This holiday season, business owners everywhere will be attracting customers with must-have deals and discounts. While online marketing and flyers are certainly an option, there’s nothing like storefront window paint to lure in passersby. So what happens when the holidays have come and gone? To remove your illustrations without damaging the glass, use the following guide.

How to Remove Holiday Paint From Storefront Windows

1. Prep the Work Area

To begin, lay a tarp on the ground beneath the window you’ll be cleaning—this will simplify the cleanup process later on. Then, thoroughly wet the window with soapy water. After about five minutes, apply a second coating of the soapy water.

2. Test Your Method

While a paint removal razor is the most efficient way to remove your storefront window designs, you’ll want to make sure it won’t damage the panes. You can test the method by scraping off the paint in a corner of the window and listening for a gritty noise. If you hear this or see scratches, stop what you’re doing and call a professional.

3. Start Scraping

If all is well, start by angling the razor about 45 degrees from the frame as you push it forward, working around the edge of the window first. Instead of maintaining contact during the backstroke, lift the blade to avoid scratches. As you work, use long strokes, so the paint comes off in big strips, not small chips.

4. Move to the Center

Once you’ve removed all the paint from the frames and the perimeter of the window, you can start moving towards the center. As you work, move the blade in horizontal and vertical directions, alternating as you go. Remember, you can always add more soapy water if the paint starts to flake.

5. Finish & Clean Up

Once you’ve removed what looks like the entire design, step away from the winter and look for any remaining markings. Apply soapy water to these areas and continue to use the razor, or scrub the spots with fine steel wool. When you’re done, simply fold up the tarp full of paint shavings, and use a mop and squeegee to clean the panes one last time.

If you’d like some help maintaining your storefront windows or need to replace them altogether, get in touch with Aladdin’s Glass & Screen Products of Nicholasville, KY. This locally owned and operated company has been providing panes to area customers for over 25 years, and they’ll be happy to lend their services to your property. For more information on their work, visit the website, and call (859) 887-4070 to schedule a free estimate.