How we will clean the windshield: 9 products (of which 6 are folk)

Causes of glass contamination

Contamination appears no matter how carefully the driver uses the car. This happens due to:

• weather conditions and precipitation - most often pollution is caused by rain and snow;
• accumulations of street dust are an inevitable phenomenon that occurs even with minimal use of the car;
• accumulation of condensation on the inside of the windshield and side windows - a particularly common cause in cars with interior heating systems;
• smoking - nicotine settles on the glass, resulting in stains (the wind window is most susceptible to contamination).

Car windows remain stained when washed incorrectly, no matter how often this task is performed.

Fighting nicotine plaque

Not all means can cope with such a problem. It will take at least 3-4 times, which is too long. Even if you want to buy a professional aerosol, carefully look at the composition, it should contain “ammonium alcohol”, it is this that corrodes everything perfectly and does not leave streaks. This is especially true if headlights are blinding at night. The problem here is not in their poorly adjusted light, but in the oil deposit on the glass, which works on the principle of a regular lens.

The meaning is the same, we apply the substance along the entire perimeter of the glass, wait until it sets, and quickly remove it, constantly squeezing the rag or using paper towels.

You can, of course, use the old-fashioned method - old newspapers, but the tactile sensations from this are not entirely pleasant, plus, if the paper is very old, it will begin to fray from moisture, leaving marks on the glass.

If you work during the day, check the work with a flashlight. Even a telephone will do. Shine light from different angles and peer at the glass. If you notice streaks, repeat the procedure in these places. Few people manage to do everything perfectly the first time.

Preparing to wash

Before you start washing car windows, preparation takes place. This action is divided into two stages: creating conditions for washing, as well as preparing the necessary accessories. Washing is carried out in a clean room, or outside in sunny weather.

Necessary to prepare:

• sponge and napkins;
• detergents;
• aerosols.

A dish sponge can be used to clean the surface. But as cleaning agents, it is allowed to use special detergents and aerosols for washing inside and out, sold in auto parts stores.

Common pollution

In the presence of normal contaminants, chemicals are not used. For cleaning, use a standard cloth and soap solution. Special rags or napkins will help you wash windows more effectively and absorb moisture, reducing the likelihood of streaks.

If the contamination is not very large, you can mix water and alcohol and use this mixture to clean the glass. This method is more suitable for indoor window cleaning. The ratio of components should be one to one. An additional advantage of using the solution is the elimination of unpleasant odors in the cabin.

Water and newspapers are used as a budget alternative. Products containing ammonia are not recommended for use in the car. When cleaning glass internally, this element can cause harm:

• plastic;
• skin;
• rubber.

With the help of such products, contaminants are better washed off from the outside.

To prevent windows from sweating, you can use:

• glycerol;
• soap solution;
• alcohol solution.

To protect the coating from dirt and dust after washing, it is recommended to use Aquagel. This product provides a longer period of stain-free windows.

If chemicals are used, the proportions are strictly observed. It is necessary to dilute the water with detergents in a ratio of one to five. After washing, wipe the surface with a rag or paper. A rag cannot be used for this task. Most often, divorces occur precisely for this reason.

Cleaning in winter

The actions here are not very different from those described above, except for a few but:

• Before work, you need to warm up the interior; in the cold, not a single product will work as it should;
• The work itself will be less convenient, since everything will have to be done from the inside, with the doors closed;
• The rag must be completely dry, otherwise it will not absorb properly;
• You can use old special rags only after washing, otherwise they will leave streaks;
• Place the bottle (or balloon) on the mat, in the place where the stove blows on your feet, this will heat it up quite quickly and restore the cleaning properties of the composition. You just need to read the instructions, which will clearly indicate that use is only possible at temperatures above 5 degrees.

: such rags can be ordered from AliExpress, they cost about 70 rubles for a set of 3 pieces, you won’t find it cheaper in any auto store.

Special washing cases

Special cases include pollution that cannot be dealt with without the use of chemicals. Complex contaminants appear in the form of:

• dense soot deposits;
• oily film;
• insects crashing on the windshield.

It is recommended to purchase cleaning products designed for cleaning from the inside. Such substances will not harm the elements of the vehicle interior, and, if necessary, they can be used for external cleaning. Automotive chemicals are recommended for glass and mirrors, since after their use no stains or streaks remain. Modern products do not contain ammonia.

If additional protection from dust and dirt is needed, an aerosol anti-fog agent is used.

Nicotine hit

Removal of nicotine deposits from the surface of glass is carried out at above-zero temperatures. If it is frosty outside, you must first warm up the air in the cabin. If the temperature is below zero, the car windows will not be clean after washing.

To eliminate nicotine plaque, use:

• aerosol "Second";
• alcohol-containing substances for cleaning glass;
• detergent "Mr. Muscle".

In the absence of the listed means, the use of ordinary alcohol is allowed. Before applying to the surface, the substance must be diluted in water. Application to the surface is carried out using:

1. microfiber cloths – rinse well after use or throw away.
2. a rubber rag is the most effective method, since when purchased it already contains a detergent;
3. paper towels or newspapers - must be changed periodically during use.

The washing procedure is the same for all substances. After diluting the substance, carefully apply it to the surface and wash the nicotine stains. Then the surface of the glass should be carefully wiped with a napkin or rubber scraper. To prevent plaque from appearing again, the surface must be wiped regularly.

Oil and fat

Oil and grease stains are easier to wash off immediately. If this type of contamination hardens, it is much more difficult to get rid of it. The most effective car glass cleaners against oil and grease:

• foam detergent;
• ammonia.

The substance is applied to the stain and then washed off using:

• a lump of newspaper;
• faux suede cloths.

How to wash your windshield without leaving streaks: advice from car owners

1. “Just a couple of napkins.” Always have a couple of terry napkins with you. First, with the worst part, using light movements so as not to scratch the glass, I remove dust and most of the dirt. Then I use a car windshield cleaner to wipe down the windows with a clean rag. Divorces don't remain.
2. “Newspapers are too energy-intensive!”
   Double-sided washing is a must. I think everyone will agree with this. Most people use newspapers. But this is labor-intensive. I tried it myself. I rubbed the outside of the windshield for twenty minutes and almost squeezed it out. At the same time, the glass creaks, and the newspaper turns to dust. Insects slide off the dry surface of the window. And if perspiration appears, a spotty film becomes visible. At first it seemed to me that these were scratches from sand, but if I rub the surface as hard as I can with newspaper, the stains come off. However, this is a very labor-intensive process. I've tried products like "Mr. Muscle", but they don't clean well. Simple ammonia cleans the windshield better.
3. “You need to quit smoking!”
   How to clean a new windshield that is coated with stains from smoking? I myself quit a couple of months ago, and now this problem does not threaten me? I used to clean the windows with Turtle Wax body polish with Teflon, but didn’t use any other products. I tried it first on the side windows, and I was happy with the result. You need to apply it, and when it dries, wipe it off. The effect is much better than that of "Second". It’s perfect for windshields, since streaks are not visible even at night, and the blades generally flutter at first. Be sure to try it.

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4. “There is a smell, but it works!”
   I recently bought a 3ton windshield wiper from Auchan. It contains isopropyl alcohol. You park the car in front of the sun and use a clean microfiber cloth to clean the windshield on the interior side. The smell of the liquid is unpleasant, but the product copes with the main task perfectly.
5. "There is nothing new under the sun"
   Using old newspapers is not a thing of the past. This is an effective method that allows you to polish glass well. Artificial suede copes with this task much worse. The secret to its effectiveness is that printing ink contains lead. It is also added to crystal. However, this method is quite harmful, since you have to breathe harmful fumes. I always clean the outside of the windshield with newspaper. In the 90s I bought my first car. It was delivered to me from Japan by ship. Smoke from the chimney got onto the car, so the windows were very dirty. From the inside I scrubbed them with ammonia. There was an unpleasant smell, but it quickly disappeared. It took a long time to wash the car.

6. “15 minutes of time...”
   How to clean a windshield from smoking mixtures? Try a porous rubber rag; in our stores it is also called artificial suede. It copes well with this kind of pollution. You don't even need to use a cleaning product. Scratches can be removed using polish, a drill and a polishing wheel in 15 minutes. There will be no trace of scratches left.
7. “Everything couldn’t be simpler!”
   As a former car washer, I can say for sure that no special compounds are needed. You just need to carefully walk over the windshield with a damp rubberized cloth, wipe it dry, and then polish it with a special cloth. It costs about a hundred rubles.

Folk remedies

To wash the windshield, rear and side windows of your car, you can use available household products. The list of acceptable substances includes:

• ammonia;
• laundry soap;
• potassium permanganate;
• table vinegar;
• chalk solution.

You can also wash car windows using dishwashing gels and household window cleaners. The listed products are first diluted in warm water and then applied to the dirty surface. Allow at least 15 minutes to pass before wiping off the substance.



Truckers' method - tobacco

You can try asking for help from people whose most of their lives are spent on the highway; their experience in dealing with this issue will never be out of place.

Required:

• At least 5 regular cigarettes
• 2 clean cotton rags
• Water

Pour water over the rag, wring it out, crumble the tobacco from the cigarette directly onto the rag, wrap it, wait a couple of minutes for the tobacco to soak.

Apply a little water to the glass itself and begin cleaning with this rag, using circular movements. This will take at least 10 minutes. At the end, we wash off the cigarette residues on the glass with a regular washer or any glass cleaner.

Moist tobacco absorbs all types of contaminants.

Useful tips

1. To extend the service life of the windshield, it is necessary to turn on the wipers at high speed only during heavy rain or snowfall. In light precipitation, the equipment should operate at low speed. If the wipers move on a dry surface, the windshield will quickly fall into disrepair.
2. You cannot use your windshield wipers if ice is frozen to them. You can fix the problem by turning on the heating system in the cabin. As the temperature rises, it will melt.
3. It is not recommended to use scrapers and brushes in winter. These products can cause microcracks. To eliminate such damage, glass will need to be polished in the spring.
4. Using special products for cleaning car windows reduces the risk of streaks after washing.
5. You can wipe the surface of the glass unit, often changing the napkins, if they absorb moisture well.
6. To reduce the rate of wear on the windshield, it is necessary to periodically change the wipers.

Follow the washing rules and your car's glass will always be in excellent condition.