Smeary car windscreens

[Rescars]

Comments elsewhere on this forum have highlighted the challenges for car drivers of headlight glare. This problem is made worse if the car has road film or grease on the windscreen. This seems increasingly difficult to shift with the screen cleaning additives currently available. Does anyone know of a good way to get a smear-free screen? Back in the day, there used to be a screen cleaner called Clearalex, which was a white powder supplied in sachets. It was quite cheap but remarkably effective. Does anyone know what the active ingredient was, or if anything similar is still available? All suggestions much appreciated.

 

[Ediswan]

I gave up on additives and took to using Windowlene with a clean cloth (other brands are available). Keep the wiper blades clean, and not too old.

I did try Rain-X once. It worked as advertised in rain. But in cold damp conditions, it produced a film which came back as soon as the wipers had moved on. I had to wait for the windscreen to warm up before setting off. So I stopped using it.

 

[E27007]

Wipe the glass with white vinegar and polish with newspaper is one method, a polishing cloth and toothpaste ( a mild abrasive) is another

 

[CarltonA]

I keep a bottle of clear vinegar in the car as well as a packet of Simoniz wipes, which are mainly for using on the inside of the glass.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Just clean it when it gets mucky with normal domestic window cleaning spray and a clean cloth, inside and out (most people never clean the inside).

 

[thejuggler]

I use neat concentrated washer fluid, not the pre mix. I'm also a fan of Rainex and Turtle Wax equivalent, but I know that divides opinion on whether it is useful on windscreens. I've never had an issue with it and have used it for 30 years.

 

[hassaanhc]

I use the Meguiars Perfect Clarity Glass Polishing Compound and it works very well in leaving a clean windscreen. It even gets rid of Rain-X if you've used it before

 

[gabrielhj07]

Rain x works well for me. I also see that the wiper blades are kept clean.

 

[ExRes]

Using a potato, cut of course, should prevent icing on the exterior side and steaming up on the inside, this doesn't work with McDonalds chips though

I wouldn't suggest a repeat of the brilliance of my ex though, Windolene on the exterior of the windscreen, then it rained ...

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I wouldn't suggest a repeat of the brilliance of my ex though, Windolene on the exterior of the windscreen, then it rained ...

Oops! So that none of us on here inadvertently repeat the experience, what then actually happened?

 

[ExRes]

Oops! So that none of us on here inadvertently repeat the experience, what then actually happened?

It was the equivalent of putting a coating of oil on the glass, the wiper blades just slid and smeared the entire viewing arc, I had to pull up and wait for the rain to stop before I could see where I was going, she was just being helpful

 

[Ediswan]

It was the equivalent of putting a coating of oil on the glass, the wiper blades just slid and smeared the entire viewing arc, I had to pull up and wait for the rain to stop before I could see where I was going, she was just being helpful

Curious. I use the pale blue Windowlene and it works fine. But I found Rain-X troublesome and others swear by that. Maybe not all windscreens are equal.

 

[Rescars]

Many thanks to all for your suggestions and advice. Much appreciated.

 

[Ducatist4]

I also couldn't get Rain-x to do anything meaningful. I don't usually have a problem with the outer surface, its the inside that i struggle with.