Being able to see clearly through your car's windshield is essential to your safety on the road. Despite the durability of the glass, windshields are vulnerable to damage from rocks, gravel and other particles in the air. Over time, these things can cause a series of chips, dings and scratches in the windshield glass, leaving you struggling with a hazy, pitted windshield. Luckily, this type of damage doesn't always have to mean investing in a while new windshield. If the surface flaws are the only damage, you may be able to polish them away. Here's a look at what you need to know about polishing your car's windshield.
Gather Supplies
Don't start the process until you're sure you have all of the supplies. That way, you can do the whole thing from start to finish with no interruption. You'll need:
A garden hose
A bucket
A sponge
Mild dish detergent
Auto glass polish
Orbital sander with sanding discs
Cleaning the Glass Surface
Start by rinsing the windshield completely with the garden hose. This flushes away surface dirt. Then, scrub the windshield with the sponge dipped into a bucket of water mixed with the mild detergent. This part is essential, because you need to start with a clean surface. Once you've scrubbed the glass, rinse it again. Let the windshield dry completely before moving on.
Polishing Away the Flaws
Once everything is clean and dry, it's time to polish away the dings. Attach the glass polishing sander disc to the orbital sander. In most cases, the discs just press into place using a hook and loop system to attach.
Spray a small amount of auto glass polish on the windshield. Follow the instructions on the specific product you choose to know how much is necessary because it can vary from product to product. Then, use the orbital sander to work the polish across the glass surface.
Use circular movements across the entire surface of the glass, being particularly attentive to the areas where the pits and dings are. The polishing pad with the auto glass polish will fill in those spaces, evening out the glass surface.
When you understand how to polish your windshield this way, you can restore its clear finish without having to spend hundreds on new glass. If you aren't comfortable doing this type of work yourself, or your windshield is heavily damaged, consider working with an auto glass shop for a windshield replacement.
Share22 July 2015
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