How to Clean Tinted Car Windows

Co-authored by Angel Ricardo and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: January 5, 2023 References Approved

Tinted windows can cool the interior of your car, give you more privacy, and make your ride look sleek. But when it comes time to clean your windows, it can be hard to know which products will protect your car and the tint inside. Fortunately, you can use any ammonia-free cleaning product to wipe down your tinted windows quickly and safely. You can make your windows look brand new again in a single afternoon!

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Choosing a Safe Cleaner

1
Make a homemade cleaner out of baby soap and rubbing alcohol. Take your empty spray bottle and rinse it to clean out any dust or residue from anything previously used in it, then add 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) of rubbing alcohol to the spray bottle along with a few drops of your baby soap. Now you can fill up your spray bottle with distilled water, screw on the cap, and swirl the contents to ensure a thorough mix.^{[1]
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- The alcohol in your cleaner, besides safely disinfecting the surface of your tint, will also help your cleaner to evaporate quickly and streak free. Alcohol also helps to dissolve grease and oils, like the kind that causes fingerprints, from the window^{[2]
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2
Mix equal parts water and white vinegar for a simple solution. In a spray bottle or a bucket, pour about 2 cups (470 mL) of water and 2 cups (470 mL) of white vinegar. Stir them up just slightly to mix them together and create a cheap and easy disinfectant.^{[3]
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- White vinegar is a great natural cleanser, and it also fights odors, too.
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3
Avoid ammonia-based cleaners. If you’re going to buy a window cleaner from the store, stay away from ones with ammonia in them, as they can make your tint peel off and fade. Instead, go for an ammonia-free window cleaner, like Sprayway, Ammonia-Free Windex, or ZEP.^{[4]
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- You can find most of these cleaners at hardware or automotive stores.
4
Test the cleaner on a small area of your windows first. Before you start spraying your windows down, pick a small section on one of the rear windows that isn’t too noticeable. Spray a little bit of your homemade cleaner onto the window, then use a microfiber cloth to wipe it off. If you notice any discoloration or streaking, don’t use your homemade spray on the rest of your windows.^{[5]
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- It’s better to test it out on a small portion of your car than to mess up all of your windows at once.
- If your homemade cleaner doesn’t work out, you can pick up an ammonia-free glass cleaner from most hardware and automotive stores.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Wiping Down Your Windows

1
Park your car in the shade. The sun tends to dry out your cleaning agents pretty quickly, which can lead to soap buildup and streaks. Find a shady area, like in a garage or underneath an overhang, to clean your car safely.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Angel Ricardo
Auto Technician
Expert Interview. 1 October 2019.}
- While you can work underneath a tree, make sure it’s not dropping sticky leaves or sap that might get on your car and dirty it up again.
2
Clean the rest of your car before moving to your windows. Windows are one of the most visible parts on your car, and accidentally spraying, splattering, or spreading dirtiness while cleaning other parts of your vehicle could lead to your window, and your tinting, becoming unnecessarily dirty again. You’ll want to clean the exterior and interior of your car thoroughly before you tackle cleaning your windows and the tinting on your windows.^{[7]
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Spray the cleaner on a towel, then wipe down the windows.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Angel Ricardo
Auto Technician
Expert Interview. 1 October 2019.} Grab a microfiber cloth and spray your cleaner once or twice on the towel. Use the cloth to wipe down the inside and the outside of your tinted windows, trying not to leave any streaks as you go.^{[9]
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- If you come across a particularly difficult stain, like bug spatter, you can loosen it by soaking it in your cleaner for a few minutes.
- Try not to saturate the edges of the tinting with your cleaner. If cleaner gets underneath your tinting, it could result in it losing stickiness and peeling away from the window.
- Using a microfiber cloth will ensure that you don’t accidentally scratch or scrape your windows. If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, use a clean cotton rag instead.
4
Wipe the cleaner away with a microfiber cloth. Immediately after you spray down your window, take your cloth and wipe it either up and down or left to right. Don’t let the cleaner dry on its own, or it could leave streaks on the surface of your window.^{[10]
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- You may want to wipe the tinting with strokes that are opposite to what you used on the outside of the window. For example, if you’ve wiped the outside of the window clean in a vertical fashion, you should wipe the inside in a horizontal fashion. This will make it easier for you to see where missed spots are located.
5
Dry the window with a clean microfiber cloth. Take a second microfiber cloth and wipe away any cleaner still left on your window. Save this cloth specifically for drying off your window, not wiping away any dirt or grime. This will keep your window cleaner and avoid scratching the surface as you go.^{[11]
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- Never use a paper towel to dry your windows. The rough surface of the paper could scratch your windows or your car.
6
Smooth out any bubbles in your tint with a credit card. If you notice any bubbles in the tint of your windows, wrap a credit card in a microfiber cloth and press on the surface of the bubble. Push the bubble out toward the edge of the tint to get the air out and smooth the surface of your window again.^{[12]
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- You can also use a window squeegee to push bubbles and creases out of your tint if you need to.
- If your tint has a lot of bubbles in it, you may need to get it replaced by a professional.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Is it okay to clean tinted windows during the day?

Angel Ricardo
Auto Technician
Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo's Mobile Auto Detail headquartered in Venice, California. With over 10 years of experience in mobile detailing, Angel continues to attend auto detailing trainings to improve his customer service and auto detailing skills.

Angel Ricardo

Auto Technician

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Yes, but I recommend you park your car somewhere in the shade to prevent the cleaner from drying on the surface.
Question

A coke exploded on my car's tinted window. I tried to clean it with ammonia-free window cleaner and it just made it stickier. It won’t wipe off. What can I do?

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Try using plain water first to get the soda off the window. Once most of the stickiness is gone, go back in with an ammonia-free cleaner to wipe away any streaks or residue.
Question

If I opened my window right after it was tinted and there are slight brush marks now from the inside of the door, will those go away?

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If you rolled down your window too early after the tint was installed, it may have scraped the adhesive off. Keep your window up for 2 to 4 days, then see if the marks go away. If they don't, you may need to get your tint replaced.

Warnings

Using coarse materials to clean your tint, like paper towel, newspaper, or scrubbing pads, can ruin the tint.

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Using ammonia-based products on tinted windows has a high likelihood of causing your tint to fade and/or deform. Always check the cleaner you are using for ammonia before using it on your tinted windows.

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Do not disturb the edges of the tint. Water or glass cleaner here could cause peeling or deformation.

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