Maintenance Tips & Tricks
Car window tint is an affordable way to spice up your vehicle.  It’s simple and you drive out in style.  That said without the right care, window tinting can end up bubbling and/or breaking down over time.
If you have recently had window tinting installed on your car, these tips are for you!  Following these tips can add years to the lifespan of your car’s tint.

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Expert Window Tint Cleaning Method
Ensure you wait for the Window Tint to Curate
Before cleaning the windows, ensure the tints have cured.  Your friendly window tint installer should give you an expected window (no pun intended) where the tint should cure.  Climate and wear/tear can affect these times, but the average time is between 10 and 20 days.


Wait a Week to Roll Down Windows
Do not roll down the windows in your care for 7-10 days after tint is installed.  As the tints haven’t fully cured, window roll downs can damage the tint’s finish.

Use the Best Products
Though car tints have a scratch-free coating, this is meant to protect the window from wear & tear.  This does not necessarily protect against the sharp or heavy objects.  Before cleaning the tints, ensure you only use gentle products that don’t leave scratches or scrapes.  Spokane Window Tinting recommendations:

• Clean rubber squeegees
• Rags of cotton
• Microfiber wiping cloth
• Window cleaning fabric
• Warm water with soap

Do not clean with the following:

• Scrapers or razors
• Steel sponges
• Vinegar
• Scrubbing pad
• Products with ammonia

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How to Clean Your Car’s Tinted Windows

• Spray cleaner sparingly
• Wipe down with a clean, microfiber cloth
• Rotate the cloth regularly to ensure you are wiping with a clean cloth
• Starting from the top, use a rubber squeegee to rub down the glass until dry
• Use a cloth to wipe off any cleaning residue from the windows

Cleaning Adhesive
To properly clean off residual glue or adhesive from tape or sticks, you will want to have a clean cotton cloth.  Dab that cloth with acetone.  This should remove the adhesive without damaging the window tint.  Finally, wipe the window down after cleaning.

Removing Bubbling
To Avoid Air Bubbles in your tint:

• Choose a high quality tinting film (3M is preferable)
• Let a professional install your windows
• Clean and maintain diligently

Sometimes it’s unavoidable to prevent bubbling to your windows.  Bubbles from your tint installation should disappear within two weeks of your window tint job.  If the tint doesn’t go away, follow these protocols:

1. Apply heat to the part of the window with air bubbles (can use a hair dryer or space heater).
2. Fill a spray bottle with tap water and mist the window until it’s moist.
3. Use a straight pin to poke a tiny hole in each bubble.
4. Ensure the windows are damp and still warm.
5. Using a card or small edge, smooth out bubbles.  The key here is to smooth toward the edge closest to the bubbles while moving slowly & consistently.
6. Dry the window with a gentle, non-lint cloth and give the window an inspection to see if the air bubbles are gone!

 
Increasing the longevity of your car window tint is something the every day car owner has the ability to do. Keep in mind these tips and strategies after you drive home with sleek new windows!
As always, for your next car tinting job call:

Spokane Window Tinting: (509) 992-1282

 The Skin Care Foundation has on their website an interesting piece titled 'Why Use Window Film?'.  In addition to alerting the visitors to our site to the Skin Care Organization article (link below), we wanted to summarize what was written by this outstanding organization.​

First off, Ultraviolet rays (UVR) are sneaky!  This is a direct-line from the article and goes to show that even the experts find UV rays difficult to track until you've been burned.  That said, extensive research has shown that drivers developed more skin cancer on the left side of their body (or right for right-side driving countries). This shows that ultraviolet rays are streaming through the driver-side windows as only the windshield comes with partial UV-blocking treatment. Long-time drivers were found to have:

• Rougher skin
• More pigmented skin
• Solar damage in their driver's side.

I don't know about you, but I am definitely a LONG-TIME DRIVER with no intentions of taking myself off the road!

This brings us to the call to action, window film for vehicle side windows (as well as Commercial & Residential) that was developed in the 1990s!  This such film, when developed with high quality materials like your friends at Spokane Window Tinting, can block up to 99.9% of ultraviolet rays from getting through to the human being inside.  This not only helps to prevent a sunburn, but also limits the exposure to sun that accumulates and results in skin aging.  All of which increase one's odds of getting skin cancer.  The article also points out that window tinting film also can be 'lifesavers' for people living with diseases that involve dangerous photo-sensitivity, examples of which are xeroderma pigmentosum & lupus.  

Overall, a great read that really hits home about the importance of window tinting film!  All of this from an organization who works to fight a vicious disease.  For more information, the link to the article can be found below.  Thanks for your time on Spokane Blogspot!

​https://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/window-film/windows

As we grind through the post-holiday winter months, the last thing likely on your mind in the film of your home windows.  If you left increasing the efficiency off your 2019 New Year's resolution list, we're here to provide you with reasons to consider tinting your home windows before the summer months are here.  Residential window tint offers a vast array of benefits to home owners, let's discuss 7 reasons to tint your home:

1. Increase Privacy- is there anything more intrusive than a creepy neighbor or having windows exposed to the general public.  This is especially important if you live in a more urban, high-traffic area of Spokane.  Window tinting film allows you to increase your privacy while you're in the comfort of your home while not blocking any treasured natural sunlight from entering.  You and your family will feel more secure in your home knowing strangers can't peer into your dining room!
2. Save Big on Energy- Applying residential window tint film to your home is a prime way to save on energy costs.  With our high-quality films, home windows will drip out less heat and air conditioning.  This equals heat being repelled during the summer and conserved in the winter.  This reduction in the airflow within your home gives your HVAC system a rest and saves you money on electricity and fuel costs.
3. Protect Humans from UV Rays- It's almost inconceivable, but if you are living a home without tinted windows, the sun's rays are coming through and affecting you are your family during the day.  Now instead of being overly OCD and asking your family to wear sunscreen while in your home to protect from harmful UV damage, we suggest tinting your windows!  Window tint film can block out up to 99% of UV rays- leaving you, your family and your guests to enjoy the day without exposing your skin.
4. ​Protect Home Furnishings- The quickest way to fade and dull the furnishing of your home is through excessive exposure to sunlight.  We all treasure the beautiful summer days in Spokane, but don't let your furniture, electronics and artwork fade because too much sunlight is hitting them.  Our Residential Tinting Film provides UV protection that will help reduce dulling and color fading in the items that help decorate and power your home.
5. ​Control Breaks or Window Cracks- nobody wants to think of their windows being broken or damaged.  Unfortunately it is a reality when you have a home.  Whether that's due to freezing temperatures or violent storms, something as innocent as a bird nosediving or less innocent as a home burglar- it happens to the best of us. Adding tinting film adds a layer of protection so that your window break will occur in a controlled fashion that eliminates shattering.  This helps protect broken glass shards from doing harm in the future and causing a risk for your family.
6. Upgrade the Style of Your Home- let's be honest, tinted windows look cool.  Frankly, it adds a look of luxury and elegance to your home that can't be had with exposed window film.  Who doesn't want their home to have a dark tint that looks sleek and stylish this summer?  There is a reason hotels, luxury cars, limousines and places of style favor dark windows.  Get on board with upgrading your home and see how much better it makes you feel in turn.
7. Eliminate Sunlight Glare- is there anything worse than trying to take a sun break on a hot summer day and not being able to avoid the glare?  Even when drawing the blinds, the sun has a pesky way of penetrating windows without tinting film.  Avoid this hassle and inconvenience by adding a layer of tint film so that the sunlight is comfortable reflected off your window instead of seeping through.  This makes you and your family more comfortable in your house and a happy family equals a happy life!

For more information, follow the link to our Residential Window Tinting service page and feel free to give Spokane Window Tinting a call at 509-992-1282 today! 

Welcome to the Spokane Blogspot- home to the blog of Spokane Window Tinting.

5 Reasons to Tint your Car Windows:

1. Clearer View- if you are driving in the summer, or on another sunny Spokane sunny day, you're used to putting your front mirror down or whipping your shades on.  This need is greatly reduced with car window tinting 99% of the UV glare is blocked out via our film installation. This better view leads to more relaxed driving and; in turn, safer roads.
2. Fewer UV Rays- as skin cancer is found more often on the left side of American's face, conclusions have been made that sunlight entering through the driver-side window has attributed to such higher instances. UV protection is important to most people often in our lives.  Parents don't typically let their kids go outside without applying sunscreen, so why do we drive in windows that aren't offering sun protection?  Protect your passengers from harmful UV rays with a tint job on your car.
3. Security- when do you cars typically get belongings stole from them?  It's not while being driven or parked securely in a garage.  It's when they are parked on the street or parking lot.  More often than not, the potential thief looks inside the car before committing to breaking in and taking what he's seen.  This process is made much harder with tinting as it'll take a lot more work to see inside.  This difference is enough to keep a potential thief from breaking your window and drawing attention to the situation.
4. Stay Cooler in the Hear- Our car tinting films not only block out UV rays, but help to reflect heat from getting into the body of the vehicle.  Instead of the heat being trapped in your car, you can enjoy the cool comfort of your ride without the blistering heat that causes you to sweat during your commute.  Who hasn't driven to work on a sunny day and gotten out feeling like you just took a swamp tour in the bayou?  Our tinting film reflect heat and help keep your interior naturally cool.  This will help if you can't find a shady parking lot that day or have to do frequent day trips for your job.
5. Style- okay, let's be honest.  Tinted windows are cool.  It's that simple.  You can deny it or say you don't notice, but seeing a car go by in tinted windows immediately catches your eye.  There's a certain level of swagger that you are missing out on if you have never had your windows tinted.  You might feel the need to turn the song up a little louder and get that head knocking because you feel so damn free!  This is something that is less technical but customers rave about days after tinting their windows.  Not only do you feel the privacy of not having to look at every driver at a red light but your car looks sleek.  No wonder every limo or party bus around has their windows tinted- it's how the royalty was meant to be on the roads.  Join the team!

We hope ya'll have enjoyed our first blog post.  Look for many more to come this year as we increase our internet presence in order to reach more our beloved Spokane customers.  For more information, give us a call at (509) 992-1282 or visit our Automotive Tinting service page.