Window panes have the advantage that they are smooth and adhesive residues can be removed relatively easily, in contrast to window frames. In order to remove them without leaving any residue, the adhesive used is crucial.
Different adhesives - different auxiliaries
While some adhesives come off easily, others take a lot of effort. In addition to heat-unstable hot-melt adhesives, there are also grease- and water-soluble adhesives. Water-soluble is z. B. Acrylate adhesive, which is used, for example, for double-sided adhesive tape and packaging tape. Heat-sensitive hot melt adhesives can be found on numerous stickers and fat-soluble ones on paper labels that are often attached to new windows. But how exactly do you remove adhesive residues from the window pane and frame?
Remove glue residue with heat
Can the adhesive residue be removed with heat or dissolve in hot air, it is probably a hot melt adhesive, which many manufacturers use for stickers, stickers and labels. The classic hair dryer is the method of choice here.
- Set the hairdryer to the medium level
- Direct the air stream at the adhesive residue to be removed for about two minutes
- Heat softens and melts glue
- Remove the glue residue immediately after heating
- Ideally with a scraper
- Never use sharp objects
Tip: In any case, you should work quickly, because if the adhesive cools down, it solidifies again and the procedure starts all over again. It is also important not to set the hairdryer to the highest level, because too much heat could break the glass.
Fat or oil
Stickers made of paper, for example, are fat-soluble. But there are also plastic labels that can be coated with fat-soluble adhesives. Hence, the best way to remove them is with fat.
- It is best to remove plastic labels and glue with oil
- Treat paper labels only with butter or margarine
- First gently peel off the corners or edges of the sticker
- Then rub or brush stickers or adhesive residues with grease or oil
- Additional heating of the surface can be beneficial
- Then let the whole thing work for a while
- Now carefully peel off the sticker
- Remove the glue residue with a scraper
- Or remove with a damp cloth
Tip: If in doubt what kind of adhesive it is, one should generally start with heat and, if it is unsuccessful, try water, then oil and only then alcohol.
water
A good means of removing water-soluble adhesives such as acrylate adhesives is, of course, water, ideally mixed with a little washing-up liquid. The condition of the adhesive is particularly important here. As a rule, you soak the sticker, if it still exists, otherwise only the adhesive residue, with warm water and washing up liquid. It should be possible to remove the sticker and adhesive after a short time. If the carrier is brittle and the underlying adhesive is not too hard, it can also be pretreated with heat if necessary and the adhesive residue can then be washed off with warm soapy water.
Spirit, acetone or petroleum ether
If the glue residue is particularly stubborn, the last measure you can use is alcohol, benzine or acetone in the form of nail polish remover. To do this, put some of the respective liquid on a cloth and use it to moisten the adhesive residue. If necessary, the whole thing has to be repeated. If the sticker is still there, it is advisable to remove the corners and edges beforehand, if possible. This allows the cleaner to bond better with the adhesive. Are all glue residues removed,
you wipe with clear water and dry the window pane.Tip: With these means, care must be taken that only the pane and no polished or otherwise sensitive materials such as plastic-coated window frames come into contact with it. Otherwise these could become dull.
Label removers
Special label removers are available in stores with which almost any sticker or label can be removed. remove the adhesive residue. The application should be based on the manufacturer's specifications. Usually the agent is sprayed onto the sticker or glue. It has to take effect there for some time so that the adhesive can be removed easily.
Remove adhesive residue from the frame
Adhesive residues from stickers or labels can remain not only on the window pane, but also on the frame. The difference here is the respective surface, because the frame can be made of plastic or wood.
- Lacquered wooden frames are more sensitive than untreated ones
- Treat adhesive residue on the lacquered frame with a hair dryer and cooking oil
- Loosen on unpainted wood using a grinding machine
- Or with a steel wool sponge
- For plastic frames, use acetone-free nail polish in addition to heat
- In some places, the use of adhesive tape (scotch tape) is also helpful
- To do this, cut off a strip of scotch tape
- Then press firmly on the adhesive to be removed
- Then pull it off with a jerk
- At best, glue residue should stick to it
- Usually several attempts are necessary