If you’re going to paint your windscreens, prepare them first. Here’s how to prep your windscreens:
Remove all the trim from the screen. Use a small chisel and hammer to carefully break the bond between the trim and the glass. The trim is glued on with an adhesive that is difficult to remove without damaging the glass. It’s best to use a heat gun or hair dryer on high heat setting to soften the adhesive and make it easier to remove in one piece.
Use a putty knife or scraper to remove all remaining bits of glue from inside the frame, making sure not to damage any part of the bodywork as you do so. Remove all traces of old adhesive residue left on either side of the screen with some acetone on a clean cloth or rag. Rinse off all traces of acetone before proceeding further with cleaning up your screen.
Clean both sides of your new screen thoroughly with a mild detergent solution (such as Simple Green) and then rinse well with water using an air compressor sprayer if available or by hand using a spray bottle filled with clean water (no soap!). If you do not have access to an air compressor or spray bottle then simply wipe down both sides.
If you have a lot of bugs or bird droppings on your windscreen, use a bug remover spray first before using the glass cleaner solution. The bug remover spray will break down any oily residue left behind by insects so that it can be easily removed with the glass cleaner solution afterwards.
Windscreens are an important part of your vehicle’s aerodynamics. They prevent water, dirt and debris from entering the cabin through the front windscreen wiper blades. When you take care of your windscreens, they will last longer and perform better.
Use a mild detergent and water, or a combination of both. This will loosen up dirt and grime that has built up over time. Don’t use a strong solvent like petrol, as it can damage the paintwork.
Make sure you use a soft cloth or sponge when cleaning your windscreen, so you don’t scratch it. A microfibre cloth works best because it doesn’t leave any fibres behind on your windscreen either.
If there are any streaks left behind from the initial wash, use some toothpaste (not gel) to remove them. Toothpaste has a higher alkaline level than most detergents, which will help remove residue left by dirty water or rainwater.
Once you’ve cleaned off all the grime, then you can begin to polish the windscreen using a specialised glass cleaner. You’ll want to make sure that there are no streaks or residue left behind on your windscreen before polishing it so that you don’t cause any scratches.
If you want to make sure that your windscreen looks its best, then you need to use a microfibre cloth instead of paper towels or cotton rags as they can leave behind small fibres which could scratch the surface of your windscreen later on down the line.
