Windshield

Discussion in 'Dodge Challenger Cleaning and Detailing Forum' started by Purrrr66, Sep 26, 2020.

  1. Katshot

    Katshot Full Access Member

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    Steel wool is sometimes used as an aggressive "cleaning" tool to remove very stubborn contaminants. Personally, I would never use it due to the possibility of scratching the glass, thereby making things worse. Many times what people think is damaged glass, is actually just severely contaminated (dirty) glass. In those cases, with some elbow grease and proper cleaners, the glass can be "cleaned", thereby restoring clear vision.
    Actual damaged glass (pits, cracks etc) cannot be cleaned away. Polishing with compounds made for auto glass polishing can help to a degree but you need to be realistic with your expectations. While there are products that can temporarily hide the damage, you can't restore an old pitted windshield to like-new clarity.
     
  2. Purrrr66

    Purrrr66 Full Access Member

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    I agreed..when he said steel wool - I was pissed...wish I knew before hand.
    As of today still looks fine. As you stated @Katshot -time will tell.
     
  3. hercules1

    hercules1 Member

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    Yup..I've been using just a regular sponge for cleaning.
     
  4. TRCM

    TRCM Full Access Member

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    Keep in mind, the 'steel wool' they used would feel like hair if you held it in your hand.......
     
  5. Moparisto

    Moparisto Full Access Member

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    I have bought cerium powder and a such with a kit to actually POLISH my glass. I polished all the exterior window surfaces AND the sideview mirrors. The glass became more hydrophobic, all water spots disappeared, and most of the little "My God, it's full of stars" bright spots you see only when under a street light in an extremely dark area. It did not eliminate some of them, but it sure smoothed out the glass and got rid of the ugly water spots.

    You have to start with absolutely spic and span glass so you don't risk dragging a particle around and adding swirl marks to the glass when trying to make it better. I advise a normal wash, non-windy day, and Windex and paper towel just before doing the cerium powder polishing. For BEST results, buy some polishing pads in a kit so you can use them a bit and toss them, instead of having of trying to make all three pads last for the entire car.

    Also, blast out the sideview mirrors with your hose quite thoroughly and poke paper towel in under the mirror to lure out any hiding grit, as that is where it may be able to hide.

    You can add years to your windshield with a proper selection of pads to use, as I did on my Neon that had a arc rut from a bad windshield wiper tip scrape on it/in the glass. When I finished, and I REALLY ground down that windshield to try to reduce that rut, the glass surface looked brand new, and the rut was more of a light line, though I didn't go deep enough to get rid of it entirely.

    If you go deep, it will pay off every time you get harsh light and dark scenery to look at at the same time, such as driving at night toward headlights, or when entering a tunnel on a bright, sunny day. You actually can get rid of the vast majority of the sand/grit micro-chip dots on the windshield.
     
  6. Joe Balke

    Joe Balke Member

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    1. Find a picture of your window emblem online.

    2. Buy some transparent sticky paper sheets for your printer.

    3. Print one out.

    4. Stick it to windshield. No one will know but you....trust me.