**Super Cleaning Your Windshield: A Step-by-Step Guide**

When it comes to maintaining your vehicle's windshield, many people overlook one crucial step: cleaning and waxing. A properly cleaned and waxed windshield can make all the difference in visibility, durability, and overall driving experience. In this article, we'll dive into the world of windshield cleaning and waxing, exploring the best methods, products, and tips to keep your windshield in top shape.

**The Importance of Cleaning Your Windshield**

First things first, let's talk about why cleaning your windshield is so important. A dirty or streaked windshield can lead to reduced visibility, which is a major safety concern. Additionally, a clean windshield will prevent the buildup of dirt, dust, and debris, which can cause scratches and damage over time. With regular cleaning and waxing, you'll enjoy improved visibility, reduced maintenance costs, and a safer driving experience.

**Using Rain-X vs. Wax: Which is Best?**

When it comes to windshield treatment, many people debate between using Rain-X and wax. Both products have their benefits, but in this author's opinion, wax lasts longer and provides better protection against the elements. Rain-X can be effective for short-term protection, but its effects wear off quickly. Wax, on the other hand, provides a long-lasting barrier that withstands rain, snow, and extreme temperatures. Additionally, waxing your windshield will also prevent bird poop and bug splatters from sticking to the glass.

**How to Clean Your Windshield**

Cleaning your windshield is relatively straightforward, but it requires attention to detail. Start by applying a small amount of glass cleaner to a microfiber towel or cloth. Gently wipe down the entire windshield, working in circular motions to remove any dirt or debris. For stubborn stains or bird droppings, use a damp paper towel and clean the area right off. Be sure to rinse your cloth frequently to avoid re-depositing dirt onto the windshield.

**Applying Wax: The Ultimate Protection**

Now that we've cleaned our windshield, it's time to apply wax for long-term protection. You can purchase wax at most auto parts stores or online retailers. Apply a small amount of wax to a microfiber towel and work in circular motions, using moderate pressure (about 5 pounds). Make sure to cover the entire windshield evenly, without leaving any bare spots. The glass is relatively smooth after being clay-barred, so you won't need much wax at all.

**Waiting for Wax Drying Time**

After applying wax, wait around five minutes for it to dry enough to buff off. This will ensure that the wax adheres properly and prevents water from pooling on the windshield. Test the wax by running your finger along the surface; if there's no smudge or residue, it's ready to be buffed off.

**Buffing Off Excess Wax**

To buff off excess wax, use a clean microfiber towel in circular motions. Start with gentle pressure and increase as needed. Be sure to pay attention to details, such as black trim and hidden areas where wax might accumulate. Use a finishing towel for the final buff, using a combination of circular and vertical strokes to remove any remaining wax.

**Final Check: Testing the Wax**

After buffing off excess wax, perform a final test to ensure that it's ready to use. Run your finger along the surface; if there's still some residue or smudge, wait a few more minutes for the wax to dry completely. If everything looks clear and smooth, you're good to go!

**Maintaining Your Windshield**

Regular cleaning and waxing will keep your windshield in top shape. Remember to clean your wiper blades regularly to prevent dirt from accumulating on the windshield. Use a glass cleaner specifically designed for rubber wiper blades to avoid drying out the material.

In conclusion, properly cleaning and waxing your windshield is an essential part of vehicle maintenance. By following these steps and using the right products, you'll enjoy improved visibility, reduced maintenance costs, and a safer driving experience. Don't overlook this crucial step – give it the attention it deserves!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enHey guys, ChrisFix hereand today I'm gonna show you how to Super Clean your windshield.I'll be demonstrating this on my 1996 Chevy CorvetteGlass is the second largest surface on your carright after the paintso for car shows, having the glass perfectly cleanis essential for bringing home the trophies.And don't think that super cleaning the windshield is just for a show car like the CorvetteI do this on my daily driver truckI just did this on this windshieldand it looks awesomeYou're driving your car or truck every dayand the thing you look at the most is right out of the windshieldso you don't want any dirt on there that distracts you from drivingor strains your eyes —I don't know about you, but I hate when there's stuff on the windshieldright in front of my field of viewJust drives me crazyPlus, today I have a pretty nice daybut what happens when it's raining or when it's snowing?It's nice to know that your windshield will bead up waterprevent ice from stickingprevent bug splatters from stickingand also, it'll be nice and clear at nightso you minimize any reflection.The most important thing is that you can see clearly out of your windshieldfor safety and for comfort.Now there a million different glass cleaners on the marketPick your favorite one that you like to useI prefer one that doesn't have harsh chemicalssuch as ammoniaAnd I also prefer one that does not leave any streaks or residueMy windshield is pretty dirty my 'VetteYou can see the mark right thereAnd another right thereAnd the whole window is covered by bug splatters and road debrisSo some people like using paper towels or a bundled-up piece of newspaperto clean their windshieldI prefer using a microfiber towelYou won't scratch your windshield with thisIt absorbs water really wellIt leaves no residueIt leaves no fuzzAnd it picks up dirt really well.So the first step's gonna be to clean off your windshield with your microfiber cloth and your favorite glass cleaner.Make sure you're working in the shadeand do half the glass at a time.If you spray the whole windshield with the cleanerHalf of it might evaporate by the time you get to the other sideAnd that'll just make a bigger messWhen wiping the windshield, use random circular motionsand change the direction of the towel.This'll allow the glass to be scrubbed in different directionsand remove the most dirt possible.And don't forget to get into the corners and along the edges of the windshield with your towel.So our white towel is now black with dirtand that's really goodWe got a lot of the dirt offNow we're gonna move to the next step.The next step is gonna be using a piece of clay barI have this clay bar kit hereYou normally use this on your paintYou just break a little piece offAnd you get your water bottleI filled this water bottle up with warm waterThe warmer the water, the betterWarm water breaks down and dissolves dirt better than cold water.You want a good amount of waterbecause this will help the clay slide along the windshieldand you can't use too much water.You want to move the clay bar in an up-and-down motionand then in a circular motionto clean at all different anglesThis will pull up any contaminants that are really stuck on the glassAnd it'll also clean up anything that didn't get cleaned up by your glass cleanerAnd if the clay kind of gets hung up and is kind of hard to moveFocus in that areaBecause there contaminants thereAnd get it nice and cleanAnd then it should slide nice and smooth after thatInstead of clay-barring, some people use steel wool or a straight razor,and scrape the glass, and I do not do that at allI don't want to scratch the glassThere's almost no chance of me scratching the glass with just a piece of clay barHere's the clay bar after cleaning the windshield with itYou can see all the dirt that didn't get cleaned up by the glass cleanergot pulled up by the clay barAnd we also loosened up a bunch of contaminants on the glass hereSo we're gonna clean it one more time with our glass cleaner.And after we went over it one more timethat clay bar loosened up a bunch more dirtso we were able to clean this windshield even moreand it's looking great.Now I'm going to dry the windshield with a really absorbent microfiber clothThis cloth will also not leave any lintwhich is helpful. You don't want to leave any lint at this stageNow this windshield is looking awesome.Already there's a nice shine to itand we're not even done yet.Now this last step is really what gives your windshield that extra somethingAnd it's using regular car waxSo any carnuba or synthetic paste waxthat you use on your car's paintyou're gonna use on the windshield.And waxing the windshield will put a protective layer that beads up water better than Rain-XAnd it'll also prevent bird poop and bug splatters from sticking to the windshield.So all you need to do is get a damp paper towel and clean it right off.Also the wax prevents ice buildupSo for those cold mornings, you don't need to scrape the ice off the glassWhich is awesome.You could use Rain-X if you want,but I find that wax lasts the longest.This'll last me 4 to 6 monthswhere the water will bead up and bugs and stuff will come offwith just one wipe of the towel.All you have to do is get your waxYou want to apply it in a circular motionThis isn't like waxing the paint on your carDon't worry about swirl marks or anythingYou don't need thick layersYou just want to coat the surface of the glassThe glass is really smooth right now because you clay-barred itSo you're not going to have to use that much wax at all.You want to apply moderate pressureI'd say about 5 pounds of pressureSo now I'm gonna coat the whole windshieldSo you want to take a look at the windshield to make sure we have full wax coverageWe don't want any bare spots with no waxBut as you can see, this looks really goodNow we'll wait around five minutesuntil the wax has dried enough to buff it offAnd I'll show you how to test the wax to see if it's ready to be buffedAfter about five minutes, let's test the wax and see if it's ready to get buffed offYou just take your finger and run it along the waxYou can see my finger left behind a smudgeAnd that's not completely clearSo the wax isn't ready to get buffedYou want there to be no smudgeAnd you want the glass underneath your finger to be completely clearafter you rub it.So after a few minutes, let's test the wax againYou can see that there's no smudge and it's clear underneathAnd also the wax kind of builds up at one endWhen you push itAnd that's exactly what you wantSo this is ready to get buffed offGet a clean microfiber towelAnd let's buff off as much wax as we can.Try using circular motions because that will remove the most wax.Make sure you pay attention to detailsAnd get the wax off of all the black pieces and all the trimAny wax on this black trim is gonna turn whiteAnd any wax that's kind of hidden under hereis gonna turn white and it'll be really obvious.So you want to make sure you get that out.So we've finished our first buff with this microfiber towelNow I'm gonna change towelsI'm gonna use a finishing towel hereAnd this towel's gonna be used for that final buffAnd we're gonna do circular motions firstAnd then up and down for the finish.Again, the circular motions allow you to buff the windshield from different directionswhich provides the best results.And then do a final vertical buffjust moving the towel up and down.Make sure you don't touch the glass by mistakebecause the oils from your hand will get on the glass and you'll notice it.And we are done!That's how you Super Clean your windshieldHopefully this video was helpful!If it was, remember to give the video a thumbs-up!If you're not a subscriber, what are you waiting for?Hit that Subscribe button!Also remember to leave a comment below if you have a different method you use the clean the windshield — I'd love to hear it.Just as some proof to show you how well this wax layer protects the windshieldCheck out how even a little bit of water beads up and rolls right offNow let's get serious and simulate a rainstorm!You can see, even in heavy rainMost of the water falls right off the windshieldwhich is great for visibility.The top for this video is:You always want to make sure that you clean your wiper blades offbecause all the hard work that you just did to clean the whole windshieldwill get put to waste once you use your wiper bladesand just spread that dirt all over the place.Spray the glass cleaner on the towelAnd just pull the wiper blade upAnd you're just gonna take the towel and run it along the whole wiper blade.Many people say to use alcohol, but alcohol could dry out the rubber along the wiper bladeAnd then that could cause it to scratch your windshieldSo I just use a glass cleaner that's good on rubber.Make sure you do the other wiper blade as wellAnd you can see with both wiper bladesthat we got a lot of dirt offAnd that'll just keep the whole windshield from getting dirty again when you use your wiper blades.\n"