Does anyone else have a "stained windshield"?

[Blue_Goose]

I have had my Matrix since the beginning of June this year. For the first 2 or 3 weeks that I had the car the windshield was crystal clear whenever I had to use the wipers.

After that time I decided it is time to get a wash so I use the Touchless Car Wash. I try to wash the car at least once every 2 weeks. Ever since I have used the car washes I have this "film" or "stain" on my glass that will just not go away. You cannot see this stain or film when the glass is dry..just when it is wet. I've tryed everything from Stoners to Windex to various auto glass cleaners and it won't clear it up. I'm guess that the stain came from residue clear or wax etc that uses the same nozzles in the car wash(I never have wax or sealer applied)

Someone in another forum suggested claying the windshield....I tried using yellow Dawn but maybe you need the blue Dawn?

Any ideas? Really makes for a tough go if it is just drizzling enough to need wipers every 15 secs or so

 

[Kestas]

Tty Bon Ami. It's a non-chlorinated cleanser with mild abrasive. If that doesn't work, try a glass polishing kit. It worked for me when I had a bad window stain form tree sap where the car sat over the summer.

 

[oilyriser]

Your glass may have been permanently etched by the chemicals used in the wash.
Hydrofluoric Acid

I wonder if those no-scrub shower and bath cleaners also use that chemical.


I often get comments on how shiny my car is, and people ask if I wax it. No, it's because I never use automatic car wahes.

 

[Tosh]

I'm going to guess that the film you're seeing is some sort of spray wax used by the carwash in the rinse cycle (or some other similar residue left in the recycled water). If that's the case, try cleaning the windshield with rubbing alcohol and elbow grease. Once you're sure that it's clean, use Rain-X, which will keep most other things off.

 

[kenw]

I would try some weak solvents before any abrasives. start with isopropyl alcohol, if that's not enough, Bug and Tar remover andf then mineral spirits as you step up the potency ladder.

If all else fails, lacquer thinner will remove everything except the glass. After that, abrasive means is about your only choice. I prefer 0000 steel wool and have used it several times on my windshields.

We had a tank truck drip something on us many years ago, I finally wound up going over the entire car with mineral spirits to remove whatever it was.

 

[Alex P.]

Ken makes a good suggestion. Start safe, don't try desperate measures until your desperate. As for RainX, some people love it, but to me that's like fighting to remove one stubborn film only to turn around and use another. Don't get me wrong, I've seen it work pretty well, but it requires some upkeep at the very least.

 

[kingrob]

Possible quick fix: Any kind of auto polish (not wax or cleaner wax) that you may have laying around should get the film out. I use Nu-finish when I develop a build up and it works like a charm. Then if you want to really protect it put a nice coat of wax on it. 10x more effective at rain bead up than Rain-X and nice and shiny, too!

 

[widman]

You might also try steam. That is the best cleaner of mineral stains on glass. The little upholstery steamers are great. Just use a paper towel to dry it as you go.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

If they are mineral stains then try some undilluted distilled vinegar with a microfiber cloth.

 

[Brett Miller]

Bon-Ami works well and so does cleaner for glass cooktops.