[V6-12v] How to get rid of that annoying sheen on the inside of windows

[Nathan White]

Hopefully it isn't coolant residue from a leaky heater core.


NW

-----Original Message-----
From: v6-12v-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:v6-12v-bounces at audifans.com] On
Behalf Of Tom Christiansen
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 3:36 PM
To: The CyberPoet
Cc: Audi list
Subject: Re: [V6-12v] How to get rid of that annoying sheen on the inside of
windows

Marc,

Thank you for the comprehensive write-up. I do suspect the substance on the
windows is some sort of smoke or pollution residue.

I've heard/read somewhere that slices of apples work well for this cleaning
as well. Rub the apple against the window and wipe clean.
Just don't eat the apples afterward... :-) I guess there's something about
the acid in the fruits that makes this work.

I think I'll try your "Key West Method". It could potential leave the car
smelling lemon fresh...

Thanks,

Tom

On 11/24/06, The CyberPoet <thecyberpoet at cyberpoet.net> wrote:
> My best guess is it actually tar build-up from smokers (hey, fact of 
> life if someone around your car smokes, especially if you have the 
> defrosters on, which pumps the smoke fresh against the glass). Also 
> applies if you have any smoke-belching factories in the area or 
> hanging smog.
>
> Basic concepts: certain chemicals cut tar better than others, and 
> newsprint rubbed with significant force against glass will lift the 
> tar up.
>
> Old School Method: Newspaper with vinegar or 50% vinegar + 50% rubbing 
> alcohol. White vinegar preferred, and a 1.5 QT bottle costs about 
> $1.50 in our area. Spray vinegar on the windshield and scrub 
> diligently with crumpled newspaper, refold or swapping to new sheet of 
> newspaper regularly. Newsprint paper is courser than standard paper 
> towels and works really well (brown grocery-store bags come in second, 
> but still far ahead of brawny paper towels or equivalent).
> Down-side is labor-intensive and vinegar smell. Windex also makes a 
> vinegar version of their glass cleaner that's especially good for this 
> particular purpose. Afterwards, you may need to still use a 
> windex-style product to remove any soy-bean oils the newsprint left 
> behind (by the newsprint fibers will remove the tar).
>
> Field Expedient (BBQ) Method: BBQ-style wet-wipes containing any 
> citric acid (like lemon juice), followed by more paper to wipe it 
> away. Again, for some reason newsprint and brown grocery bags work 
> better than other things for their abrasion and ability to pull in 
> tar. As a cig smoker, I always pocket an extra half-dozen wet wipes at 
> BBQ places and toss them in the glove-box.
>
> Key West Method: Skip the wet-wipe, use squeezed limes or lemons (or 
> pure lime/lemon juice) directly on the crumpled newspaper and scrub.
> Rescrub with dry newspaper until shiny.
>
> Last-straw/ Chemical Method: Clorox Clean-up spray. Cover the dash 
> with plastic or aluminum before using, because it won't be nice to it. 
> Spray directly onto the glass, rub as above, swapping newspapers until 
> really dry. Repeat if necessary to get 100% dry and remove all the 
> tar. After being squeeky-clean dry, use traditional windex to clean 
> the window again of any hazing or streaking.
>
> Now if the "smokers" aren't smoking tobacco, but something the DEA 
> frowns upon, the layer is probably tar + resin, which is much much 
> more difficult to remove -- go directly to the Last-straw/ Chemical 
> Method and expect to have to repeat more than once. We use Clorox 
> Clean-up on all sorts of computer plastics and CRT monitors that are 
> getting resold to remove years of cig tar build-up quickly and 
> completely, and it works very very well. Note that "Formula 409"
> doesn't work for crud by comparison (nor many of the other cleaning 
> products on the market) for this particular purpose.
>
> What normally won't work well: Ammonia-based glass cleaners and paper 
> towels as first cleaning -- use only to post-clean any streaking after 
> the above methods have succeeded.
>
> Cheers
> =-= Marc
>
> On Nov 24, 2006, at 2:36 AM, Tom Christiansen wrote:
>
> > Folks,
> >
> > It's rainy season in the Seattle area these days. This causes the 
> > windows in my 1994 90S to fog up. The reason is that there's some 
> > sort of sheen/film/grime on the inside of the windows. I've tried 
> > amonia free automotive glass cleaner, Windex (or its Safeway 
> > equivalent), Formula 409 to no avail. I can only distribute this 
> > road grime (or whatever it is) to a nice even smear that causes the 
> > windows to steam up when driving in the wet. Do you have any 
> > suggestions for how to get that stuff off? What do you use to clean the
windows?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Tom
> > _______________________________________________
> > V6-12v mailing list
> > V6-12v at audifans.com
> > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/v6-12v
>
>
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