How To Maximize The Life Of Your Tint
Window tint for your home, business, or vehicle is a smart investment that you’ll want to maximize the life of long after installation. Even high-end window tint films are not invincible, but proper care only requires a few basic considerations. Below are general care guidelines for all window tint, as well as things to consider for prolonging the life of commercial, residential, and auto tint.
General Tint Care Recommendations
- Wait the amount of time specified by your tint installer before cleaning newly tinted windows. The film needs time to cure, and cleaning before that time could remove or permanently damage the tint.
- During the curing period, be especially careful about physical contact with the tint film.
- Don’t use abrasive materials to clean your tinted windows. Microfiber cloth and rubber squeegees are generally a good choice. Even paper towels and cotton shirts are often too abrasive.
- Cleaning solutions with harsh chemicals can damage your tint. Ammonia-based cleaners are especially known for deteriorating the adhesive in the film. Use ammonia-free cleaning products, or simply soap and water.
Residential and Commercial Tint
- If you plan to hire someone to clean your home or business for you, inform them that your windows have tint and which cleaners are safe to use.
- For floor to ceiling windows, avoid placing furniture directly against the glass.
- Choose window treatments that are soft. Hard plastic, metal, or wood blinds clanking against the glass could slowly scratch and chip away at the tint film over time.
- Prevent pets with long nails from pawing at windows and doors.
- If your film had to be applied on the exterior side of the windows, bird droppings and tree sap can cause damage and should be cleaned off regularly.
Auto Tint
- Follow your tint installer’s recommendations for how long you need to wait before you can roll down your windows after installation.
- Keeping your car in a garage lessens the UV and heat exposure to the film, making it last longer.
- Tell your detailer about your tint and which cleaners are safe to use.
- Watch out for small, vertical scratches appearing along the tint. This could mean your window guide, or another component is out of alignment and scraping the glass. A mechanic can investigate this and correct the issue.
- Take care when loading and unloading objects with sharp and hard edges that could scrape against the windows.
- Don’t fling seatbelts or key-chains, as they can chip your tint film if they hit a window.
Keep in mind that a professional installation of a high quality tint film will always outlast cheap alternatives and be more resistant to scratching, bubbling, and fading. See our FAQ page for more information about tint film types, installation, and care, or contact us!
AP Corp is the leading installer of window tint in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. For more information on the average lifespan of window tint, or for suggestions on how to maximize your tint’s lifespan, give us a call today!