I know that a residue can build up on the windshield and other glass/mirrors on the vehicle, road grime and silicone from the wiper blades that windex can't remove. How do you restore your glass to new condition?

 

Lots of windex to clean it as much as possible once, then rain-x the hell outta it.

 

Stoners Glass cleaner and newspaper.

 

The Zaino glass cleaner is pretty kick-***. I was actually surprised. I noticed it had the most impact on the built-up...muck...whatever you call it...on the INSIDE of my glass, actually.

jds

 

Any WINDOW CLEANING product. If you use that soapy water at gas stations it will make it worse. The soap will keep dirt/dust on glass.

The best actually is lots of distilled water and a really good squigee.

 

Just don't use windex, or anything ammonia-based, on the inside of tinted windows.

 

If it is really tough stains, you can use rubbing compound to get it clean.

 

i use rain-x window cleaner... works well and semi-treats w/ rain-x when u use it

 

I recommend good microfiber towels for cleaning and drying the glass.

 

I take it you didn't use the "easy to use" dispensible rain-x wipes. I used those (the interior, anti-fog kind) and it was soapy-streak-city.

I second the microfibers. Micofiber towels and water are a great non-chemical way of removing fingerprints off of LCD screens.



Mods: BTW, isn't this an interior/exterior thing, seeing as how other cars have windows also?

 

windex and newspaper!

 

The reason I posted this thread is because after I thoroughly washed my car and used windex liberally on the glass, it still didn't look new (my friend thought I was nuts though). Out of curiousity, I sprayed a foaming wheel cleaner/degreaser on the glass and it began lifting large amount of grime from the window. So much in fact, it seemed like I couldn't get it all off! I eventually got the majority of it and the glass is ten times better. I've also heard of buffing the glass with an orbital buffer.

 

I had a window leak on another car, so I filled the rubber seal with silicone. I accidentally smeared some on the glass. Of course water and windex did nothing to the silicone.

I went into the garage in search of something harsh, yet controllable in application (to avoid the car's paint). I found some shop hand towels in a baby-wipe-type dispenser. The trick is, they had that concentrated orange solvent. They worked well for wiping greasy hands, and not so sprisingly, worked well at wiping the cured silicone off the window with a little "elbow grease".

It's worth a try. If they don't help, you'll at least have some nice handwipes.

 

Vinegar can help remove water spots. Do not use ammonia based products on mirrors.

 

If my front windsheild has peck marks in it, what can I use to polish it?

 

To get rid of streaks, you can use coffee filters.

 

Working at a glass place I can tell you what works best at least for us... Hot water and a rubbing alcohol/vinegar mix. clean the glass first with hot water and then use the alcohol vinegar. After that you can use rain-x or whatever you want to use to protect the outside.
-Nic

 

use a razor blade, it works, that's what i did with mine, that's what they do at the places that sell replacement windshields. They windshields they have there are some of the dirtiest u've seen and it takes it all off, if u want a step by step let me know, i'm too lazy to do it if nobody will even try it

 

Good suggestion. Sometimes I use Ace bandages or gauze to pick up dust.

 

Guys, we need to write a housekeeping book. Now that damn blueberry pie on the carpet... Out damned spot!

 

Be careful with the orange hand cleaner...a lot of them here have orange-pumice in them and that would probably scratch your windows...

 

Yikes! Yeah, don't use pumice! The handwipes have a liquid solvent on a semi-soft disposable cloth... actually kinda like coffee filters, but moistened.

Anyway, I'm just reporting my experience with removing the silicone. There's probably a hand-lotion component on the wipes that we probably wouldn't want on our windows.

 

I have used Crest toothpaste with great success. The old style original Crest, not the gel, the old fashioned paste. any flavor you like

 

You might want to go to a smoke shop, and try some glass cleaner they sell for glass smoking accesories (bong cleaner) , they are made to be safe on glass and breakdown tar and resin.