Unable to clean car windscreen - need help!

bothyhead

I need advice on how to clean the interior of my windscreen. Some sort of film has built up on it, and I am unable to see out when it gets misty on the inside - it's positively dangerous, so much so, that if I can't clean it, I'll have to get a new windscreen

I've tried cleaning it with car windscreen wipes, domestic window cleaner and vinegar at various stages. I think the culprit may be that for some years I've been using a rubber squeegie to wipe the mist away. Now nothing works ... squeegie, chamois sponge, heat, air con ...

On a related note ... is there anything I can do to prevent mist from forming in the first place?

Any advice is really appreciated.

p.s. it's a 2003 Megane

F-Stop

Get it valeted and point out the windscreen problem. Will be cheaper and less hassle than a new windscreen, and you'll have a nice clean car on top of that.

bothyhead

I hadn't thought of getting it valeted. Thanks a million.

pa990

Clean the windscreen, (inside and out) with Autoglym glass polish


then use some anti fog stuff on the inside



Fogging up is usually exasperated by dirt/grime on the glass

Yakuza

Windolene soaked in old newspaper does a grand job of cleaning my windows, inside and out.

sanbrafyffe

get an apple,,,half it and rub the windscreen hard with one half,,eat the other

than put on your windscreen wash with wipers

happy days:D

Jack breen

I normally throw a bottle of normal Coke on it and leave it for a few minutes then use the wipers then rinse with water and its cheaper than valeting.

sean1141

bothyhead wrote: »

I need advice on how to clean the interior of my windscreen.

p.s. it's a 2003 Megane

sanbrafyffe wrote: »

get an apple,,,half it and rub the windscreen hard with one half,,eat the other

than put on your windscreen wash with wipers

happy days:D

do Renaults come with wipers on the inside now


+1 for some autoglym glass polish

corktina

they do, the drivers all make that "brrrrrrmmmm" noise whilst driving and it gets messy...



btw...don't wipe the inside of your windscreen once it's clean and DON'T let anyone touch it...

bothyhead

Thanks for all the replies. Interesting about the Autoglym Glass Polish; I have tried Autoglym Fast Glass, and it made no difference. I also have some citrus degreaser, which I'll try next. Another suggestion was to try some thinners; it's great on JCB cab windscreens apparently :eek:

MetzgerMeister

+1 for the AutoGlym glass polish but you should clean excess crap off it before using this. Here's what I would do:

1) Get a small sponge
2) Wet it and pour some wash-up liquid on it
3) Lather it up and gently ring it so it's not soaked with water
4) Use it to clean the windscreen and use an old t-shirt or rag to wipe the screen. It doesn't matter if streaks form at this point, just make sure the windscreen is dry
5) Apply the glass polish (shake well before use ) and let it dry to a haze
6) Wipe off the polish making sure to not let your hand hit the glass as this will leave a smudge
7) Put on the heater and aim it at the windscreen for a few minutes.

The way the polish works, it leaves a crystal clear windscreen with zero streaks. Only ever use the demister to clear the windscreen and not your hand or a cloth. You will find the screen much easier to clear because the moisture doesn't have any dirt to stick to.

You should do this for all the windows in the car especially the rear one. It's safe to use this polish on the heater element on the rear window. Again, it will clear a lot faster.

I use the AG glass polish every few weeks on the inside and outside of all my windows and I find it brilliant.

Stheno

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

+1 for the AutoGlym glass polish but you should clean excess crap off it before using this. Here's what I would do:

1) Get a small sponge
2) Wet it and pour some wash-up liquid on it
3) Lather it up and gently ring it so it's not soaked with water
4) Use it to clean the windscreen and use an old t-shirt or rag to wipe the screen. It doesn't matter if streaks form at this point, just make sure the windscreen is dry
5) Apply the glass polish (shake well before use ) and let it dry to a haze
6) Wipe off the polish making sure to not let your hand hit the glass as this will leave a smudge
7) Put on the heater and aim it at the windscreen for a few minutes.

The way the polish works, it leaves a crystal clear windscreen with zero streaks. Only ever use the demister to clear the windscreen and not your hand or a cloth. You will find the screen much easier to clear because the moisture doesn't have any dirt to stick to.

You should do this for all the windows in the car especially the rear one. It's safe to use this polish on the heater element on the rear window. Again, it will clear a lot faster.

I use the AG glass polish every few weeks on the inside and outside of all my windows and I find it brilliant.

Going to try this, the windscreen on OH's car is fecking manky, it's like driving through a pair of smeary glasses

OldmanMondeo

When you do get it clean, change your pollen filter. Make sure the air vents are clear and that water can not puddle.

Dr.Rieux

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

+1 for the AutoGlym glass polish but you should clean excess crap off it before using this. Here's what I would do:

1) Get a small sponge
2) Wet it and pour some wash-up liquid on it
3) Lather it up and gently ring it so it's not soaked with water
4) Use it to clean the windscreen and use an old t-shirt or rag to wipe the screen. It doesn't matter if streaks form at this point, just make sure the windscreen is dry
5) Apply the glass polish (shake well before use ) and let it dry to a haze
6) Wipe off the polish making sure to not let your hand hit the glass as this will leave a smudge
7) Put on the heater and aim it at the windscreen for a few minutes.

The way the polish works, it leaves a crystal clear windscreen with zero streaks. Only ever use the demister to clear the windscreen and not your hand or a cloth. You will find the screen much easier to clear because the moisture doesn't have any dirt to stick to.

You should do this for all the windows in the car especially the rear one. It's safe to use this polish on the heater element on the rear window. Again, it will clear a lot faster.

I use the AG glass polish every few weeks on the inside and outside of all my windows and I find it brilliant.

I'm going to give that a try MM. Hopefully remove the handful of streaks on my windows. Cheers.

Mister Jingles

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

5) Apply the glass polish (shake well before use ) and let it dry to a haze

Anything specific ? Might try this myself.

Stheno

Mister Jingles wrote: »

Anything specific ? Might try this myself.

Autoglym glass polish

bothyhead

For those interested ...

I cleaned the window numerous times, and it's now perfect. I can't say for certain which product did the trick; I used: Lidl W5 glass cleaner; citrus degreaser; Auto Glym Glass Polish; Auto Glym Fast Glass; and Ixtar 55 (my local Renault dealer gave me the end of a bottle).

As a test, I put Auto Glym Glass Polish on the mirror in the bathroom, and it has never been as clean. No misting when I'm shaving! It's brilliant stuff.

Thanks again for all your suggestions.

p.s. The only problem now is that the windscreen is so clean, that scratch marks from the wipers are now jumping out at me :rolleyes:

MetzgerMeister

bothyhead wrote: »

p.s. The only problem now is that the windscreen is so clean, that scratch marks from the wipers are now jumping out at me :rolleyes:

You can get rid of them with a rotary buffer, rayon pads and cerium oxide but it's not a fast process :P

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

You can get rid of them with a rotary buffer, rayon pads and cerium oxide but it's not a fast process :P

is there any part of a car he won't clean

MetzgerMeister

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

is there any part of a car he won't clean

This is nothing to do with cleaning the car, moreso to do with refurbishing the windscreen instead of having to claim for a new one.

I hate doing that because on several previous cars where I've had it replaced, the wipers (even when new) were always noisy so I always thought that new windscreens were never right.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

This is nothing to do with cleaning the car, moreso to do with refurbishing the windscreen instead of having to claim for a new one.

I hate doing that because on several previous cars where I've had it replaced, the wipers (even when new) were always noisy so I always thought that new windscreens were never right.

I know. for ages the inside of my windscreen was fogged up. only got around to sorting it the other day. very annoying.

I'd be very wary of New windscreens. it's the only thing between you and the object in front.

MetzgerMeister

What're you driving, a Peele P50 or BMW Isetta??? There's normally an engine, bumper and bonnet in from of the windscreen on the cars I've had :pac:

ligertigon

The stain could be in between the 2 glass layers, i.e. the laminate. Thus cannot be removed.

Otherwise
A good way to clean stubborn stains off a windscreen is to use a razor blade at 90 degs to the screen and move it transversely.

wonski

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

I'd be very wary of New windscreens. it's the only thing between you and the object in front.

It is like saying: I'd be wary of New tires. it's the only thing between you and the road.

Wouldn't recommend replacing windscreen instead of proper cleaning, but can't see what is the difference between old and new in terms of safety.

And to OP - make sure your air circulation is not in closed position - friend complained about mist on the windscreen, while his heating was closed at all times.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

wonski wrote: »

It is like saying: I'd be wary of New tires. it's the only thing between you and the road.

you should be wary of new tyres.

i was told by the nice folk in the garage when they put 4 brand new tyers on the jeep that the manufacturer put a kind of gloss sh,ite on the tire to make it look black and shiny and stuff so it looks nice but loses grip because of this for a small few miles.

so yes be careful of new tyres.

sean1141

New tyres need to be bedded in. Usually takes 100odd miles.

I never had any problems with a new windscreen but then again the ones I got were always made by the same crowd that supplied the original windscreen. The one in the Leon was pilkinton iirc

Turbulent Bill

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

you should be wary of new tyres.

i was told by the nice folk in the garage when they put 4 brand new tyers on the jeep that the manufacturer put a kind of gloss sh,ite on the tire to make it look black and shiny and stuff so it looks nice but loses grip because of this for a small few miles.

so yes be careful of new tyres.

The moulds used for the tires are coated with a release compound before the rubber is poured in, and this obviously coats the new tyres. A few miles should be enough for it to wear off.