Auto Window Tinting Guide 101: How to Take Care of Your Tints
Auto window tint is not an uncommon process for most drivers, especially for those located in relatively hotter parts of America like Arizona. But despite this, there’s still a good number of car owners who struggle maintaining their paint protection films in good condition.
Admittedly, the best auto window tint is not hard to take care of but without a good understanding of what works for window film and what doesn’t, its quality might deteriorate in the long run. Make the most out of the investment you’ve put on your window tinting films with the help of SmartFilm’s Auto Window Tint Care Guide!
The Best Care Guide For Window Tint
Maybe you’ve already installed window films to your vehicle in hopes of blocking both heat and uv rays or you could be thinking of investing on auto window tinting service but unsure of the proper aftercare it needs.
Regardless of, SmartFilm’s comprehensive care guide is for everyone who wants to maintain the good quality most types of window tint comes in. To start, let’s divide the tinting into two; caring for newly installed tints and caring for older films.
Here’s the Dos and Don’ts for freshly tinted vehicles!
Do Keep You Your Windows Rolled Up
Avoid rolling down your windows right after the installation service. Drivers may feel the benefits of newly tinted windows instantly but the same thing can’t be said to its adhesive. Depending on the type of tint, it takes about two to four days for the glue to truly set and if your kids roll down your rear windows before they get the chance to do so, they might peel.
Keep this rule in mind especially if your tinted windows are not insured or don’t have guarantees. For instance, if you decided to tint your vehicle on your own with a tint kit, you probably don’t have a guarantee in comparison to those who had their professionally installed on tinting shops like SmartFilm.
Don’t Worry About Hazy Window Tint
It’s understandable to feel concerned when you discover water pockets in your freshly tinted side windows but as we’ve mentioned earlier, it takes a while for the film to truly set into your car. Avoid immediately panicking and jumping into the conclusion that it’s because of poor window tint installation techniques.
Leave your vehicle for a few days and see if anything changes. It might take a while for the water to evaporate depending on the climate of the environment you’re in. If they don’t go away after a couple of weeks, don’t be afraid to contact your tint shop.
Should you have installed the car window tinting by yourself, you might want to have it checked by a professional installer. Car tinting is a pretty complicated and delicate process and if not done the right way, drivers might end up having it removed completely.
Do Wait Before Cleaning Tints
Wait for the entire tint to set before you proceed with cleaning it. Again, the tint must be completely cured before drivers do anything that could affect its adhesive.
If you’re confident the auto tinting have been cured completely and has set itself down on glass surfaces, you can now start cleaning it! You can lightly wipe it with a microfiber cloth or a soft paper towel. We’ll discuss the best solution you can use in maintaining your tints later on.
Now that your car tint’s all set and have been installed for a while now, let’s discuss how you can help maintain its great quality and longevity!
Do Note Window Tint is Not Invincible
Tints are high-quality products that are scratch-resistant — but it doesn’t mean it’s invincible. Light scratches caused by young kids and pets are alright but the ones caused by sharp objects or hard edges might cause a bigger problem.
With this in mind, you must be careful in loading and unloading anything that has sharp edges, even your seat belt. People don’t often notice how its metal buckle hits their windows and at its worst, it could tear a part of your tinting.
Do Consider The Solution You Use on The Tints
As we’ve mentioned earlier, solutions or glass cleaners can affect the quality of your tint. This is because the mechanical bond between the film and the glass is susceptible to certain chemicals. Some might degrade the bond between them and cause the tint to bubble or film.
One chemical that you should watch out for is ammonia. It’s one of the main culprits among the several solutions out there and is responsible for attacking the tint’s adhesive. Once used, it will creep under the film and breakdown what’s holding the glass and the tint together.
While a lot of manufacturers avoid ammonia, it’s best that car owners check the labels of the products they buy before using them.
Preserving The Greatest Tints
One of the greatest precautions car owners can do in preserving their automotive window tints is by installing it properly.
Undeniably, buying pre-cut window tints and doing the tint application by yourself will save you money but it exposes you to factors that can ruin your investment like air bubbles and water pockets. Aside from this, improper installation techniques could affect the adhesive of the tint, therefore affecting its longevity and its ability to block UV rays, reducing heat up to 60 percent.
Did you know that a professionally installed tint blocks up to 99 percent of UV rays? If you want to ensure that your UV protection and heat rejection ceramic tint lasts for a very long time, it’s best that you have it professionally installed!
