Smeary windscreen - The cure

[nightshade]

I have put up with a smeary windscreen now for years
You know the sort;in traffic or approaching a roundabout
a quick flick of the wash/wipe and the apparently clean
screen becomes coated in porridge! or at night the glare from
an apparently clean screen as cars approach you totally
blinds you!
I have asked the question many times now;
How do I prevent it??
1 Which screen-wash do I use
2 Is it worth buying PIAA silicone wiper blades

I use Mer screen cleaner to get a sparkling screen
I clean the wiper blade edges as well
the current blades are like new(september2006)
What else can I do

[svenrufus]

Clean the windscreen with soap and water as usual.
Then wipe over with vinegar and rub ff with newspaper - sorted.

[nightshade]

The initial clean is fine, it is half an hour or less into the journey
that is the problem, how to keep it clean on the move is what I want to know

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by nightshade

The initial clean is fine, it is half an hour or less into the journey
that is the problem, how to keep it clean on the move is what I want to know

hmmm I don't know either. In my old job we used to get fairly swanky hire cars if we were going some distance and I used to marvel at the crystal clarity of the windscreen..... Perhaps I should ask them - though i suspect it was purely that the cars were so new...

[svenrufus]

Originally Posted by nightshade

The initial clean is fine, it is half an hour or less into the journey
that is the problem, how to keep it clean on the move is what I want to know

The vinegar does something to the surface of the glass, coats it or lifs of the residues that start to cause the problems you describe later, and it keeps the smearyness and haze at bay for quite a while. It is not permanent, obviously, but very effective.

However, at this time of year, with the salt on the roads, it may not work for too long, not sure - I haven't cleaned my car for months.

[ron1863]

Use a taxi

[Boddie]

There is a can you can buy from Halford which puts a mousse like substance on the screen. It works great, but like everything else, not for long. Cant imagine anything is great at this time of year

[wildlifesnapper]

Drive backwards

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi,
no seriously , after cleaning the windscreen use a cloth with vinegar and wipe the wiper blades.It's supposed to stops the blades re-greasing the screen.

neil

[werdnal]

Hubby used to moan all the time about smeary screen, until I tried the vinegar. Works a treat, although you have to re-do every so often. I put it on neat, and leave it on there (don't rinse).

My Mother in law puts washing up liquid in her washer bottle, although we have told her not to as the salts in it don't do your paintwork any good. She says it helps keep her screen clear.

Not sure what would happen if you did half vinegar/half water in the washers. Other than making your car smell like a chippy, it might work!

[DaiTheDragon]

I normally use vinegar and was thinking the other day whether to put some in the screen wash.

Dai

[davewalker]

I bought some special glass cleaner from Germany.Cleanest screen I have ever had.
One problem, in rain, you couldn't use the wipers! If you were on a motorway,travelling at speed, the screen stayed perfectly clear,the second you put wipers on, smears all over.
My answer now is a very high concentration of commercial screenwash.Helps to keep the water from freezing as well, just have to put up with the smell,

davew

PS Still use it on lights,super

[Jennywrenny]

I used to use a bit of washing up liquid and some vinegar mixed in with the water when washing windows in the house - should work for the windowscreen as well.