Removing difficult things from your auto glass doesn’t have to be hard. Many things can unexpectedly land on your auto glass, like tree sap. Perhaps you bought a used vehicle and inherited tons of decals placed on the auto glass. Now, you have to figure out how to get rid of it.

It is important to know that poor visibility causes accidents just as much as environmental causes or improper driving. Poor visibility can cause a person to be unable to see the lines on the road and other traffic signals. Approximately half of all fatalities due to motor vehicle crashes occur at night, even though there are less vehicles on the road at this time.

Here are ways to go about removing difficult things from your auto glass, based on what the material is.

Hard Water Stains

Water that is very high in minerals can cause hard water stains. If you live somewhere with hard water that is high in minerals, you’ve probably noticed some white spots on your vehicle. When hard water evaporates from the windshield surface, it leaves behind minerals which leaves white spots on the surface. These white spots are usually called lime scales or calcium deposits. They are very difficult to remove and give your windows a haziness and texture that is not conducive to safety.

An equal mixture of white distilled vinegar and water in a water bottle should do the trick. Spray it on the windshield and let it sit for 5 minutes. Next, wipe it off with a clean cloth until the spot vanishes. Lemon juice can be used in place of vinegar.

A mixture of a few drops of lemon or orange essential oil in water applied to the windshield with a clean sponge can also prevent hard water stains from depositing on your windshield.

Window Tint

Maybe you tinted your windshield to protect against the summer heat, or maybe you purchased a pre-owned vehicle that already had window tinting film. Whatever the reason it was installed, window tint makes it harder to drive the vehicle in dark hours because it compromises the visibility of your vehicle.

To get rid of window tinting film without damaging the auto glass, first gather a few supplies. For this, you will need a hair dryer, a plastic blade or scraper, lint-free rags, WD-40 or adhesive remover, and glass cleaner. Use a hairdryer or other heat device to loosen the adhesive on the window tint. Hold the hairdryer about two sections away from the glass and work in sections, lifting the edges of the tint away from the glass with a plastic scraper. Next, use a lint-free rag and WD-40 to remove any adhesive still stuck on the window. Finally, when all the window tint and adhesive is removed, clean the windshield with glass cleaner and a clean lint-free cloth.

Decals

Maybe it was your favorite band from your teenage years or decals you no longer want, but most cars have decals on them that are no longer wanted. Luckily, most decals or stickers can be scraped off easily.

You will need soap and water, a plastic scraper, adhesive remover, a lint-free rag and glass cleaner. First, soak and then scrub the decal with soapy water. Next, use a plastic scraper to remove the decal. If the decal is stubborn, try heating the area first with a hairdryer. Adhesive remover can get rid of any remaining adhesive. Finally, use glass cleaner and a lint-free rag to clean everything off of the window.

Tree Sap

Parking your car under a tree can cause tree sap to get onto your auto glass. Tree sap can be a real challenge to get rid of on auto glass. Make sure to not turn on the windshield wipers as this will only smear the tree sap more across the windshield.

Remove the sap by using rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer and a lint free cloth. Pour a small amount of diluted alcohol onto a rag, lay it on the sap spot, and let it soak for one minute. Then, use the rag to rub the area, adding more alcohol and wiping until it is gone. Lastly, clean up all residue using a clean lint-free rag and glass cleaner.

Spray Paint

Spray paint got you down? Don’t worry, spray paint on a windshield isn’t permanent. You will need a plastic blade, acetone nail polish remover, a lint-free rag, and glass cleaner. First, scrape any paint off the glass with a plastic blade. Use long strokes across the glass in one direction rather than back and forth. Next, use a small amount of acetone nail polish remover and a microfiber cloth to get rid of any remaining paint. Finally, clean the windshield with plain water and follow it with a glass cleaner, if you choose.

Gum

Gum is hard to remove from any surface, but getting rid of it from auto glass is a lot easier than getting rid of it from your child’s hair. A trick used to get it off a windshield (and hair!) is to use ice to harden the gum. Make sure to remove as much of the gum as you can. Next, hold ice to the gum for a few minutes. You should be able to peel any remaining gum off the glass after it has been hardened. If you still cannot remove the gum from the glass, a bug remover should also do the trick. After the surface is free of gum, clean the glass with glass cleaner and a lint-free rag.

Bugs

The best part of summer is the road trips. The downside of summer is the bug splatter afterwards all over the windshield. A DIY way to clean the bug splatter is WD-40. Soak the dirty spot with the oil and let it sit for a few minutes. After it has sat for a bit, scrub the glass with the scratchy side of a regular kitchen sponge. Then, clean the area with a microfiber cloth. There are also specialized bug removal solutions to clean up bug mess.

Ice

Who else hates cold weather? I think even people who love winter hate standing outside in the cold chipping away at ice on a windshield. An easy way to dissolve the ice quickly is to spray the windshield with a rubbing alcohol solution. First, fill a spray bottle with ⅔ rubbing alcohol and ⅓ water. A quick spray will dissolve the ice and won’t refreeze to the glass. Do not throw hot water on your windshield trying to dissolve the ice. This causes cracks and shatters.

Wiper Marks

Windshield wiper streaks will happen. They are easy to wipe away using an alcohol based glass cleaner and a lint free rag. When you’ve wiped them away, lift up the wipers and clean the blades. If your windshield wipers are causing streaks often, make sure that they do not need to be replaced. In short, streaking is a big sign that it is time to replace them. 

Water Spots

Water spots after a car wash are some of the most frustrating things to see after all of your hard work. To get rid of them, you can make a vinegar solution with equal parts plain white vinegar and water. Apply the solution to the water spots and let it sit. After a minute, rinse and dry the windshield with a microfiber cloth.

In conclusion, removing difficult things from your auto glass doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems. Follow these tips to keep your glass shining at all times. Remember, you can always call us if DIY isn’t your thing at 877-49-GLASS.