Anyone have any tips or product recommendations for cleaning all of the microscopic specks/pitting on your windshield caused by salt and other highway grime? I've heard that using a clay bar can be an effective method or even something like fine steel wool

While my windshield visibility is clear at most driving times, the winter sun hitting it during evening communtes turns my windshield into a kaleidoscope.

2/29/2016 3:54:29 PM

those windshield pits are very tiny craters. You can't clean them, as there's nothing to remove.

Any product that would fix those pits would fill those pits in, but i've never seen anything that could do that, as such compounds would need to adhere to the glass in a way that doesn't refract light-- which it can't, since it's a different compound.

I've always just replaced the windshield when it gets too annoying. for most cars that typically runs a couple hundred bucks out of pocket.

2/29/2016 4:37:17 PM

#0000 steel wool will clean the piss out of a windshield, but it won't fix it if it's actually pitted

2/29/2016 4:52:05 PM

^ Or add comprehensive insurance + deductible. some places will waive the deductible depending on your insurance company.

I got a windshield replaced for $50 for total out of pocket that way.

2/29/2016 5:47:28 PM

^^^ that's not entirely true, cleaning out the deposits in the pits helps a lot.

after its clean you need to polish your windshield, depending on how pitted it is a glass shop can help with this and you will see a little improvement

2/29/2016 7:39:58 PM

Quote :

"#0000 steel wool will clean the piss out of a windshield, but it won't fix it if it's actually pitted"

Hmm, that's good to know.

I've got some annoying hard water marks on a few windows of my Cayman; they've been there since I bought the car. I take it that steel wool will get rid of those?

3/1/2016 8:23:33 AM

Possibly some of them. An acid wash will do the trick.

3/1/2016 8:57:51 AM

steel wool won't leave a sheen/haze behind?

3/1/2016 9:10:55 AM

$0 deductible and a hammer....

3/1/2016 12:40:40 PM

superglue or the windshield crack repair stuff can fill in the pits, and is optically close enough to glass not to show up.

3/1/2016 1:34:40 PM

Re: water spotting

http://nthdegreeautodetailing.com/

/discussion

3/1/2016 4:04:38 PM

those red centercaps gotta go

3/1/2016 4:22:04 PM

Quote :

"steel wool won't leave a sheen/haze behind?"

no. #0000 steel wool is excellent for polishing.

3/1/2016 6:13:28 PM

Nth degree is my hero.

3/1/2016 6:28:40 PM

I've also used 0000 steel wool for years on auto glass and never had any issues.

3/1/2016 9:07:04 PM

thanks for the info. i'll give it a shot.

3/2/2016 9:30:58 AM

DONT use the 0000 on plastic mirrors, only use it on glass. It will scratch the shit out of the plastic mirrors.

3/2/2016 10:37:42 AM