How To Fix Etched Windshield Glass
If foreign objects have landed on your windshield, they might have caused an etching type of scratch. This is a shallow scratch that is easy enough to fix on your own. While the scratches seem harmless, they could deepen if they are not removed properly. Here are some tips for fixing etched windshield glass.
Get the Right Materials
Before you start removing the etching on the car's windshield, you need to get a few important supplies. These are simple items that will let you smooth out the etches and improve the look of the window glass. To fix etched glass, you need glass restoration polish, glass cleaner, a buffing pad, and a dry towel. Be sure you choose cleaners that don't have ammonia if your auto glass is tinted, otherwise it could affect the tinting and require you to get it re-done. You should also have a squeegee, since they work very well at cleaning the windows.
Buff the Windows
The first thing you are going to do when you want to remove etched scratches from a windshield is buff the window. While you will pay special attention to the scratches, you should buff the entire window. This allows it to have an even, smooth surface. Get out your buffing pad and add a small amount of polish to it. Start at one corner of the window, using small circles to buff the polish into the window. When going over the etched areas of the glass, use more polish and spend a little more time in those areas. Continue adding more polish to the pad as you go along and buff the entire window.
Clean the Windows
After you have buffed the windows enough to where you don't see the etched areas anymore, you need to finish up by cleaning the windows thoroughly. This allows you to remove the greasy polish and get rid of any streaks. Use a squeegee and glass cleaner to clean the windows. Again, don't use cleaner with ammonia if your windshield is tinted. Otherwise, any glass cleaner will do. Depending on how much polish you used to buff the windows, it might take a few times before you remove all of the polish. Your last step should be using your dry towel to dry the window completely. You don't want to leave any spots or streaks behind.
If the buffing didn't help get rid of the scratches, you might need to get professional detailing from an auto shop like Buy-Rite Auto Glass.