What Is Going On With The Inside Of Your Car's Windshield?
by Clifford Patterson
If you have owned a car for a while, you have probably encountered that layer of odd film on the inside of your front windshield. It's as if your car windows have started to fog up slightly on sunny days, making the glare through the windshield unbearable. What's worse is that when you wipe off the film, it seems to come back quite quickly. The film is actually composed of relatively simple things, and there are a few ways to prevent the film from forming quite as fast.
Your Car Is the Culprit
That film is composed of particles that have been off-gassed from your car, including cleaners used inside the car on places like the dashboard. Add in environmental factors in the car like cigarette smoke and dust, as well as heat, and you have a soup of particles floating in the air in your car. This soup eventually clings to the inside of your windshield and starts to dull the visibility through the glass.
Cleaning It Off
Use either a combination of mild dish soap and water or vinegar and water -- just plain white distilled vinegar from the supermarket -- to thoroughly clean off the film. You can use glass cleaners, too, but sometimes the spray from these can land on parts of the glass you already cleaned, leading to faster regrowth of the film. Be sure to dry the windshield thoroughly with clean rags after washing the inside.
Preventing It
It may be difficult to fully prevent the film from re-forming, but you can try the following to slow it down:
- Stop smoking in the car, if you smoke.
- Park in the shade. Sun and heat seem to spur film growth. Using a sun shade helps as well.
- Cover your dashboard. Particles from any cleaners you use won't be able to float up and join that airborne particle soup.
- Regularly clean the inside of the windshield instead of letting it sit. That will remove lighter buildups and prevent much of the blinding glare that occurs when sunlight hits the film.
If you want more tips for taking care of your car's window glass, contact an auto repair company that specializes in windshield repair. They know all the ins and outs of auto glass and will be able to help you pinpoint the real cause of the film. They'll also help you determine the best way to clean the windshield to reduce film formation and spread.
For more information, contact X-Treme Auto Glass or a similar company.
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About Me
When my windshield was broken due to a falling rock at work, I knew that I had to get it replaced immediately. I didn't want to risk getting a ticket on my way home, so I called a mobile repair service to find out what I could do. When they sent someone out right away, I was surprised. I couldn't believe they could do the work right there in the parking lot. I had to understand how all of it worked, and then I wanted to bring that knowledge to others. The next time your windshield breaks, I hope that the information here helps you to see that you don't need to drop your car off for repairs — there are companies that can come directly to you!