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tips for deep cleaning of the windshield?

Discussion in 'Detailing' started by jmichael99, Oct 23, 2019.

  1. Oct 23, 2019 at 5:50 PM
    #1
    jmichael99

    jmichael99 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have a 2012 Camry and wanted to do a deep windshield clean and then seal it. is it possible to remove the line where the wipers edge are? you can always tell and I want to fully remove all and make it super clear
     
  2. Oct 23, 2019 at 5:54 PM
    #2
    evanwile

    evanwile Canadian Pomp

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    Yup!

    Wash, clay bar, and get a good glass polish (griots garage has a nice one) with a microfobre pad on a polisher and hit it.

    Glass is extremely hard compared to paint so it takes a fair bit of abrasive and work to work it but it is doable. Just be careful around the painted pillars.
     
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  3. Oct 23, 2019 at 5:57 PM
    #3
    jmichael99

    jmichael99 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    would it be safe to assume that it would be ALOT harder to screw up polishing a window than clear coat?
     
  4. Oct 23, 2019 at 6:00 PM
    #4
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

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    Don't know how you would 'seal' glass though.
     
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  5. Oct 23, 2019 at 6:02 PM
    #5
    evanwile

    evanwile Canadian Pomp

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    Yes. Very much so.

    If you're worried about damage, or new to polishers, get a dual action polisher. Same results as rotary just takes a bit more time.

    Excellent intro to the next step of paint maintenance.
     
  6. Oct 23, 2019 at 6:03 PM
    #6
    jmichael99

    jmichael99 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    wax or rain x
     
  7. Oct 23, 2019 at 6:04 PM
    #7
    20tacoma17

    20tacoma17 Well-Known Member

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    If you use a polisher be sure to tape off all around the windshield. All trim and/or paint.
     
  8. Oct 23, 2019 at 6:09 PM
    #8
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

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    I personally dislike both on the windshield, unless you enjoy cleaning and reapplying frequently. And in terms of sealing, both are temporary at best.

    Your windshield gets dirty in normal use, then you 'scrub' it with wipers in the rain, removing both of those products pretty quickly.
     
  9. Oct 23, 2019 at 6:15 PM
    #9
    20tacoma17

    20tacoma17 Well-Known Member

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    Here's a quick easy one to try in a small area. Use a microfiber, or any towel and a dab of paint polish, not wax, and if you dont have any, toothpaste. Just use your finger on the streak and see if it will do anything.
     
  10. Oct 23, 2019 at 6:47 PM
    #10
    gorram

    gorram Well-Known Member

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    Get a dedicated glass polish to work with, these all have cerium oxide as the abrasive. If possible buy the polish and pads from same vendor like all Griot's or all Carpro if you're working by machine. If the glass has some serious long term gunk on it a DA polisher could be too under powered for the job. Some glass can take a while to work over even with a rotary. If just cleaning up a water spot here and there or just a line the wipers made you might do better by hand than DA as you can focus more power in a small spot. If you do work with a more powerful DA or rotary have a spray bottle of water on standby as you can quickly dry out the glass polish. Wouldn't even try to work the whole windshield by hand.

    Whatever you use, start in the corner on the passenger side and give it a wipe to make sure you're not creating new scratches. Some abrasives in paint polishes could contain abrasives that might mar glass.

    For glass seal there are many detailing brands that have easy spray on wipe off that are good for several months and usually come with enough applications for a dozen or more applications. Aquapel is nice if you can get a genuine one, there are fakes on Amazon. Plenty of pricey ceramic coating style ones but not sure they last any longer or perform better than the cheaper ones. The more you keep the wipers off of them the longer you'll get out of it.
     
    pyrite4t3 and evanwile like this.
  11. Oct 25, 2019 at 6:12 PM
    #11
    pudge151

    pudge151 Well-Known Member

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    I use clay and that is usually pretty good for a cleaning. Recently I used Carpro ceriglass with a Rayon pad and it really cleaned it up very well. Removing scratches from glass is not an easy task, but it definitely took out some minor defects and cleaned it well.
     
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  12. Oct 25, 2019 at 6:16 PM
    #12
    El Tano

    El Tano i am the one who knocks

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    What do you use as a lubricant for the clay bar?
     
  13. Oct 25, 2019 at 6:36 PM
    #13
    pudge151

    pudge151 Well-Known Member

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    I use a detailing spray, I like griots speed shine for most clay jobs, its cheap and readily available, in fact I used that today on my mom's car. I have also used my soapy water solution from washing the car and that works well too, just not as good as a clay lube.
    My favorite, which I recently tried is Carpro Immolube and that stuff is amazing and its cheap. It's hard to explain how it works better but it just does, its so slick but also seems to be more grabby when you want it to be. Some water, ech2o and some immolube in a spray bottle is now my go to spray for my Tundra and I use the speed shine on other cars. I also use the immolube on polishing pads to keep down the heat and dust, its great for that. I used a lot of a immolube and water mix when I was using the Ceriglass polish, you really need to keep it wet when polishing glass.
     
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  14. Oct 25, 2019 at 7:07 PM
    #14
    El Tano

    El Tano i am the one who knocks

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  15. Oct 28, 2019 at 8:54 AM
    #15
    pro2aaf

    pro2aaf Well-Known Member

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    +1 on clay bar/detail spray...it's amazing what that'll take off!
     
  16. Oct 31, 2019 at 12:26 PM
    #16
    cam1967rsss

    cam1967rsss Well-Known Member

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    I like this process

    Step 1: Clean with Glass Cleaner
    Step 2: Wipe with Distilled Water/Isopropyl Alcohol- 50/50 mix
    Step 3: Clay Bar (Exterior only)
    Step 4: Re-Clean again with Glass Cleaner
    Step 5: Apply Rain-X for exterior glass
    Step 6: Apply Meguiar’s Express Spray Wax For Interior or Exterior (if you don’t like Rain X)
     
  17. Oct 31, 2019 at 12:47 PM
    #17
    MagtechPA

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    On the subject of keeping a windshield clean, I like to wrap a folded terrycloth or microfiber towel over the edge of an ice scraper, and use it to clean the inside of the glass.
    It seems like there is always a film on the inside of the glass that can get very annoying. I assume it builds up over time from outgassing of the dashboard plastic, air pollution, moisture, smoke (if you smoke), etc.

    Using a clean towel over the hard edge of an ice scraper really gets that crap off of there. Just start in the top corner and "scrape" it to the center, just under the rear view mirror. Then overlap each scrape as you go down the windshield. Repeat for the passenger side. Use a good quality spray but you won't need much.

    :D
     
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  18. Feb 18, 2020 at 12:32 PM
    #18
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    does that work well for tinted windows on the side?
     
  19. Feb 18, 2020 at 12:41 PM
    #19
    MagtechPA

    MagtechPA Thor

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    I wouldn’t risk it. It could scratch the tint. :pout:
     
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  20. Feb 18, 2020 at 12:44 PM
    #20
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    my tint on the side windows is 23 years old
    and starting to bubble in spots
    need to get it redone!
     

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