Car windscreen has me beat.

[brightspark]

best laugh I had was Peugeot garage wanting 50 quid for changing wipers genuine valeo. I bought valeo ones from europarts for 18 quid donkeys years ago windscreen wipers lasted years

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Don't laugh but best thing is cheap toothpaste. Buy a 50p tube from supermarket and try it - you will be amazed. Also great for mirrors in the bathroom

 

[Bill Edwards]

Most wiper blades that I ever buy are so cheap I don't understand why anybody ever skimps on them.

Brake/clutch cleaner is effective at removing just about everything that's dirty, oily or waxy.

 

[Bsmith]

Been told that whisky is the best glass cleaner you can get. I never managed to afford it for this job but wish I had used some of the festive JD's for it instead of drinking it. Hangover has been horrible.

 

[pedrobedro]

Next door had their house sprayed with Thompsons water seal and our car got done as well. I had to wipe the windows down with white spirit as it was impossible to see through when they got wet and the wipers made it worse.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

I've used Autogym glass cleaner but white toothpaste works too. I use Meths on the rubber. Blades don't last like they used to and I do wonder if screen wash damages them.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I do mine once a year at mot time.
Acetone the glass inside and out with a load of blue roll (because I get it all for free) then use those Bosch Aero flexi wiper blades.
The screen wash is some generic trade stuff in a 25l drum that i mix about 10% with tap water.
Never have a problem and I expect the trucks get washed twice a year if they are lucky!

 

[wristpin]

Rain-x good, Duxback better.

 

[the snooper]

I've cleaned them with t cut before, it removes everything then just go over with glass cleaner

 

[steve_s]

Just damp news paper

 

[RWD3M]

I normally change my blades each year just before winter and use Bosch

Likewise, every MoT.

 

[bricol]

I was stunned when a "cheap" set of wipers for my alfa were 30 quid on special !

Best cleaner I've found so far is RainX glass cleaner. Removes the crap that builds up on glass, even on screen not used for several years, that usual washing doesn't. Streak and smear free wiping resumed ;-)

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Wiper blades are no different from any other rubber automotive component nowadays, and dont last as long as they used to. I change mine every spring as ragging them over icy bits on the windscreen/low temperatures over winter doesnt do them any good.

as an aside, a few years ago got stuck in deepest rural wales for miles in the rain behind a milk tanker that was leaking milk from the pick up pipe connector.
Try removing butter from your wiper blades

 

[cumbriasteve]

Well thats the new wipers in the post.

The car is a Honda direct so doubtful anyone has applied anything fancy to the screen other than main dealer screen wash.

The present blades appear in perfect condition but obviously impossible to see with magnified accuracy, I am not bothered about the cost of a set of blades and a lot of years involved with cars meant blades would be my natural first go to fix.

I am still convinced this is different though, when I bought glass cleaner the exact same smear pattern showed when applied, appeared to polish away but returned if applied for a second time without using the wipers first.

I am probably wrong and the new wipers will sort it...hopefully.

 

[Coo]

I find wipers these days go hard quite quick, thankfully decent prices on ebay for replacements.
My wife never notices when they've 'gone'. I do when I drive her car...conveniently I then buy her replacements!

 

[RonA]

Prior to propietary brands the weapon of choice was a mixture of meths & whitening (as used to whiten plimsols, for those who can remember their school days). Apply leave to dry & then polish off with a clean cloth.
RonA

 

[Nick67GT]

barkeepers friend gets mentioned often on cleaning forums

I use that product for granite / marble worktops and it’s quite abrasive in relative terms.

Would be a little concerned about using on automotive glass in case it leaves swirls......

Of course it could be tried on a side area out of the way to see if there’s any adverse effects.

 

[Farside]

Also great for mirrors in the bathroom

Earworm!

 

[steveo3002]

I use that product for granite / marble worktops and it’s quite abrasive in relative terms.

Would be a little concerned about using on automotive glass in case it leaves swirls......

Of course it could be tried on a side area out of the way to see if there’s any adverse effects.

plenty of forum users reccomend it for troublesome glass , but yeah try a small area if concerned

 

[cumbriasteve]

Experiment completed with some results.

Cleaned half the screen with acetone, then white vinegar polishing off with kitchen towel, did not touch the other half.

Wet both sides and used a new window cleaners blade, the cleaned side is a bit better and the uncleaned side is still streaked, that suggests it's not just the wiper blades.

There has been some weird stuff spilled or applied to the screen at some time before I owned it, makes me suspect possibly a road spill but the paintwork seems ok.

Oh well, looks like it's elbow grease, an assortment of cleaning aids, finishing with the new wipers.