[ArchiProf]

Perhaps as a result of the recent ice and snow and now the beginnings of the pollen season, something has caused streaks and what appear to be slight scratches across the windshield. These streaks follow the path of the wipers and have resisted my efforts to remove them.

Any similar experiences or suggestions on how to remove them? Glass cleaner and water spot remover did not work.

[PichaDis11]

Maybe the blade are dirty or its time to change them?

I use a wet cloth periodically to wipe the blades to get any debris from under. I've gotten small chips of rocks, leaf stems etc when cleaning.

[SHEEDI]

http://www.carpro-us.com/ceriglass-g...cleaner-150ml/

[WreckerX5d]

I claybar'd my windshield in conjunction with the whole car. Made a pretty large difference. You might want some new wiper blades as well.

[coolrockdaddy]

Originally Posted by ArchiProf

Perhaps as a result of the recent ice and snow and now the beginnings of the pollen season, something has caused streaks and what appear to be slight scratches across the windshield. These streaks follow the path of the wipers and have resisted my efforts to remove them.

Any similar experiences or suggestions on how to remove them? Glass cleaner and water spot remover did not work.

claybar it if you have some or better yet a Nanoskin fine pad with some spray detailer will clean it up,they are a little pricy at approx 40$ but you can do your car clearcoat with it too,will make it smooth as glass and outlast the claybar,google nanoskin and check it out !

[Needbmwpartzz]

Also use a rain repellent such as rain x this also helps your wipers perform much better.

[Meeni]

Originally Posted by Needbmwpartzz

Also use a rain repellent such as rain x this also helps your wipers perform much better.

I found the rain-x thing to be totally counter productive, producing something that looks like having diesel fuel on the windshield as soon as it starts raining.

Otherwise, you should clean the wiper blades. If that does not help, the wiper needs to be changed. If the windshield itself is dirty, then try fine steel wool.

[Needbmwpartzz]

Originally Posted by Meeni

I found the rain-x thing to be totally counter productive, producing something that looks like having diesel fuel on the windshield as soon as it starts raining.

Otherwise, you should clean the wiper blades. If that does not help, the wiper needs to be changed. If the windshield itself is dirty, then try fine steel wool.

You need to apply the rain-x properly,wipe on in circles then buff off with a separate cloth.
I found my glass doesn't streak at all after applying and even with bad wiper blades...... Rain pouring at hwy speed I don't even need to use the wipers with this stuff on
Although if your blades are bad and you get mud or road spray from winter driving the bad blades will show with streaks so change the with good quality and clean that glass real good.
Just my experience.

[ArchiProf]

Thanks everyone. I will try the Nanoskin and CarPro cleaner this coming weekend. The wiper blades are relatively new but I will go back to the dealer and ask for another set.

[tmdals0213]

should try claying and then polishing your windshield with some light compound first.

[Donlin]

Clay bar, rain x and periodically cleaning the wiper blades had always worked for me.

[ccraig13]

I was a big rain-x guy but now I've switched to just using Klasse AIO (though other sealants will work). AIO is more of a cleaner than a sealant anyways.

My issue is that rain-x, after some time, will leave behind residue behind since its a wax (also why I never use wax on my car). I found myself using AIO to clean it off anyways which is how I stumbled upon using it as a replacement.

Effectiveness? Well if rain-x is 100% I'd say AIO is 90%. However, the ease of applying, time I save, and how much cleaner it looks, makes it worth losing that 10%

Also, AIO goes a long way, you only need a pin drop per side of the windshield. Yeah it's more expensive than a bottle of rain-x, but I'm still using the same bottle I bought in 2008!

[pj.rodriguez]

1. Clean windshield with glass gleaner
1b. Using glass cleaner such as stoner's, lubricate the glass and use a razor blade to scrape the windshield at a 45 degree angle downwards from top to bottom of the glass.
1c. Wipe up residue.
2. Use glass cleaner such as Stoner's glass cleaner as a lubricant for a glass clay bar, which is just a more heavy duty clay bar.
3. Clay bar the entire windshield, ensuring proper lubrication with glass cleaner. (remember glass is different than paint, so don't be afraid to give it more pressure and quick motions than with paint where you would typically use almost no pressure).
4. Clean windshield with more glass cleaner and microfiber cloth. Make sure your microfibers are mid to high pile to soak up the dirt and contaminants.
5. Once windshield is dry, use a glass polish (or any fine polish), with a glass polishing pad and a DA polisher. The glass polishing pads are not like foam pads for paint. They are rather thin and allows for more direct pressure from the machine to the glass. Make sure to apply a good amount of pressure to the glass. Do a cross hatch pattern much like polishing paint.
6. Wipe off polish residues with high pile microfiber cloth.
7. Use a glass sealant such as G1 glass sealant. (I use this and it has been 1 full year and water still beads off my windshield. Well worth the money. It's also been through the horrendous winters that southern ontario canada gets.)
8. Using glass cleaner and a microfiber, spray a line of cleaner on the towel and pinch the wiper blades with the towel then run it the length of the blade. You will be amazed at how much crap is on there. You should do this every once in a while especially if parked outside. I like to do it once and then if the day is looking like it will be a day where you'll need them, then I do it again to ensure there's nothing on the blade that could scrape the windshield or damage the blade. But then again, the glass sealant I recommended really has allowed me to seldom use the wipers over the last year in all weather conditions.

That's my procedure. My glass is completely streak free and have reduced the scratches significantly.

[SHEEDI]

how did it go?

Originally Posted by ArchiProf

Perhaps as a result of the recent ice and snow and now the beginnings of the pollen season, something has caused streaks and what appear to be slight scratches across the windshield. These streaks follow the path of the wipers and have resisted my efforts to remove them.

Any similar experiences or suggestions on how to remove them? Glass cleaner and water spot remover did not work.

[bNks334]

Originally Posted by tmdals0213

should try claying and then polishing your windshield with some light compound first.

I second this... claybar and compound the glass when you do your paint! Then properly apply rainex. The ORIGINAL rainex. It will dissolve any compound/wax/oxidation still left on the glass and it beads rain so well you don't even need wipers on the highway. Leaves no streaks whatsoever when you use microfiber.

[ArchiProf]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

how did it go?

Unfortunately, between the weather and workload, I have not yet had the opportunity to try any of the suggestions. I also need to go into the dealership for brake fluid change service so I can get the new wiper blades at that time - maybe within the next few weeks I hope.

[ArchiProf]

Well, I tried virtually every suggestion above except polishing with compound and steel wool to no avail. I believe these must be actual scratches in the glass made by debris caught on the wiper blades. Next step is to either visit a glass shop or try the compound and polisher.

[Taruno]

Why go trough all that trouble when a brand new Pilkinton windshield is 170$ ?

[tmdals0213]

yep compound. start from the lightest compound and then work your way towards the stronger ones