The windshield is obviously an important aspect of a car; it protects the driver and passengers from wind and rain, as well as debris that may fly up off of the road. It also helps keep the frame in place and maintain the structural integrity of the car. So allowing your windshield to get very dirty or damaged can be a safety hazard. In some states it’s even against the law to drive with a windshield that’s in a bad condition, so maintaining the windshield is an important step in maintaining your car.
Maintaining the Windshield: When it comes to cleaning auto glass, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
1. Try to avoid ammonia based cleaners. They are great grease cutters, but ammonia can release toxic fumes which should not be inhaled, so it’s not a good idea to have them in the enclosed space of your car. Also ammonia can dry out plastic, rubber, vinyl, and leather. Further, ammonia based cleaners simply cannot be used on tinted windows. Unfortunately, most household cleaner and auto glass cleaners alike are ammonia based.
So you should check to make sure that the glass cleaner you’re using does not contain ammonia. One creative, cheap and effective glass cleaner—which will never contain ammonia—is actually vinegar and water. This is a pretty old mixture, but it still works well.
2. You should also be wary of the kinds of towels that you use to wash your windshield or other auto glass. Normal towels or paper towels will often leave your windshield streaky. So, you might consider using newspaper instead. This, too, is a pretty old method and it still works really well. Some auto glass cleaners recommend it on the bottle.
Additional Help
So be sure to keep your windshield clean. And if you have any questions about maintaining the windshield of your car, or vinegar and newspaper do not seem to be enough to fix your windshield issues, be sure to use TalkLocal. We will connect you with up to three professional auto technicians in your area who can help you when you need it.
