Dirty windscreen

johnos1984 · 07-08-2011 4:23pm #1

Suggestions on how to clean my windscreen are required.

To sum it up there is a scum on the outside of my windscreen which makes it very hard to see out of in rainy conditions when the wipers are on. In fact I'd describe it as dangerous if I'm driving in the dark.
I've tried a number of things to try and clean it over the past few months but none have been successful. It's probably new wiper time also but I want to give the screen a good scrub first before fitting them.

I reckon I need some strong chemicals to shift the grime. Can anyone suggest a very good cleaner?

TheBody · 07-08-2011 4:26pm

Gonna follow this thread. I've exactly the same problem. I can't seem to get that film off either.

Pique · 07-08-2011 4:34pm

Me too.
I got stuff a few years back in Lidl or Aldi that worked wonders.
It had 2 pads, a tube of cream and a wet wipe.
You used one pad to remove main dirt, then cream and second pad and then rinse. The wet wipes were the final touch.

Absolutely fantastic results but I've never seen it back.

Agent_99 · 07-08-2011 4:34pm

iirc

Biological (clothes) washing liquid (colour one) for paint work and windows, It has enzymes to breakdown the organic grime. then a good polish with a shammy.

andyseadog · 07-08-2011 4:37pm

Tesco brand "Daisy" all purpose cleaner (APC). spray it on the dry screen and go over it with a hard sponge then rinse

or if you want the correct answer, detailing clay i suppose.

Thatnastyboy · 07-08-2011 4:37pm

I just rub them dry with newspaper after washing the car, leaves them very clean and shiny, and streak free.

Then apply rain-x with newspaper every couple of weeks.

Rain-x is amazing stuff for keeping the window clean.

Id imagine a good rub with newspaper would shift most of the grime.

johnos1984 · 07-08-2011 4:39pm

Thatnastyboy wrote: »

I just rub them dry with newspaper after washing the car, leaves them very clean and shiny, and streak free.

Then apply rain-x with newspaper every couple of weeks.

Rain-x is amazing stuff for keeping the window clean.

Id imagine a good rub with newspaper would shift most of the grime.

I've done this numerous times, I've also used a sliced potatoe/onion, lemon juice, white vinegar, turtle wax windscreen cleaner, newspapers and rainx.

All worked......for a few days then it was just back to normal

deaglan169 · 07-08-2011 4:40pm

autoglym glass polish will remove most scum and contaminants on the windscreen, leaves a great finish

Thatnastyboy · 07-08-2011 4:48pm

johnos1984 wrote: »

I've done this numerous times, I've also used a sliced potatoe/onion, lemon juice, white vinegar, turtle wax windscreen cleaner, newspapers and rainx.

All worked......for a few days then it was just back to normal

Did you fit new wiper blades? Id recommend getting a good set of them.

Sounds like theres grease/crap on your blades to me.

johnos1984 · 07-08-2011 4:49pm

Thatnastyboy wrote: »

Did you fit new wiper blades? Id recommend getting a good set of them.

Sounds like theres grease/crap on your blades to me.

I've taken the blades off and cleaned them as well.

As said they are due a change but I'm pretty sure there is something on the windscreen as well so no point fitting new ones until I have given that a good clean too

exador · 07-08-2011 5:29pm

There was a windscreen paste available from Jaguar but I am sure it must be available elsewhere. You clean the windscreen first with warm water and sponge and then apply the windscreen paste after it drys. Leave the paste to dry and it turns into a powder and then just wipe off with dry cloth.

Excellent and works but pointless if the blade rubbers need replacing and you don't renew them. Unfortunately with the climate in Ireland you may end up repeating this on a regular basis !

johnos1984 · 07-08-2011 5:31pm

exador wrote: »

There was a windscreen paste available from Jaguar but I am sure it must be available elsewhere. You clean the windscreen first with warm water and sponge and then apply the windscreen paste after it drys. Leave the paste to dry and it turns into a powder and then just wipe off with dry cloth.

So I'm looking for a windscreen cleaning paste to sort the window. Blades are due a change anyway so I'll sort them once the window is cleaned properly.

From an internet search I'm being told the problem is called GHOSTING and new blades won't sort it. I need a strong cleaner like the Jag screen cleaning cream

exador · 07-08-2011 5:40pm

johnos1984 wrote: »

So I'm looking for a windscreen cleaning paste to sort the window. Blades are due a change anyway so I'll sort them once the window is cleaned properly.

I am not sure who made the product it may well have been an auto glynn product supplied in a jaguar bottle but it definitely worked.

Crackle · 07-08-2011 5:42pm

Holts/Simoniz have a product called Mixra which I find great at removing the grime and scum off the windscreen. It's easy to use too, all you have to do is spray it on the screen and turn on the wipers. (Works best when the screen is already wet)

exador · 07-08-2011 5:49pm

exador wrote: »

I am not sure who made the product it may well have been an auto glynn product supplied in a jaguar bottle but it definitely worked.

Just searched and found the exact one on ebay but sure it may be available locally - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/jaguar-windscreen-paste-/250850389145

vectra · 07-08-2011 5:51pm

Bottle of Coke. ( real Coke )
Pour 1/2 bottle from the top and let it flow down the screen.
Turn on the wipers and give them 3 or 4 wipes across the screen
Repeat the process.
Actually this drizzly weather is perfect for doing this.

You will have to wash the car afterwards though.

If you want to to stay this way then use Mr. Muscle window cleaner ( Clear bottle-Green liquid)

Then apply a coat of RainX.
Brilliant combo :cool:

langdang · 07-08-2011 5:56pm

Pique wrote: »

Me too.
I got stuff a few years back in Lidl or Aldi that worked wonders.
It had 2 pads, a tube of cream and a wet wipe.
You used one pad to remove main dirt, then cream and second pad and then rinse. The wet wipes were the final touch.

Absolutely fantastic results but I've never seen it back.

Yup, had a package of that left over (haven't seen it since the last time they stocked it) - just used it last week on the new bus.
Before -window was grimey and smeary in rain, and wipers were very noisy.
After - you've never seen water bead like it does after this stuff - water is now allergic to my windscreen, just shoots off it, no smearing, perfect vision. (slight bit of ghosting that follows the wipers, similar to rainx. not sure if ghosting is the right term for what I'm seeing).

I'd say the washing powder as a paste would do a good job of getting stuff off. Have used JML Doktor Power before too.

It's the sealant (or whatever you'd call it) that works wonders tho!

-Corkie- · 07-08-2011 6:07pm

As Vectra said a bottle of Coke...

Padraig Mor · 07-08-2011 6:25pm

exador wrote: »

There was a windscreen paste available from Jaguar but I am sure it must be available elsewhere. You clean the windscreen first with warm water and sponge and then apply the windscreen paste after it drys. Leave the paste to dry and it turns into a powder and then just wipe off with dry cloth.

Excellent and works but pointless if the blade rubbers need replacing and you don't renew them. Unfortunately with the climate in Ireland you may end up repeating this on a regular basis !

Sounds like the same thing as halfords "intensive glass cutter".

exador · 07-08-2011 6:35pm

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Sounds like the same thing as halfords "intensive glass cutter".

don't know ... never use Halfords. what is cost from halfords ?

MugMugs · 07-08-2011 6:39pm

Coke on the windscreen and run some mouth wash through your reservoir too. Could be something alive in there.

volvoman480 · 07-08-2011 6:43pm

MugMugs wrote: »

Coke on the windscreen and run some mouth wash through your reservoir too. Could be something alive in there.

Spot on... Coke is the job for the windscreen. I run listerine through the washer bottle frequently, great job.....

On the subject of windscreen washers, I always use the Halfords concentrated screenwash. At about 6 euros for a gallon it's not bad value and over the last couple of hard winters it's the only additive I tried that didn't freeze up on me. I work nights and I was often very grateful to Halfords for getting me home. Not so much of a problem in cars I know, but the washer hose in my truck runs up inside the front grille and freezes easily.

TheBody · 07-08-2011 7:20pm

I've used the Halfords glass cutter and thought it was useless. Complete waste of money in my opinion.

RandomAccess · 07-08-2011 9:19pm

Turtle wax glass polish works fine for me.
Need to use a microfibre cloth when buffing it off though otherwise the dust will go everywhere. (the cloths are cheap in Tesco and washable)

johnos1984 · 07-08-2011 9:21pm

vectra wrote: »

Bottle of Coke. ( real Coke )
Pour 1/2 bottle from the top and let it flow down the screen.
Turn on the wipers and give them 3 or 4 wipes across the screen
Repeat the process.
Actually this drizzly weather is perfect for doing this.

You will have to wash the car afterwards though.

FIXED:

Firstly I poured a large bottle of LISTERMINT original into the water reservoir and then worked it through the system. Gave the car a nice minty smell and pretty much cleaned the scum away off the windscreen and hopefully killed anything nasty in the reservoir.

To finish I then got two litres of coke and washed the windscreen with it using a sponge and I also cleaned the wipers too. I kept the car very wet with a hose as I don't have time to wash the rest of it.

It's now perfectly clean and I'm able to see out again.

The windscreen is wet so I'm not able to apply the rainx for now

-Corkie- · 07-08-2011 9:23pm

Just make sure you dont wash your mouth out with screenwash tomorrow morning....:D

MugMugs · 07-08-2011 9:24pm

I'd be leaving some mouth wash in there if you haven't done.

johnos1984 · 07-08-2011 9:25pm

-Corkie- wrote: »

Just make sure you dont wash your mouth out with screenwash tomorrow morning....:D

Got a few funny looks when I walked out of tesco, popped the bonnet, took a swig for myself and then poured the rest into the car

The drive home gave it time to mix in with the rest of the water

HJL · 07-08-2011 9:28pm

What is the idea behind mouthwash in the washer bottle?

johnos1984 · 07-08-2011 9:29pm

HJL wrote: »

What is the idea behind mouthwash in the washer bottle?

I assume it's the anti-bacterial action which is mean to kill anything growing in the reservoir. Could just be an old wives tail but it had most of the crap gone by the time I sprayed it through

MugMugs · 07-08-2011 9:31pm

Water gets stagnant esp during summer when its not cycled as much. Icky yucky bacteria can take life in there and smell it up and potentially add to the OP's problem.

Dirty windscreen

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