Cleaning Car Windscreen

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Rickles

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#109544 21-Sep-2012 19:48

About 8 months ago I had a brand new windscreen fitted, together with new wiper blades.

Now that the weather has improved I gave the car a wash today, and cleaned all the windows. However, with the windscreen it is still 'dirty' where the wipers don't reach ... it almost looks like sand blasting in these ares outside the sweep of the wipers.

Any suggestions how to clean this off, or even a reason why it has happened?

Cheers,

R.

scuwp

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#689665 21-Sep-2012 20:30

I am guessing it's just water staining and/or just environmental build-up. I always get good results using one of those soap scum water stain removers for shower doors (the creams work best) and lots of elbow grease or a car buffer can make life a bit easier. It takes a while depending how bad it is. There are specialist car water stain removers but never had much luck myself.

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Rickles

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#689675 21-Sep-2012 20:44

Scuwp,

You could be right, just I've never had this before. Scum spray might do the trick, will try tomorrow.

Oddly, none of the other windows are suffering.

R.

1eStar

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#689701 21-Sep-2012 21:34

Once you get the window clean do yourself a favour and treat it with a rain repellant like rain-X or equivalent. If you like your safety then re-treat it every month or so. It is so nice being able to see where you're going on a wet day...

FPR

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#689749 22-Sep-2012 00:14

I have used some ceramic cooktop cleaner in the past. Worked great.

eracode

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#689759 22-Sep-2012 01:11

FPR: I have used some ceramic cooktop cleaner in the past. Worked great.

Wouldn't that have an abrasive in it (albeit very fine)? If so, is that a good idea on a glass windscreen?

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richms

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#689806 22-Sep-2012 10:37

All polishes are abrasives. Ive just used jif in the past without issues on some particually bad stuff on the window

Richard rich.ms

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stevenz

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#690689 24-Sep-2012 15:45

Don't get your car waxed if you ever use a service station car wash. Pollen seems to just sit on it and turns into an abrasive.

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mattRSK

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#690690 24-Sep-2012 15:49

Glass cleaner and newspaper is the way to go. Makes it crystal clear!

Rickles

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#690701 24-Sep-2012 16:14

UPDATE: I thought I'd start with the "soft" options first and work my way up the abrasion scale.

Cleaned the screen using a sponge and cream cleanser (Jiff type), and actually this cleared a good 90% of the offending marks etc. However, when looking at the windscreen there is still a dark arc about 2 - 3mm in width that is the sweep of the tip of the wiper blades .... the rest is a touch darker than the rest of the windscreen (wiper swept area) almost like it's 'tinted'.

Ironically, it's now looking like the wipers have taken a surface layer off, rather than the unswept area being dirty, ha ha ha.

I think I'll ask Smith & Smith as they fitted the new screen.

R.

Oblivian

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#690750 24-Sep-2012 17:30

Road filth is the DEVIL. And the reason its on the front only is you are travelling full force into dust laden raindrops, and picking up minute vapourised crap from the cars infront of you. Whereas the sides it simple blows away.

Search youtube for Windshield Mineral Deposit removal or 'pitting'. Just ignore the ones from japan and northern america where they can use salt and additives on the roads.

I use steelo pads fresh out of the pack, dab of white vinegar and water. Or a light abrasive purpose glass cleaner powder.

And as said, once you Go Rain-X, you'll never go back. You can basically drive without wipers when its snowing, drizzling or over about 70ks

The markings on the window where its wiped could be silicone and rubber. I ALWAYS get silicone wipers now, seem to last longer. But the protective coat the come with can be.. icky.

The downside is, it only takes 1 wipe to clear the window as they are so efficient with rain-x on. That the return wipe is simply burning the wiper onto the window :)

BTR

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#690916 25-Sep-2012 08:08

Is probably a combination of friction from the wiper blades, road grime and pollution residue.

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#690966 25-Sep-2012 09:55

Oblivian:
And as said, once you Go Rain-X, you'll never go back. You can basically drive without wipers when its snowing, drizzling or over about 70ks

One warning with products like Rain-X though, if you have automatic wipers they do not like the stuff and may not work correctly with it applied. I use it on my car but on the "family" car which has automatic wipers I had to remove it as it confused the hell out of them.

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#691046 25-Sep-2012 11:58

Hah, I never thought of that. The modern Euros rely on the surface conductivity or similar sort of vibration sensing to know when its 'wet'. I spose the clearfilm layer the Rain-X creates could mask that since it tends to assplode and bead of instead.