Removing Paint from Windows

Written by April Reinhardt (last updated July 25, 2022)

Perhaps you've moved into an old house and the window frames have been painted and repainted many times, leaving paint marks on the glass. Or perhaps you've taken an afternoon to paint your window frames without taking the time to properly tape around the glass, leaving overspray or brush marks on the glass. Whatever your reason for needing to remove paint from windows, the following instructions can help. You'll need dishwashing liquid, water, a bucket, a six-inch razor blade, clean rags, a squeegee, and a Dobie Scrotch-Brite cleaning pad, or similar pad that won't scratch when scouring. Here's how to remove paint from windows:

  1. Fill your bucket with warm water, and add several squirts of dishwashing liquid. Agitate the mixture a little and allow it to become sudsy.
  2. With the cleaning pad, apply the solution to the window and scrub well to remove loose dirt, grime, and debris from the windowpane.
  3. Wet the windowpane thoroughly with your cleaning solution and use your razor blade to scrape the paint from the glass. It is important to keep the glass wet while removing paint particles, else you might scratch the glass surface.
  4. With a clean rag, wipe the glass to determine if you've removed all of the paint particles. If not, repeat step number three, remembering to keep the glass wet.
  5. Once you've removed all of the paint particles, wet the glass one more time and then squeegee away the water.

You can allow the windowpane to air dry, or you may choose to use old newspapers to dry away the remaining water. If you need to remove old paint from a window frame, use a putty knife and paint scraper to scrape away the paint, taking care not to mar the surface of the wood or aluminum window frame. Clean gently with a clean rag and your cleaning solution, and allow to air dry.

Author Bio

April Reinhardt

An admin­istrator for a mutual fund man­age­ment firm, April deals with the writ­ten word daily. She loves to write and plans to author a memoir in the near future. April attend­ed More­head State Uni­ver­sity to pursue a BA degree in Ele­men­tary Edu­ca­tion. ...

MORE FROM APRIL

Cleaning a Cedar Fence

While you cannot restore cedar fencing to its original color, you can remove black stains caused by tannins, mold, and ...

Discover More

Installing Low-Flow Toilets

Compared with the nearly 7 gallons of water it takes to flush a pre-1993 toilet, low-flow toilets take a mere 1.6 gallons ...

Discover More

Replacing an Electric Water Heater

Once you've ruled out the possibility of repairing your heater, and you realize that it's time to replace it, look for an ...

Discover More

Cordless, Compact, and Powerful! DeWalt's 20-volt drill-driver kit packs a big punch in a small package, with a powerful high-performance motor tucked away inside a compact design. A great addition to the tool chest of any professional or DIYer! Check out DeWalt 20-Volt Drill/Driver Kit today!

More Home Improvement Tips

Restoring Old Windows

Do you happen to have a set of old windows in your home that you particularly love? Well instead of replacing them when ...

Discover More

Removing Scratches from Plexiglas

Plexiglas can become scratched or damaged over time. Instead of removing and replacing the damaged portions of the ...

Discover More

Opening a Stuck Window

Is there really anything more frustrating around the home than to have a window that you just cannot get open? Well ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 5 - 4?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.