Windshield Cleaning

[Roger S.]

I finally got the original windshield in my 1973 Corvette resealed. In putting the chrome trim back on I noticed the glass is "dirty" in areas under the trim and there are several small 'spots' on the exterior that are not removable by washing or cleaning with 'Windex'. I read in a previous post about using a product from Eastwood with a buffer to clean/polish the glass. I am not ready to go that route, but am wondering if there is a household cleaner that I can use. Someone mentioned a cleaner like "Bon Ami". Would not "Bon Ami" or an equal scratch the glass? Does anyone have any suggestions?
Roger

[Joe C.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

If there is sealer on the glass, then use a razor blade to remove it. Follow up with a good solvent, like good old gasoline, or the like. Wash thoroughly with your favorite household soap (dish soap works well), to remove the organic residue. DO NOT une abrasives, unless the glass is scratched.

[Joe C.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

If there is sealer on the glass, then use a razor blade to remove it. Follow up with a good solvent, like good old gasoline, or the like. Wash thoroughly with your favorite household soap (dish soap works well), to remove the organic residue. DO NOT une abrasives, unless the glass is scratched.

[Craig S.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

I have heard that careful use of Bon-Ami will remove calcium and mineral deposits, if used carefully without scratching the glass. It is much finer than Comet etc. I have not tried nor verified this however. Less aggressive is best, resort to more intense means only when required.......Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

I have heard that careful use of Bon-Ami will remove calcium and mineral deposits, if used carefully without scratching the glass. It is much finer than Comet etc. I have not tried nor verified this however. Less aggressive is best, resort to more intense means only when required.......Craig

[Chuck S.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Roger, I used Bon-Ami at my after-school job to clean the plate glass store front at the local drugstore, and as far as I could tell it never left any scratches. However, there was lots of elbow grease smeared around. Further, my boss felt it had to be done WEEKLY, since my labor was no object. I also use Comet to clean the my clear glass shower doors...no scratches. I would stick with the Bon-Ami for cleaning my Corvette glass...it's not as aggressive as Comet, and has no bleach to my knowledge.

Wet a large cloth, but don't wring it out completely. Fold it into a hand-sized square and sprinkle on the Bon-Ami. Apply the diluted paste to the glass in advancing, overlapping circular patterns. You can either rinse it off after working it awhile, or you can let it dry completely and polish off the residue. Polishing off the dry residue like I did at the drugstore is labor intensive, but you get maximum polishing affect. You'll get accumulated road dirt off, but you aren't going to touch any scatches already there...you'll need the Eastwood product for that.

I don't think you need to worry about scratches from cleansers...in my experience you can scratch glass with steel or diamonds, but it takes concentrated point loading to do it. Bon-Ami has no diamonds in it.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Roger, I used Bon-Ami at my after-school job to clean the plate glass store front at the local drugstore, and as far as I could tell it never left any scratches. However, there was lots of elbow grease smeared around. Further, my boss felt it had to be done WEEKLY, since my labor was no object. I also use Comet to clean the my clear glass shower doors...no scratches. I would stick with the Bon-Ami for cleaning my Corvette glass...it's not as aggressive as Comet, and has no bleach to my knowledge.

Wet a large cloth, but don't wring it out completely. Fold it into a hand-sized square and sprinkle on the Bon-Ami. Apply the diluted paste to the glass in advancing, overlapping circular patterns. You can either rinse it off after working it awhile, or you can let it dry completely and polish off the residue. Polishing off the dry residue like I did at the drugstore is labor intensive, but you get maximum polishing affect. You'll get accumulated road dirt off, but you aren't going to touch any scatches already there...you'll need the Eastwood product for that.

I don't think you need to worry about scratches from cleansers...in my experience you can scratch glass with steel or diamonds, but it takes concentrated point loading to do it. Bon-Ami has no diamonds in it.

[David N.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Roger, Before I retired from Ford Motor Co., I worked in a Quality Control Lab. When our serviceman came to work on our spectrometer, he used a paste of bicarbonate of soda to clean the optical lenses. Similiar procedure as Chuck's. It is like using Bon Ami, very fine, removes residues, and you have the benefit of the sodium ions which are an active cleaner. just my $.02 worth.
David Nims 19639

[David N.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Roger, Before I retired from Ford Motor Co., I worked in a Quality Control Lab. When our serviceman came to work on our spectrometer, he used a paste of bicarbonate of soda to clean the optical lenses. Similiar procedure as Chuck's. It is like using Bon Ami, very fine, removes residues, and you have the benefit of the sodium ions which are an active cleaner. just my $.02 worth.
David Nims 19639

[Mike McKown]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Make a slurry of baking soda and Coca-Cola.

[Mike McKown]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Make a slurry of baking soda and Coca-Cola.

[George C.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Try Rain X. Then clean with alittle windex spray cleaner.

[George C.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Try Rain X. Then clean with alittle windex spray cleaner.

[Joe C.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Use Griffin (it must be Griffin) black shoe polish. Make a paste as follows:

.....3 parts Griffin black shoe polish
.....2 parts white cider vinegar
.....1 part nitrocellulose fillum
.....2 parts garlic
.....1 part cumin powder
.....9 parts chili powder (or 20 parts roasted chipolte' if N/A)

Mix well, in a food processor. and be sure to pulse, like on TV. Apply sparingly, using a clean, white cotton cloth. Wipe off immediately, just like Glass Wax. If you leave it on too long, it will eat through the wndshield, just like Grant went through Richmond.

[Joe C.]

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Use Griffin (it must be Griffin) black shoe polish. Make a paste as follows:

.....3 parts Griffin black shoe polish
.....2 parts white cider vinegar
.....1 part nitrocellulose fillum
.....2 parts garlic
.....1 part cumin powder
.....9 parts chili powder (or 20 parts roasted chipolte' if N/A)

Mix well, in a food processor. and be sure to pulse, like on TV. Apply sparingly, using a clean, white cotton cloth. Wipe off immediately, just like Glass Wax. If you leave it on too long, it will eat through the wndshield, just like Grant went through Richmond.