Guide 4 of 4 · Install

How to install your film, and take it off later

Both SHINECOR films go on wet, with mild soapy water. Generous water lets you slide the film into place before it grips. One person can do it; a second pair of hands makes a large pane easier.

  1. Clean
  2. Peel
  3. Wet & align
  4. Squeegee
  5. Let it dry
  6. Removal

What you need

  • In the tube: your film, a squeegee and instructions.
  • From home: a spray bottle of water with a few drops of liquid soap.
  • Also: a razor blade, glass cleaner and a towel.
Real install

Watch one go on

A real install on a sunny window: peel, place, squeegee. It is our rainbow film; the frosted film installs the same way.

15 seconds, no sound. It only loads when you press play.

1Step 1

Clean the glass

Spray soapy water onto the glass and gently scrape it with a razor blade. This lifts dust and fine bits that cleaner alone won’t remove. Pay extra attention to corners and edges near the frame: leftover bits make small air bubbles under the film.

Finish with glass cleaner and a towel until the glass is spotless. The final look depends on how clean the glass is.

Water drops appear on a window, then a blade wipes down the glass and leaves it clean. Spray, scrape gently, wipe until spotless
Clean glass = fewer bubbles

2Step 2

Peel the liner

Lay the film flat, peel back one corner and slowly separate it from the protective liner. Keep the adhesive side facing up.

Hands peeling the liner off a sheet of rainbow window film next to a window.
Peeling the liner, from the real install video.
A sheet of film slides off its liner, adhesive side up. liner filmadhesive side up Peel back one corner, then slowly the rest
Slow and steady

3Step 3

Wet both, then align

Mix soapy water: water with a few drops of liquid soap. Spray it generously onto both the adhesive side of the film and the window.

Generous wetting is the key: it lets you slide and line up the film on the glass before it grips.

A hand smoothing freshly placed rainbow film on wet glass.
Placing the film on wet glass.
Water drops cover the glass, then the film slides in from the left and lines up with the glass. Wet both, then slide the film into place
Plenty of water = room to slide

4Step 4

Squeegee from the center out

Spray a little water onto the front of the film so the squeegee glides. Start in the center and push outward toward the edges to move all the water out.

Made a mistake? Peel the film back, spray more soapy water and try again.

A squeegee pressing rainbow window film onto glass.
Squeegee work, from the real install video.
A squeegee starts in the center of the film and pushes right, left, up and down toward the edges; the water drops disappear. From the center out to the edges
Center → edges, every direction

5Step 5

Let it dry

A little trapped water is normal. It evaporates within the first week.

Wait a few days before you give the window a final cleaning.

Small trapped water bubbles under the film shrink and disappear while seven day boxes fill in.Trapped water evaporates in the first week
Small water bubbles dry out within a week

Later on

Taking it down

Both films use a low tack adhesive. When it is time for a change, lift a corner and peel the film away: it comes off without residue.

Renting? Check your lease before you put anything on the glass.

A corner of the film lifts and the whole sheet peels away, leaving clean glass.✓ Clean glass Lift a corner and peel it away slowly
Peels away without residue
Questions?

Steamy bathrooms, night views, textured glass

Short, honest answers to the questions people ask before they order.

Tips & honest answers