Do you know this feeling? You’ve barely completed the first hundred kilometers on the highway and the windshield is adorned with a colorful potpourri of dead flies, dust and insect remains. The windshield wipers can hardly or not at all remove the stubborn residue, so the next gas station is used to clean the windows. But drivers usually only have a few (free) cleaning products at their disposal, such as old dishwater and a windshield squeegee. This can be used to roughly clean the glass, but it cannot really remove the residue. Below we present three ways to get sticky car windows clean again.
The residues of insects are usually spread all over the windshield and are difficult to remove with water or a normal glass cleaner. To make it easier to remove the remaining chitin shells from the glass, there are special cleaning products – such as insect remover for cars. They should be able to dissolve the proteins. According to the manufacturer, this product is suitable, for example, for windows, headlights and all paint, chrome and plastic surfaces. However, in order not to damage the delicate paintwork, you should follow the exact instructions for use on the packaging.
If you don’t want to use chemical cleaning agents, you can use a coarse-pored insect sponge instead. The hard and solid surface means that even stubborn incrustations and adhesions on the windshield can be removed. However, it is important for you to know that the sponge is only intended for glass (and side mirrors) – do not use it on the hood as it will scratch the paint. If paint and plastic are dirty, you can use this model instead, which does not cause scratches thanks to its special honeycomb structure.
Another way to remove insect residue is to use reusable car cleaning clay. It is equally suitable for window glass surfaces as well as the hood. It is best to first soak the mass with water or spray the affected areas with water and the desired cleaning agent. Then wipe the windshield with the dough until all insect residue has been removed. Make sure that there is no coarse dirt on the paint if you want to clean it.
If you don’t want to use any of the three options mentioned to clean your windshield, you can use a tried-and-tested trick – as long as you have an old pair of tights on hand that you can use for this purpose: Simply ball up the nylon material and then rub the ball over it surfaces to be cleaned until all stains are removed. You can also achieve the same effect with a plastic net.
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This home remedy is supposed to work similarly to an insect cleaner: all you need is water and bio-ethanol (in a 1:1 ratio) as well as a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Put all components in a spray bottle and mix them together. You can then use the finished mixture in the same way as you would a glass cleaner.
And two final tips: You can take preventive measures to prevent so much insect residue from accumulating on your windshield. On the one hand, it is advisable to add a special concentrate to the washing water in summer, which removes the residues even better. On the other hand, it is recommended to replace the wiper blades regularly so that they always work reliably.
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