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Apply Heat-Reducing Window Film

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15 Tips To Help Cool Your House This Summer + Lower Energy Cost

What happens here

Apply heat-reducing window film to windows that receive a lot of direct sunlight. This film acts like car window tint, blocking heat waves and UV rays from entering your home, thus keeping interior spaces cooler and protecting furnishings from fading. Installation is straightforward: first, thoroughly clean the window glass as you normally would. Then, using a spray bottle, apply a solution of water and a small amount of children's shampoo to the window. Peel the backing off the film and apply the sticky side to the wet window. Spray the outside of the film with more of the solution to make it easier to position. Ensure about an inch of overlap around all edges. Use a squeegee or a credit card to push out all air bubbles and excess solution from the center outwards. Finally, use a sharp blade (like a utility knife) with a credit card as a guide to trim off the excess film along the window frame, leaving a small gap (1/16-1/32 inch) around the edges for the solution to evaporate.

Goal: Block heat and UV rays from entering through windows

Tools and materials

  • Cleaning Cloth — Cleaning the window before film application
  • Spray Bottle — Applying water-shampoo solution to the window and film
  • Squeegee — Removing air bubbles and excess solution from the film
  • Utility Knife — Trimming excess film
  • Children's Shampoo — Creating a slippery solution for film application
  • Heat-Reducing Window Film — Blocking heat and UV rays
  • Water Tap water — Mixing with shampoo for film application solution