We pay attention not only to mandatory car accessories, but also to those that, although not…
What obscures the first signs of spring?
(Photos - Moje Auto)
It's been spring for a few days now! At least the calendar one, because winter still doesn't let us forget about it, surprising us with local temperature drops. It's high time to protest and let the first rays of sunlight into the car. But will they be able to break through dirty windows?
We remove traces of winter
In recent weeks, my pair of allies has been a car windshield scraper powered by a defroster. It's time to thank them and... clean up after them. Yes, yes, the properties of the ice-dissolving fluid left behind an invisible layer that prevented refreezing to some extent. It was similar with winter windshield washer fluid and road salt, which loves to stick to the car. Now traces of their use, in the form of greasy streaks, become visible, especially when I drive under the bright sun. Wiping them with car window cleaner is not enough to remove them.
Of course, it is very good that drivers approach winter responsibly and equip themselves with professional means thanks to which they travel more comfortably and safely. However, everything has its pros and cons. Winter car care products are usually very strong. Winter conditions can easily be described as the most difficult for cars and their owners.
(photo: My Car)
With the arrival of spring, drivers are more optimistic and more willing to get behind the wheel of their cars. Everyone should remember that just as we prepare our car for winter, we also need to prepare it for spring conditions. It is important to wash the car thoroughly to remove any deposits or layers that protect the body from winter conditions. When doing this, you should never forget about the windows, which are most vulnerable to damage in winter, because they are the ones we scrape off the frost every morning.
How to clean car windows after winter?
The next step, after thoroughly washing the chassis and body, is the windows. For the first spring bath, I always use a bucket with warm water and shampoo with active foam, but without the addition of wax! This allows you to both degrease windows and rubber seals. By the way, you also need to devote some time to them, at the end I usually apply a layer of silicone to the gaskets. Let's remember that the glass is one thing, but every element that comes into direct contact with it, such as seals or the place where it is mounted, also deserves to be cleaned. Currently, automatic windows dominate in cars. It is a much more complicated mechanism than a hand crank, so it requires more attention from the driver. Once we demonstrate attention to detail, we can move on to specifics.
(photo: My Car)
I'm starting to use the liquid - they're still there foam – for cleaning car windows with an additive ammonia. Its concentration is completely safe for both humans and individual car components. However, it is ruthless on greasy and dried dirt. For this reason, we should not struggle with the dilemma of whether to use it or whether it is better to abandon this intention for fear of unforeseen problems. Automotive chemical manufacturers are constantly developing the industry, offering better and better products that, in most cases, can be trusted.
From the outside and inside of the glass
Of course, I had to perform a similar operation inside the car. From this side, the windows were exposed to the effects of the ventilation and air conditioning system, and frequent fogging, which each of us surely wiped with a glove in a hurry more than once. Another issue that should not be underestimated is the fact that winter weather favors colds, which results in heavy breathing and coughing. Therefore, cleaning can be reduced to hygienic procedures, which means that a lot of remaining bacteria can be removed from the car cabin. As a preventive measure, the inner surfaces of the glass can be protected with a popular method anti-couple. Drivers have been using and respecting products with nanotechnology for several years now. If you haven't used them yet, it's worth a try. I recommend!
(photo: My Car)
All these activities apply equally to the rear and side windows. These should also be lowered to thoroughly wipe the fragments hidden in the door frame. By the way, let's return to the cosmetics of rubber seals, both around windows and doors. Washing them with warm water and shampoo should remove winter marks.
An indispensable microfiber cloth
Just as an ice scraper creates steam with a defroster, so does car window cleaner with a cloth. It may seem trivial, but in this respect you also need to show a professional approach and take a moment to look at the manufacturers' offers in order to make the right choice. You can see a lot of wipe tests on YouTube. Automotive enthusiasts present detailed comparisons in order to select a product worth recommending. Of course, in this case it is worth choosing those made of microfiber. They do not scratch the cleaned surface and do not leave fibers behind. By purchasing a multi-colored set, you can immediately assign them to your car - the light ones are intended for cleaning the cockpit or glass surfaces, the dark ones are for the bodywork or rims. After each use, I dry the cloth and wash it in soapy water every few cycles. For most drivers, microfiber and nanotechnology are the best solutions that have recently been added to their cars.
Moreover, it should be noted that cars, although in the vast majority of cases they are heavy and large, are easily subject to external and visual damage. After all, none of us wants to have problems falling asleep due to scratches caused by inattention while cleaning. For a driver, there is probably nothing worse than getting the opposite effect to what was intended. Therefore, the more delicate materials we use to clean the windows and bodywork, the greater the chance that the car will not lose its aesthetic values. Therefore, if we are not familiar with this topic, before making a purchase, let's check the opinions online or ask the seller in the store, who will certainly be happy to share his knowledge and help you choose wisely and, above all, safely. Doing so will allow us to be confident before thoroughly cleaning the windows.
Let's not forget about windshield washer fluid
You can drive with winter tires on warmer days, but you won't be able to drive with summer tires on a snow-covered road. A similar analogy can be applied to windshield washer fluid. In spring we are in a better situation than in autumn, when the summer liquid remaining in the reservoir is exposed to temperature drops. Now the winter one will flow freely through the pipes and washer nozzles, but will leave behind the traces mentioned above. So all our previous efforts will be in vain.
However it may sound, it will be better to either use it intensively or dilute it with a summer product. And here we have a much wider selection than with winter products. Mainly down to the fragrance notes, which we choose to suit our own preferences. This is undoubtedly an added value to the product because we will achieve a satisfactory effect. Additionally, we will be able to enjoy a pleasant scent for some time. If we like the smell, there is a chance that we will become attached to a specific product. Remember that it is not the only one in the offer of a given manufacturer and you can experiment to choose the best possible option for yourself. It is definitely worth choosing a refreshing lemon, interchangeable with the forest scent heralding the upcoming holidays. These are my favorites and definitely one of the most frequently chosen by drivers. They help improve your mood and well-being after a hard day at work. For temporary cleaning of windows, an insect remover and handy cloths already soaked in liquid will be useful.
The technical condition of the wiper blades is a separate issue. For many drivers, they play a very important role even in spring and summer, so this topic deserves in-depth consideration in a separate article.
Moje Auto Nano Anti-steam – a preparation that prevents windows from fogging
Where to buy View productConclusions
- The arrival of spring is the time to check the visual elements of your car.
- One of the most important elements that require attention are the windows.
- There may be deposits on the windows from products used by drivers in winter.
- Some greasy dirt is very difficult to remove and requires the use of professional cleaning products.
- A responsible driver cares for his car with products dedicated to a given season.
- For the first cleaning of windows after winter, it is recommended to use a bucket with warm water and shampoo with active foam, but without the addition of wax.
- It is important to first degrease the windows and seals and apply a layer of silicone on them.
- Then you can use liquid or special foam for cleaning car windows with the addition of ammonia. These preparations are completely safe.
- Glasses should be cleaned from both sides, external and internal. Please remember that both sides are exposed to various types of dirt.
- It is recommended to wipe cleaned windows with a cloth. However, before this happens, you need to seek advice about the materials from which it was made.
- It is recommended to use microfiber ones. You can buy them in various colors and use them to clean individual parts of your car.
- In the case of summer windshield washer fluid, before filling the tank, remember to pour out the winter windshield washer fluid or make a so-called admixture.
- Many liquids have a scent, so before making a purchase, it is worth checking whether the scent suits us.
- Once the windows are clean, you can proceed to determining the technical condition and care of the wipers.
