Cars can be a valuable asset. And given the chance, many people would love to secure their cars for as long as you can.
According to a report in “Cars and Drivers” magazine, Americans now maintain their cars longer than ever before. The average American can keep a car for 10.5 years.
Window tinting gives durability to cars because the film continuously blocks harsh UV rays that can damage the skin and cause car upholstery to fade.
However, window tinting on your car does more than protect the interior of your vehicle. A well-installed window tint can also protect you and your properties from prying eyes.
Most window tint solutions are made with baby shampoo. The baby shampoo lubricates the tint film, ensuring that the film does not glue to itself during installation.
So what happens when you want to install your tint film and don’t have baby shampoo? Perhaps you would want to satisfy your curiosity by trying out other solutions.
Here are steps to make a window tint solution without baby shampoo.
How You Can Make Window Tint Solution Without Baby Shampoo
Step #1: Get a saucepan:
Fill this saucepan or pot halfway with water.
Step #2: Add your favorite dish soap:
In the pot or saucepan, add 14 teaspoons of your dish liquid instead of baby shampoo. The soap is a degreaser; it helps to remove tar, dirt, and oil.
You can also use tint slime. There are no particles in tint slime, and it’s biodegradable. It is suitable to apply on interior surfaces.
Step #3: Add one or two tablespoons of alcohol:
The alcohol is a drying agent. It allows the water and soap molecules to evaporate fast, leaving the surface cleaned and blemish-free.
Step #4: Mix thoroughly:
Using a spoon, stir the soap solution to give a homogenous mix.
Step #5: Prepare your spray bottle:
Remove the sprayer from a spray container and set it aside.
Step #6: Fill the spray bottle with the mixture:
To avoid spilling the soap mixture, use a funnel to pour it into the spray bottle.Then, reattach the sprayer to the bottle. Make sure you fix the sprayer tightly to the spray bottle.
Now, you have your window tint solution. Although not always necessary, your mixture should produce a white foamy effect when spraying the tint solution with the bubbles.
Would You Love To Tint Your Car Window?
Many car owners wish to tint their windows to protect their vehicles’ interiors from the sun’s heat and harmful UV rays. However, not everyone knows how to install the window tinting film properly.
Before tinting, you need to check your state’s policies on car window tinting to avoid getting into trouble with the authorities. Some states in America, like Pennsylvania, require 70 percent light transmittance for car window tinting.
Although window tinting can be time-consuming, the steps below will show you how to tint your windows with a few essential tools.
Step #1: Clean the window glass:
Scrub the window glass thoroughly to ensure it is free of dirt. Also, it would help if you worked in a clean environment free of dust. Dust particles can make your glass tint have a bubble appearance if care isn’t taken.
In addition, you need to remove all car stickers or adhesives and wipe the surface carefully with a damp cloth. For thorough cleaning, use a mixture of warm water and detergent in a spray bottle.
Some people use ammonia to clean glass surfaces, but it isn’t advisable. Ammonia will make your tinted window appear purple by the time you’re done.
Afterward, wipe away the soapy water with a dry, clean rag. Next, wipe the gaskets down and clean as far as possible between the gasket and the glass.
Step #2: Separate the tint film layer from the liner:
The tint has a coating that you can peel off right before adhering to the window, similar to a sticker. Put one piece of tape to each side of the film’s edge. Make sure that half of the tape adheres to the film and the other half extends past the edge.
Afterward, spray the exterior window with enough soapy water. The water will allow the tint film to stick firmly but temporarily.
Step #3: Spread the tint film over your car window:
Roll out your tint film with the liner facing outwards towards you. Use scissors or a razor blade to trim off excess film edges.
Fix the film properly and ensure that the lower edge extends about one-half or one-quarter below the top of the window seal of the car interior.Make sure that you have enough tint film to cover the window edges all around.
Step #4: Spray the outside film liner with soapy water:
This step is necessary for the realignment of your tint film. Make sure you spray the outer liner with soapy water. It helps your film to stick to the window perfectly and to erase creases. You can trim excess film edges with a razor blade.
Step #5: Remove all air and bubbles:
Flatten all film on the outside of the window by pressing from top to bottom. You will see the line where air or bubbles are still stuck in the film if you press down.
You can use a heat gun along the bottom of the window to make sure everything is dry. After flattening out the overlapping strokes, use a blade to trim the excess film on the top edges of the car. However, it would be best if you opened the car door before cutting.
When trimming, gently hold and press the blade at a low angle. Do not press hard to avoid accidental scratches or damage to the glass. You don’t want to ruin your effort, so trim with caution.
Step #6: Prepare the interior glass of the car:
At this stage, you have to spray the inner glass with the soapy water you prepared earlier. Then, clean the windows thoroughly with a soft towel and dry with a low-lint cloth. Remember to clean between the window gaskets.
Step #7: Separate the two layers of the tint film:
Just like you’ve known that window tint works like a sticker. Now, it’s time to peel off the removable layer. This removable layer sticks to the tint film to keep the adhesive solid. You can start by pulling off the top half layer by using two pieces of tape.
While holding the tape on the film, pull it up and away from the window. Then, slowly separate the two layers to expose the adhesive. Avoid touching the sticky layer as much as possible.
You can now spray the exposed layer with clean water. The water makes it easier for the tint to glide, so you can perfectly align your window edge with the top edge of the tint.
Step #8: Stick the adhesive side of the tint film to the wet glass on the car interior:
Place the film on the window where it needs to be and gently hold it in place. Leave about ⅛ inch between the glass top and the tint film so the window tint doesn’t roll into the rails where it could fall off.
Now, your car is close to having that tinted appearance.
Step #9: Smooth out the creases and position the film on the window:
Remove trapped air bubbles by pressing in the middle and way down the window. At this time, water will drain behind the window film. Just wipe it with a cloth.
Fold back the bottom edge of the dye film to prevent residual dust from adhering to the film.
Step #10: Yippee! You’ve successfully tinted your car window:
However, allow the tinted glass to dry completely. You should wait seven days for the tint to dry and harden completely before rolling the window down.
If you roll down your car window while the window tint has not yet dried, the tint may peel off. Then, unfortunately, you may need to start all over again.
When Is The Best Time To Tint Your Windows?
The best time to get window tinting done is in the early spring and late fall. This is because temperatures are warmer, and humidity levels are lower in most parts of the country during these two seasons.
Please note that things are a lot different during summer and winter. The hot summer weather will speed up the curing process, but high humidity will make it more challenging to apply the tint effectively.
In contrast, the curing time is much longer in the winter due to the cold weather. Therefore, before rolling down the windows, you must be extra careful to confirm that the tinting has properly cured during this season.
Conclusion
The safety merits of placing window film on your car cannot be overstated. Window tinting offers more than aesthetic value. It also provides long-term protection for you and your vehicle.
However, to benefit from this protection, you must install your window tint with a high-quality tint solution, most times with baby shampoo. However, you can use your tint slime or favorite dish liquid as substitutes.
The soap removes grease, tar, dirt, and paints perfectly, while the tint slime is particulate-free and biodegradable.
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