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Front windshield constantly dirty...

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Old 04-18-2005 | 02:57 PM
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Front windshield constantly dirty...

...or foggy/swirl type of thing.

OK, this is getting annoying because it's a safety issue driving at night. Does anyone have a similar issue with their front windshield getting dirty too fast? I used some Windex on it and it looked like it cleaned it but on further inspection it seemed to do a poor job.

At night the light shines off of it nearly blinding me. I'll wipe it with a kitchen paper towel and while it clears it up it's still swirly. It's almost like there is an oily substance because it will glare on me with rainbow type colors.

Do you all have this issue? If not...what can I do about it because it's really getting on my nerves. I'm thinking of getting Rain X anti fog since it should clean the window also but what do you all think?

Thanks!
Old 04-18-2005 | 02:59 PM
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I haven't really noticed this, sorry!

On a related note, can anyone recommend something better than windex to clean windows? I just find windex to be not that impressive.
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:03 PM
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Rain X anti fog does not work. Do not waste your money.

Any window cleaner works best- just use newspaper to wipe clean. Try stoner's invisble glass too.
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by rx8wannahave
...or foggy/swirl type of thing.

OK, this is getting annoying because it's a safety issue driving at night. Does anyone have a similar issue with their front windshield getting dirty too fast? I used some Windex on it and it looked like it cleaned it but on further inspection it seemed to do a poor job.

At night the light shines off of it nearly blinding me. I'll wipe it with a kitchen paper towel and while it clears it up it's still swirly. It's almost like there is an oily substance because it will glare on me with rainbow type colors.

Do you all have this issue? If not...what can I do about it because it's really getting on my nerves. I'm thinking of getting Rain X anti fog since it should clean the window also but what do you all think?

Thanks!
Is some of it on the inside? New cars have lots of plastics and other VOC materials that will outgas for the first year or so, constantly coating the inside of your windshield. Mine has subsided considerably...
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:05 PM
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Yeah I use the newspaper trick already - I'll check out stoner's....thanks!
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by khtm
I haven't really noticed this, sorry!

On a related note, can anyone recommend something better than windex to clean windows? I just find windex to be not that impressive.
Try one of the foam type varieties on window clean over the liquid type. They always seem to work better.
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:08 PM
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All good advice.

Do you smoke in your car, or allow people to smoke in it?

When I was a smoker my windshield always got a think coating of nicotine on it.
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:11 PM
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I've tried Armor-All's glass cleaner. It smells like it's an alcohol base instead of ammonia, so it should do a good job on those oil/plasticizer films that end up on interior glass. Works well for me so far. The dealer prep on my car was kind of random, so there was lots of interior window cleaning to do... I mean, how exactly did they get water spotting on the inside of my sunroof?
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:12 PM
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Yeah I get a film on the inside of my windshield. My work mini-van that's only a year old does the same thing, but much worse. I think G8rboy is right. It's probably the chemicals. At first I thought it was the airconditioning, but in theory the air conditioning is a sealed system so that shouldn't be causing an oil buildup on the inside of the windshield.

...something to think about.
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:19 PM
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Hey rx8wannahave, Your windows are tinted correct? I think you were the one that got it done at the same place I did. I use a ammonia-free glass cleaner especially for tinted windows. Did they tell you that when you got the windows done? As far as the swirls I think it's the chemical thing.
I leave my windows cracked at night while parked in my garage to let out any fumes.
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:22 PM
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Yeah, careful with that Fog X stuff. It actually does work; it just doesn't work very long, and once its usefulness wears out, it becomes counterproductive--it actually makes the windshield foggier with the residue it leaves behind.

I'd take everyone else's advice and clean both the outside and the inside of the windshield. If your dealer is nice, you can ask them to do it for you.

And on that note... Woo-hoo! Post #900! Aw yea
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:43 PM
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I dont know if this is what your talking about but i get like small cirlce fog marks all over my windshield, when diriving at night.
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by markd
Yeah, careful with that Fog X stuff. It actually does work; it just doesn't work very long, and once its usefulness wears out, it becomes counterproductive--it actually makes the windshield foggier with the residue it leaves behind.

I'd take everyone else's advice and clean both the outside and the inside of the windshield. If your dealer is nice, you can ask them to do it for you.

And on that note... Woo-hoo! Post #900! Aw yea

woo-hoo, me too (900)
Old 04-18-2005 | 03:57 PM
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It's due to aspiration. Stop breathing and the problem goes away!

Actually, I have heard that diluted vinegar sprayed on the glass wiped clean with newspaper works.
Old 04-18-2005 | 04:13 PM
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cleaning the car often helps
Old 04-19-2005 | 08:24 AM
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Any window cleaner works best- just use newspaper to wipe clean. Try stoner's invisble glass too.
Thanks, but why newspaper? I’ll have to check out stoner’s invisible glass…thanks!

Is some of it on the inside? New cars have lots of plastics and other VOC materials that will outgas for the first year or so, constantly coating the inside of your windshield. Mine has subsided considerably...
Yeah, all of it is in the inside. What you said about the VOC stuff…seems about right since I do see a little of that rainbow effect.

Do you smoke in your car, or allow people to smoke in it?
I don’t smoke…nor can people smoke in my car because I can’t breath when people are smoking around me, my lungs apparently react in disgust or something cause I really have trouble breathing.

Tiggerlee, my tinted windows are perfectly clean…it’s the front windshield I have my issue with. But, thanks for the tip…I’ll remember that when I have to clean my tinted windows.

mikeb...your advice was the best, I never thought of that....lol... :p

Thanks everyone, I"ll try the news paper and amonia free stuff cause I'm nearly blind at night when a cars lights hits my windshield.
Old 04-19-2005 | 09:18 AM
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Newsprint really does the trick. I think it has something to do with the printer's ink. I've used newsprint before to clean windows and mirrors at home. Works like a charm!
Old 04-19-2005 | 10:15 AM
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I can confirm newspaper works great for cleaning windows.
Old 04-19-2005 | 12:48 PM
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But why...the ink helps clean? So do you use cleaning stuff with the newspaper "paper"?
Old 04-19-2005 | 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by khtm
On a related note, can anyone recommend something better than windex to clean windows? I just find windex to be not that impressive.
GlassPlus is better than Windex in my experience.
Old 04-19-2005 | 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by rx8wannahave
But why...the ink helps clean? So do you use cleaning stuff with the newspaper "paper"?
It's the paper, not the ink.
Old 04-19-2005 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by rx8wannahave
But why...the ink helps clean? So do you use cleaning stuff with the newspaper "paper"?
It's the newsprint paper itself... not sure why it works so well, but it's been popular trick for streak-less windows for as long as I can remember... something my dad told me when I bought my first car.
Old 04-19-2005 | 01:26 PM
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dpm,

Those circles are marks left from the suction cups they use when originally installing the windshield in the factory I believe. Should go away after a few good cleanings.

And yes I too have a large amount of build up on mine too. Seems like I have to constantly clean it. I hate it because I don't do windows
Old 04-19-2005 | 02:42 PM
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Ohhh, I see...so the type of paper is the reason.

I'll have to get some and buy some "auto" glass clearner cause it's on my nerves....
Old 04-19-2005 | 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by rx8wannahave
But why...the ink helps clean? So do you use cleaning stuff with the newspaper "paper"?
It works because pretty much all paper towels and rags have substances added to make them softer. Those substances cause streaking, and they aren't present in newspaper.


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