Windshield Wiper Mark Removal

A

Arved

New member
What I've tried so far:



1. Wash soap (Meguiar's NXT wash)

2. 90% Isopropyl Alcohol w/Microfibre towel

3. Stoner's Invisible Glass w/(new) Microfibre towel

4. Zaino clay bar with NXT wash as lubricant



If the glass is dry, I don't see any marks anymore, so I think I've improved things quite a bit. However, mist the windshield with water, and the wiper tracks stick out like a sore thumb.



I can't seem to find much else to do via the search engine here. Next step seems to be Porter Cable with a glass polish. Or is there something else I should try first? If it matters, I've been using Bosch Microedge wiper blades, so if it's residue from the wiper blades themselves, that might be a clue how to remove (different solvent than the Alcohol?) I've avoided Windex and TSP due to the harshness they'd have on the paint surrounding the windshield.



Can I get some options, hopefully with some ranking from least aggressive to most aggressive? I've seen some discussion of PCing the windshield, but I can't find enough information to rank them.



This board's been so great, I've been able to lurk for months without posting, finding my answers burried like hidden treasure. This time, though, I need more help.



aTdHvAaNnKcSe,



- Arved
 
I am a newbie but i have a few ideas that might work.



1. Vinegar diluted with water.

2. Glass polish? Brasso? Be really careful as you might scratch the glass permanently
 
Is it bad? I've always noticed that on most cars there is a pattern on the windshield of where the wiper blades travel, but its only noticable when wet. I would try 50/50 water:vinegar before going to a polish.
 
Bon Ami or Bar Keepers friend cleanser. Dosen't scratch so don't worry about it. I use it all the time. Cleans anything that's on there and leaves it nice and shiny.
 
Well, I tried White Vinegar this morning. No change. I'll try the Bon-Ami or Barkeeper's freind stuff next, but my expectations are waning.



Joe - I tried Turtle Wax Bug and Tar (B&T) remover many years ago. I think, at the time, it was one of the first citrus based B&T removers around. It was no match for Florida's Love Bugs, however. They've probably reformulated and improved it, but you know the saying, "Fool me once..." I'm not inclined to give it another try. As a B&T remover, starting with a good coat of wax to begin with, then taking the buggers off with Quick Detailer and Clay Bar, followed up with rewaxing is only a little more work than a B&T solvent (which I think strips the wax anyway).



Buddy at the office who's the most serious detail snob I know (besides you guys) shamed me for using dirty wipers in the first place, then suggested I use the glass polish kit from Eastwood. I talked to him a bit more, telling him that I only notice the wiper marks when there's moisture on the window (dew or mist), and he suggested using Castrol SuperClean AccuVision (Rain-X alternative).



Thanks,

- Arved
 
tpg13 said:
Bon Ami or Bar Keepers friend cleanser. Dosen't scratch so don't worry about it. I use it all the time. Cleans anything that's on there and leaves it nice and shiny.
Click to expand...



I had to do a little searching, but I hit paydirt and found a store that had both products. Well, sort of. They had Bon Ami cleanser, and Bar Keeper's Friend (BKF). I picked up the Bon Ami because, reading the label, BKF had an abrasive, and I didn't see any mention of abrasives in Bon Ami.



Reading the forums a little deeper, though, looking for tips and tricks on how to use the Bon Ami cleanser, I learn there are really several Bon Ami products, including a glass cleaner (which I haven't found, so I'll probably need to mail order if this is the product I need to get). I also learn that the Bon Ami cleanser actually does have an abrasive, and that it's slightly harder than glass, so it will scratch and/or polish the windshield. If it's a fine enough abrasive, it could be a polish, but if not, it's going to scratch up my windshield.



Is this the stuff (Bon Ami cleanser) really the stuff I want to use, or am I only going to make a bad situation worse?



What's the abrasive in BKF like?



Thanks,

- Arved
 
I used BKF trying to get out some water spots on tinted rear windows. I wasn't overly impressed with the results, but it didn't do any harm. And I was pretty vigorous with it. If I were you, I'd try a small corner area first to test it on your windshield--maybe a top corner where the upper tint will show micro-scratches better.
 
Arved said:
This board's been so great, I've been able to lurk for months without posting, finding my answers burried like hidden treasure. This time, though, I need more help.



aTdHvAaNnKcSe,



- Arved
Click to expand...




Look, if the marks are from wear, you're not going to "clean" the marks off. Glass has become more like plastic over the years as the mfrs make attempts to reduce vehicle weight. Glass gets sandblasted and the wipers do create a distinct wear region where they travel. In some cases, the only option would be replacement if you decide it's severe enough. This sandblasting and wear seems to be a nuisance for some people, especially at night and in the rain.



I have had some success using 1Z's Glas Polish and the Porter Cable + polishing pad. It did improve the condition on a hi mileage car but, by no means, did it disappear entirely.



YMMV
 
Arved said:
Joe - I tried Turtle Wax Bug and Tar (B&T) remover many years ago. I think, at the time, it was one of the first citrus based B&T removers around. It was no match for Florida's Love Bugs, however. They've probably reformulated and improved it, but you know the saying, "Fool me once..." I'm not inclined to give it another try. As a B&T remover, starting with a good coat of wax to begin with, then taking the buggers off with Quick Detailer and Clay Bar, followed up with rewaxing is only a little more work than a B&T solvent (which I think strips the wax anyway).



Thanks,

- Arved
Click to expand...



Arved, it looks like you are really trying to get this cleaned so let me tell you that the Bug & Tar Remover WORKS for cleaning off the grime. It will only probably cost about $3 in a local store so for the $3 and about ten minutes of your time I say TRY IT. You really have nothing to lose, so try it and then let me know what you think. Its easier then what you have been trying to do so far (mail order & researching time).



Just try it.
 
tom p. said:




Look, if the marks are from wear, you're not going to "clean" the marks off. Glass has become more like plastic over the years as the mfrs make attempts to reduce vehicle weight. Glass gets sandblasted and the wipers do create a distinct wear region where they travel. In some cases, the only option would be replacement if you decide it's severe enough. This sandblasting and wear seems to be a nuisance for some people, especially at night and in the rain
Click to expand...



That's kind of what I was afraid of, but I wasn't sure of, due to how the pattern changes and is heavy at the ends of the wiper stroke. However, I wanted to exhaust all possibilities of a non-abrasive solution before I took polisher in hand and did something I might be sorry for later. Like the glare and starbursts I've noticed in some machine-polished windshields I've seen.



tom p. said:


I have had some success using 1Z's Glas Polish and the Porter Cable + polishing pad. It did improve the condition on a hi mileage car but, by no means, did it disappear entirely.
Click to expand...



From my first post, I was open to the idea of using a polish. As with everything else, though, I want to use the least aggressive means possible. I haven't seen any comparisons of how all the various glass polishes rate in terms of abrasiveness. How does 1Zs Glas Polish compare to other glass polishes, such as AutoGlym's?



Thanks,
 
Arved, I can't comment on the Autoglym. The 1Z is probably the best product I've tried of its kind. I can recommend some aggressive polishing with a PC, not a hi speed dd machine. Heat can be bad for the glass.



Try the 1Z; I think it will help. I thought it left the glass quite glossy and did relieve some of the age characteristics.
 
Well, I tried something a little radical. Meguires #83 DACP is radical, right? Used it with a cheapo DA polisher with a terry bonnet. It took quite a bit of work to ensure I got good coverage, but it came out really good. No swirl marks in the windshield that I've seen in other polished windshields, and the water beads up evenly accross the surface.



I'm going to order some 1Z glass polish next time I order detailing supplies, and see if that can give a little more "pop" to the gloss.



Thanks for the help and advice,
 
Well, I tried something a little radical. Meguires #83 DACP is radical, right? Used it with a cheapo DA polisher with a terry bonnet. It took quite a bit of work to ensure I got good coverage, but it came out really good. No swirl marks in the windshield that I've seen in other polished windshields, and the water beads up evenly accross the surface.



I'm going to order some 1Z glass polish next time I order detailing supplies, and see if that can give a little more "pop" to the gloss.



Thanks for the help and advice,
 
arved,



Glad to hear that the glass came out good!



I got swirled windows from wiper blades also.



Do you guys think DACP on a polishing pad via PC is too harsh?
 
arved,



Glad to hear that the glass came out good!



I got swirled windows from wiper blades also.



Do you guys think DACP on a polishing pad via PC is too harsh?
 
I have used Meguiars #4 Heavy-Cut Cleaner by hand to clean my windshield... works great! It was recommended on another forum and I had some very good luck with it. You do have to use a little effort.
 
I have used Meguiars #4 Heavy-Cut Cleaner by hand to clean my windshield... works great! It was recommended on another forum and I had some very good luck with it. You do have to use a little effort.
 
I just did an explorer this weekend and for the glass I used DACP and a Orange Sonus pad with the PC. This thing had some kind of hard film on everything - glass & paint. I usually use AIO on windows with a polish pad but it wouldn't touch the grime. I figured what the hell and tried the DACP and loved it - no spots left at all and didn't scratch :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top