Good visibility is a major factor when it comes to safe driving. Most people know about external visibility factors like poor weather conditions or dark lighting. However, proper windshield care can help ensure that you can see better even when driving conditions get challenging. Here are some steps that you can take to properly maintain your windshield:
Step 1: Clean Major Objects
Cleaning leaves, mud, dirt, bugs, and other physical objects off of your windshield is the first step. All of these objects accumulated on your windshield can reduce visibility, and they can be distracting while driving.
First scrub off any major physical objects off your windshield before applying cleaners, etc. You may need to peel or scrape certain substances off with water and a microfiber towel. Microfiber towels are great for cleaning glass as they won’t cause abrasions on the surfaces.
Step 2: Clean with a Glass Cleaner Formula
Even if your windshield is free from dirt and debris, streaks and spots can also hamper front visibility. You’ll want to do deeper cleaning with a glass cleaner formula. Standard Windex or other similar products will do the job for this step. Be sure to wipe the surface completely dry, otherwise you’ll end up with more streaks than you started with.
You’ll also want to clean the inside of your windshield with glass cleaner. Doing so can help prevent that annoying fog from building up on the inside of the glass while you’re driving.
Step 3: Apply Protection Treatment
Now that your windshield is completely clean, you may want to treat it with some type of protective substance. If you leave your windshield bare at this point, it’ll be relatively easy for the surface to get dirty again quickly.
If you don’t have time for a full-on polish treatment, newer products like Rain-X can help form a temporary seal over your windshield. This helps to wick away water during rain, and also keeps your windshield free of more dirt and bugs. These usually wear off over time, so you may need to reapply them periodically.
Pro-Tip: You may want to avoid getting the cheaper “wax” treatment utilized by some drive-thru car washes. These sometimes leave a residue that creates streaks very easily. You might want to opt for the plain basic wash and apply your own glass protection when you get home for more reliable results.
Step 4: Prevention
If you know you’ll be traveling through a dusty or muddy area, or if you like to go off-roading, you may want to keep some supplies in your trunk, such as a rag and some cleaning supplies. Here are some additional pointers to prevent future gunk build-up on your windshield.
- Avoid parking under trees that shed leaves or drop sticky fruits often.
- Park in a garage or under a shed to help reduce debris and frost.
- Make sure your windshield wipers are functional and that the blades are fresh.
- Be careful with tinting. States have specific laws regarding tinting percentages.
Bonus: Defrosting
Learn how to properly defrost your windshield. Here in sunny San Diego, we never really contend with snow or ice on the windshield. However, it never really hurts to learn how to properlyde-ice your windshield (for instance, if you’ll be driving cross-country). One of the main things to know is to avoid throwing hot or even warm water onto your windshield to remove ice- this might cause cracks due to the sudden change.
Proper upkeep of your windshield is an excellent habit to cultivate. It doesn’t take much time and will make your driving safer and more enjoyable. At Convoy Auto Repair, we also value your time and your safety. Stay worry-free and bring your car on over for a quick and easy complete car check-up.