Windshield that won’t clean

[frankmorris]

Admittedly this really isn’t just a Jeep issue, but you all are helpful, so...

My wrangler is new, and I’ve been washing by hand. I have (hard) well water at my house, but have been using a softener for the first few washes. Today I didn’t use the softener to test the difference.

Basically, there’s a film on all of my windows that won’t even scrub clean. It looks like water dried on the windshield without it being wiped off, but I’ve hand dried it while still wet, and attempted to re-wet and scrub the stuff off. Nothing. I’ve also used an organic window spray (similar to windex) and that doesn’t help at all.

Any thoughts? I doubt it’s calcium or other mineral deposits because I’ve been using soft water, but maybe it’s salt deposits that just bake on at the slightest hint of being dried? Tips on preventing this and cleaning the stuff off that’s stuck on there?

Photo attached.

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[FirecrackerRedJLU]

Give it a good quick wax it’ll come out! If you don’t own a Da polisher. Find some liquid wax then and a small pad and or a good microfiber and those water stains will come right off.

 

[COJLGirl]

Anytime I get hard water spotting, I use Car Pro Spotless.

 

[jeepdabest]

Want it SQUEAKY clean? A hammer and a zero deductable on glass breakage.

 

[frankmorris]

Okay wax, clay bar, or Car Pro Spotless. Thanks for the ideas!

 

[frankmorris]

You can clay bar your glass, works very well for this. Go down to your parts store and pick up Meguiar's clay kit. Spray the quick detailer onto your glass as a lube then work the clay back and forth across it. Afterwards clean your windshield with a proper glass cleaner and newspaper. IMO you should clay your windshield once or twice a year.

Looks like they’re describing the clay bar as a product for paint?

 

[frankmorris]

Give it a good quick wax it’ll come out! If you don’t own a Da polisher. Find some liquid wax then and a small pad and or a good microfiber and those water stains will come right off.

Any particular kind of wax? And it won’t leave the windshield hazy?

 

[81ster]

Admittedly this really isn’t just a Jeep issue, but you all are helpful, so...

My wrangler is new, and I’ve been washing by hand. I have (hard) well water at my house, but have been using a softener for the first few washes. Today I didn’t use the softener to test the difference.

Basically, there’s a film on all of my windows that won’t even scrub clean. It looks like water dried on the windshield without it being wiped off, but I’ve hand dried it while still wet, and attempted to re-wet and scrub the stuff off. Nothing. I’ve also used an organic window spray (similar to windex) and that doesn’t help at all.

Any thoughts? I doubt it’s calcium or other mineral deposits because I’ve been using soft water, but maybe it’s salt deposits that just bake on at the slightest hint of being dried? Tips on preventing this and cleaning the stuff off that’s stuck on there?

Photo attached.

Were in same situation.. make sure car is cool (out of sun) when washing and then get it towel dried off immediately... Then do as others have described and you will be good!!! I use eagle quick detailer on everything, including glass and follow up on glass with sprayway ammonia free glass cleaner with newspaper...

 

[JROOO]

May I introduce you to: Bartenders Best Friend https://www.barkeepersfriend.com/

Mask off the window bottom first. Make the paste, let it sit on the glass a few minutes then scrub off. Finally finish with a clay bar. This works on shower glass too btw.

 

[JeepJLBase]

Yes. Bar keepers friend works. I use it to remove tree sap from my windshield.

 

[Shenanigans]

Looks like they’re describing the clay bar as a product for paint?

Clay bar removes sediment built up on the surface such as railroad dust, sap, bugs, etc.... Wax won’t remove anything. If it does, you are doing it wrong.

For this, you can use a glass cleaning compound.

 

[GreyFox]

Have you tried a magic eraser? I love those things

 

[mazeppa]

0000 Steel Wool

 

[frankmorris]

Thanks everyone. Great info here. Side question - I’ve got a new soft top on there. Should I be attempting to somehow dry the soft top manually (other than letting it air dry)? And will hard water do anything particularly bad to the soft top?

 

[GreyFox]

Thanks everyone. Great info here. Side question - I’ve got a new soft top on there. Should I be attempting to somehow dry the soft top manually (other than letting it air dry)? And will hard water do anything particularly bad to the soft top?

I've always just washed my tops and let them dry. You can use a microfiber towel on the window, carefully. Don't get crazy with the elbow grease. I never had any issues with my TJ soft top and haven't had any with my JL (so far).

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