Cleaning exterior windshield?

[YarisHybrid2016]

Hi,

I have a kind of film on the windshield. I think it is from the shampoo I use to wash the car with, but basically when it is raining, it reduces visibility quite significantly. When the wiper stops wiping over it, it clears.

Does anyone know of anything I can clean it off with? It's not visible when wet or dry, but it is visible after the wiper has moved over it. It's incredible annoying, and borderline dangerous.

If I wash the windshield it improves quite a bit, but it doesn't get rid of it.

Does anyone know of anything that leaves an absolutely clean windshield without any leaving anything behind? I have tried using a very very mild mix of water and dish washing liquid, put onto a paper towel then wiping down the windshield, then washing thoroughly and wiping dry with more paper towels, but this doesn't seem to be enough (I thought it might help get the grease off).

Running out of options, and it is driving me crazy. Using the wiper is actually worse than just letting it rain...

[alan333]

Try cleaning the Wiper Blades

[mick holmwood]

try using water and vinegar ,seem to remember thats how they cleaned windows in the old days.

[FROSTYBALLS]

White vinegar - clean both the wipers and the screen

[YarisHybrid2016]

Thanks everyone - I'll give it a go!

[Ben93]

Meguirs perfect clarity spray it all over lots of it leave it to do its thing and then wipe and repeat a few times i had this on my car when I first got it took a fair bit of going over. 

[YarisHybrid2016]

On 6/4/2017 at 10:23 PM, Ben93 said:

Meguirs perfect clarity spray it all over lots of it leave it to do its thing and then wipe and repeat a few times i had this on my car when I first got it took a fair bit of going over. 

I'll try this. Tried several things so far including the suggestion in this thread and nothing is touching it.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Non caustic traffic film remover?

[YarisHybrid2016]

Hmm - where can I get that?

Went to my dealer to see if they knew of anything - they tried screen wash and brake cleaner (!) but nothing touched it. They have suggested finding a valeting company that might have specialist cleaner for windscreens.

The windshield looks absolutely spotless with all this cleaning, yet this strange film persists. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Amazon or eBay

[SNAKEBITE]

Wash the screen with washing up liquid, (Don't get it on the paintwork. Washing up liquid contains salt and will strip wax from the paintwork).

Rinse off.

Using a clay bar, clay the windscreen. (This will remove anything bonded to the screen, clay bar can then be used on the paintwork later to decontaminate paint).

Use quality glass cleaner (e.g. Meguir Clarity Spray) and polish screen. (Megs products were 3 for 2 in Halfrauds recently).

If you can change the wipers. Something may have reacted with the rubber, breaking it down and smearing it across the screen.

[SNAKEBITE]

Don't forget to let us know how you get on.

[YarisHybrid2016]

I haven't...

It has improved slightly, but still not good. Going to replace the wiper next (I was going to do it the last week but it was raining so I didn't wash the car  ).

[YarisHybrid2016]

Quick update: between screen wash, strong white vinegar, kitchen roll, and a new wiper, the problem is 99% gone!