Best way to clean exterior of windshield

[CleanIT]

P21s Paintwork Cleanser with a mf applicator.


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[fju2112]

Now that I'm comfortable using my Griot's buffer, I'm assuming the Griot's brand glass polish pads are just fine for the windshield and glass roof.

Because there are a lot of different approaches on this thread, for a novice, I'm assuming I need to:

clay the windshield (done this past weekend) after washing the car (will do this before I polish)
use the griot's glass pad with fine glass polish
apply the griot's glass sealant (is this typically done by hand?)
follow up with a good glass cleaner (I have Mothers ReVision)

Should be good enough for a first attempt - may get adventurous with the steel wool if I don't like the results.

[MisterSnoop]

Griot's has videos on glass polishing and glass sealant. The sealant is applied by hand. You can top it with their ceramic glass cleaner if you want. I don't know that cleaning after using the sealant is necessary.

I've also seen them use their innerflex pads with the glass pads since they're thin.

Glass polishing
Griot's Garage - Fine Glass Polish to remove hard water spots and etchings - YouTube

Glass sealant
Griot's Garage - Glass Sealant: Water can kiss your glass goodbye! - YouTube

[Coatingsarecrack]

There glass sealant is the one product that let me down.


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[fju2112]

Any recommendation for a different sealant?

[PouncingPanzer]

Glass polish and a glass cutting pad if it is a badly sandblasted and pitted glass.

For regular thorough cleaning I use a clay pad and ONR and then just follow up with my glass cleaner on a waffle weave. Claying has solved my skipping and noisy wiper blades in the past as well as making sure there is no oxidized rubber on the blades. Rubbing alcohol for that.

[Calendyr]

Glass polish might be a little agressive for just cleaning the windshield. That is designed to remove damage in the glass.

All the method listed work. My favorite is #0000 steel wool but you can use clay for the same result. You are just trying to remove the stuff that won't come off with normal cleaning, glass polish is designed to abrade the glass.

As for sealant, when I switched from Aquapel for McKee's 37 glass coating, I was sold. On my own windshied it lasts about 1.5 year (I don't drive much in the rain). For my customer, I tell them about a year.

[fju2112]

I did try a regular clay bar that didn't have much effect on the glass - may have improved it a little but not much. I know there are glass "cutting" pads out there so I just assumed a polish pad, by comparison, would be a fool proof way to clean it up nicely.

[Calendyr]

I did try a regular clay bar that didn't have much effect on the glass - may have improved it a little but not much. I know there are glass "cutting" pads out there so I just assumed a polish pad, by comparison, would be a fool proof way to clean it up nicely.

Try using a foam cutting pad with a regular compound and see how it goes. Keep the glass polish for scratch removal in the glass and if you ever decide to do that, you will need the pad designed to do it, a rotary polisher and a lot of patience.

[The Guz]

Sounds like it is time to start polishing your glass. That will truly clean the surface. And not all glass polishes are created equal. Meaning there are some designed to cleanse the glass rather than trying to remove wiper marks. Any of the ones Bobby posted will work.

It will be optional if you choose to apply some sort of rain repellent afterwards.

Best way to clean exterior of windshield