How to clean Perforated Vinyl Window Film and Decals

Does anyone know a good method of cleaning this:

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My specific issue is when the film is installed on the exterior of the glass, and does not have a clear coat layer on top.

I have recently switched to gg4 (which does not foam like soap) and am noticing the the little holes are actually filled with dry soap from my previous Dawn Days. If I clean it like I normally would clean a pane of glass, you can see the strokes from my squeegee especially from the inside. And the old soap scum dries white in the holes.

Next time I am probably going to rinse the film with pure water, and maybe dry it with a bath towel or something. I don’t know. If anyone has a good method for cleaning these I would love to hear it.

I have one I do every 8 weeks with Dawn. I squeegee off what comes off initially than take huck towels folded in fourths to wipe it down, flipping over as it absorbs wet solution caught in the perforations. A 10 ft by 6 ft window takes about 3 towels.

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I use hand towels from Costco, which absorb a lot of water. Squeegee, then slowly run the towel over it to give the water time to wick.

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Thanks guys! Looks like towels to absorb solution is the best way. Thanks again.

WFP will clean it but everything else is gonna be a pain

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I wouldn’t use a bath towel. Too much lint. Those little holes are abrasive on a towel. Have also wondered how to clean this holey stuff. Where I’m at, nobody cleans them, and their all sandy and crusty, looks terrible. I just live with it, nobody wants to pay to have it cleaned. And I won’t do it for a buck a pane.

Show them a one square foot section of how it looks when properly cleaned. They can look at that clean area (In a prominent spot) all day long and call you later to do the rest at your price. :wink:

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Pure water cleaning is the most efficient. Maybe carry a backpack filled for those windows with signs.

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Do it right in the middle of the window though!

They’re common here in Palm Springs on gas stations and other businesses that like to use them for a sunscreen. They always seem to be frayed at the edges and dried out from the heat. I used to squeegee and dry with a towel but the edges were knicking my rubbers, thus requiring premature replacement. Now I use an indoor pad, misted with Sprayway to run over them.

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Sounds like the best idea. Based on what others have said previously, I think I need to use my backpack sprayer with distilled water to rinse all of the soap out of the holes, and once that is done, I will try to use a pad and Sprayaway like you said to maintain it.

Does sprayaway work ok in freezing temps? @ShineproWC

My understanding of Sprayway is that it contains alcohol, this could possibly inhibit freezing, although I’m not completely sure on that.