will prevent the radiant Low E barrier from working at all. 
 have fun, its not a fun job and there are no quick tricks for it.

Johnavallance82 · Answer

HEAT IT UP AND IT SHOULD GRADUALLY PEEL OFF. Probably used to keep cold out. Contact a Company that supplies these Foils for windows as they should be able to tell you what to do.

Ann|The Apple Street Cottage · Answer

Warm it with a blow dryer and gently lift it off. A plastic scraper will help.

Deb K · Answer

Hello, hope this helps. Warm it up and use a plastic scraper gently to scrape it off.

Betsy · Answer

Hi Michelle: What you can try is to heat it up with a hair dryer, but not on a cold day as it may crack the glass, and peel it off if you can, using a plastic putty knife. Then, try using WD40 to remove the glue, again using a plastic putty knife. Let it sit on the glue for a few minutes to work. That stuff's great for many uses :) Then wash the window.

Redcatcec · Answer

Since it is on the north side it probably has not had as much direct sun as the other windows, I would use the hairdryer as well, scrape gently with a single edged razor blade. If you can get the film off and some adhesive remains, WD 40 would cut that.

Mogie · Answer

Spray soapy water on the glass to soften the adhesive or any portions left. Using a razor blade, remove any remaining residue while being careful not to scratch the glass. Keep adding soapy water to loosen the adhesive. Wipe the surface using glass cleaner and a microfiber towel or soft sponge.

Janice · Answer

A clothes steamer will work to remove.

Kathy Gunter Law · Answer

Heat with a blow dryer or heat gun to loosen then you can clean the residue off.

Johnavallance82 · Answer

Deb K · Answer

Hi Michelle, sounds like the previous owners didn't remove the protective film when they built this room. The main method of removing film is to use heat to melt the glue from the film, for example with a heat gun, hairdryer, or spray bottle. Use heat starting with the corner of the glass that you have previously grabbed and, as soon as it starts to peel, heat new areas of the adhesive to remove it. Or acetone, isopropyl alcohol, or a window film adhesive remover are all very effective in breaking down the glue which can then be wiped or scraped off.

Plastic stuck on glass sunroom window. How do I get it off?

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Plastic stuck on glass sunroom window. How do I get it off?

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