Your car is like your baby. For it to last, you should give it your attention. Besides routine servicing of the body, you should also take care of the windscreen or windshield.
A clean windscreen is one of the first indicators that a car is in good shape, so remember to maintain it in the best state possible.
A poorly maintained windscreen not only causes unnecessary repair costs but also endangers lives as it may affect visibility.
Windscreen maintenance also includes taking good care of the rubber gasket and windscreen wipers. These two are integral parts of the windshield.
What Can I Use to Clean My Car's Windscreen
There are many glass cleaning products that you can use. These products don't cost so much, and they go a long way.
If you're asking, "What is the best homemade windscreen cleaner for stubborn stains," the answer is simple.
It doesn't need to cost anything because your pantry most likely has it - vinegar. What you need to know is how to use it.
Here's how you go about cleaning windscreen interior and exterior.
Steps in Cleaning Windscreen with Vinegar
Although cleaning windscreens is a simple task, it should be done with utmost care.
Materials:
- A microfiber cloth or cotton cloth
- Glass cleaner
- White vinegar, water, and newspaper
Procedure:
- Wet the micro-fibre or cotton cloth with glass cleaner. Ammonia-free glass cleaners are recommended because ammonia is a health hazard. It also dries out plastic, leather, rubber, and vinyl items, which are commonly used in most car interior components.
- Using the dampened cloth, scrub the windscreen to get rid of dirt and spots. Use another clean micro-fibre or cotton cloth to clean again for a super-shiny windshield. You can still use the unused side of the same material. Allow excess fluid to dry on its own.
- Gently clean the windshield wipers. Use the windshield fluid washer to clean the blades. Remove any foreign objects from the wipers so that they don't mess with the already cleaned glass. Be gentle while at it to avoid damaging them or affecting how they function as it can cause damage to the windshield.
- Use an extendable cleaning arm to access hard-to-reach parts. Ensure the cleaning arm has a micro-fibre scrub attached and not any other material.
- Remove stains and smoker’s film that may form on the glass. This is to be expected if you smoke in your car. To remove it, mix water and vinegar. Scrub the film using newspaper and the vinegar solution. The mixture will break down the oils, after which wiping with a microfiber cloth and glass cleaner will leave the windshield dazzling clean!
Don't Do These to Your Car's Windscreen
Besides the problem of wear and tear, accidents also happen, requiring you to replace your windscreen and other glass panels in your car. After fixing a new one, this is what you should not do.
1. Parking where it's unsafe. Always park safe, preferably inside a garage or underneath a carport. Avoid parking under a tree. A branch or fruit or even the entire tree could fall on your car during harsh weather. Moreover, do not park near tall buildings. People could throw objects that may land on the windshield.
2. Parking in direct sun. The sun's ultra-violet rays are harmful to your car. Direct sunlight affects a windshield's durability as it causes it to become brittle. If you don’t heed this advice on how to care for windshield and other glass panels, you'll find yourself replacing them sooner than necessary.
3. Applying excess wax. Use wax moderately. Too much of it will mess your windscreen. You see, the excess wax accumulates on the windshield wipers and leaves it smudgy.
4. Neglecting the wipers. Always clean the wipers the same way that you care for the windshield. Rock particles or any debris on the wipers will cause micro-abrasions on the screen. Besides obscuring your vision, micro-abrasions can become windscreen cracks. Always use the wipers on a wet windshield. Add shampoo in the windscreen washer fluid to further minimise friction.
5. Driving too close to other vehicles. The rule is always to maintain a distance of two vehicles or 10 feet from the car in front. The idea is to save your screen from debris flying from car tyres and dodge any object thrown out from the vehicle ahead of you. This precaution minimises the chances of damage to the windshield.
Takeaway
Cleaning windscreens is a simple task that you can DIY. However, it will sometimes require the services of a pro especially if it entails repairing or replacing parts. If you need auto parts, you can find an affordable replacement here. If you need auto specialists, you can also find them on CarPartAU! You don't need to go far!