How do you clean / polish a Windshield?

[KillJoy]

Ok.. I have washed the outside of my Windshield 3 times in a row. Once with Dawn, and twice with car soap. There are still things on it. They are little things that you can see from the inside when a light is coming through. I can feel the things on the outside of the windshield, so, I know they are not inside...

 

Should I clay bar the Windshield? Is there a special polish to use?

 

 

KillJoy

[Main3s]

I've used a clay bar before and Never-Dull. Both worked really well actualy. I'm sure there is some product out there just for Windshields though.

[GSXRAntwon]

Take a razor blade and some glass cleaner and go over the entire windshield. Then take a clay bar and go over the windshield.

[schmuckingham]

I have a window cleaning clay bar from Griots i use

[BIGGU]

ive got over spray of clear coat all over my windows and i need to get this figured out some time as well.

[AudiOn19s]

Distilled white vinegar.

Isoproply Alcohol

clay bar

razor blade (carefully though not recklessly)

#0000 (4 zero's not the standard stuff) steel wool.

 

Any of the above individually or combination of the above if necessary should work.

 

There's also glass specific polish on the market to be used with a polisher. I've never had great results with it though, just as good just using an agressive compound designed for paint. Mainly this is for hard water spots though more than anything.

[CRed05]

When I used to do windshield chip repairs, our kit had a bottle of glass polish in it that worked pretty good.

[Mojoe]

I've had good results with 3M glass polish. I had oil residue and other crap that was on difficult to come off. That did the trick.

[ImUrOBGYN]

Distilled white vinegar.

Isoproply Alcohol

clay bar

razor blade (carefully though not recklessly)

#0000 (4 zero's not the standard stuff) steel wool.

 

Any of the above individually or combination of the above if necessary should work.

 

There's also glass specific polish on the market to be used with a polisher. I've never had great results with it though, just as good just using an agressive compound designed for paint. Mainly this is for hard water spots though more than anything.

 

Quick question. I have both the vinegar and the alcohol. Oh, and a blade. I need to clean my old ass supra windshield and the new windshield on the rav. After the original was replaced in the rav, it seems the new one has a film or something on it that makes it streak like hell in rain, etc. I know the wiper blades need a cleaning, too, but this is definitely the windshield. Any one of those I should use first or just both in any order? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

Also, my winshield in the supra seems like it has tons of little pockmarks, especially noticable in the sun after cleaning. Any tips? Thanks.

 

Sorry to thread jack, but I thought it was still relevant to the thread.

[smokin5s]

liquid glass is your friend... I always use it and love it.

[87GT]

Stoner's invisible glass cleaner. Make sure you clean both sides of the window with it.

[Skinner]

I have always used soap and water with a green scotch pad. Has never hurt the windows and cleans the window up nice.

[SpaceGhost]

Zaino Glass polish works awesome.

[TTQ B4U]

Bar Keepers Friend and some microfiber. If your wipers are still skipping you may have to twist them in the opposite direction of the hop.

[evan9381]

I have always used soap and water with a green scotch pad. Has never hurt the windows and cleans the window up nice.

 

i was actually coming in to post NOT to do this..

 

when i was delivering pizzas, i had shit all over my windshield one day...in between runs, i went in, got some cleaner and a green dish scratch pad and went at it. when i got into my car and was driving, the sun was reflecting off all the light scratches that were on it.

 

i would have rather had the bugs. it was bad.

[Avenger1647545502]

Denatured alcohol will get ANY foreign substance off of glass, and leaves no residue of its own. I work for a cabinet glass place, it's what we use to clean glass layers before lamination. It'll clean out most pores and holes too, but they'll fill back in within a few hours.

[unfunnyryan]

I have the same problem. Sort of.

 

My windshield isn't exactly dirty, it just has tons of micro scratches caused by sand or something, which when the light hits just right you can't see a damn thing. Can this be polished out?

[AudiOn19s]

Quick question. I have both the vinegar and the alcohol. Oh, and a blade. I need to clean my old ass supra windshield and the new windshield on the rav. After the original was replaced in the rav, it seems the new one has a film or something on it that makes it streak like hell in rain, etc. I know the wiper blades need a cleaning, too, but this is definitely the windshield. Any one of those I should use first or just both in any order? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

Also, my winshield in the supra seems like it has tons of little pockmarks, especially noticable in the sun after cleaning. Any tips? Thanks.

 

Sorry to thread jack, but I thought it was still relevant to the thread.

 

I actually like The Vinegar better. Use it just as you would any other cleaning agent, but be careful not to spash it all around on the trim or the paint.

 

But really when windows are horrible it's just try one or the other and see what works. If one doesn't try the other. Razor blade really should only be spot used for getting stuff off of the glass like paint, sap or what not.

[AudiOn19s]

I have the same problem. Sort of.

 

My windshield isn't exactly dirty, it just has tons of micro scratches caused by sand or something, which when the light hits just right you can't see a damn thing. Can this be polished out?

 

Sometimes, not by hand though.

[ImUrOBGYN]

I actually like The Vinegar better. Use it just as you would any other cleaning agent, but be careful not to spash it all around on the trim or the paint.

 

But really when windows are horrible it's just try one or the other and see what works. If one doesn't try the other. Razor blade really should only be spot used for getting stuff off of the glass like paint, sap or what not.

 

:thumbup:

[STEVE-O]

Andy has it for sure.. That really fine steel wool is the best.. esp for over spray etc. works every time and then you just got the rinse it off and your good to go