Wiper Haze - Any old wive's tricks?

[davepl]

This isn't really specific to my truck but more specific to the Seattle area I drive it in, where we use wipers 6 months out of the year.

Over time windshields seem to accumulate some kind of film or wear that causes a haze in the moments after the wiper wipes the glass. It fades away over the seconds that follow.

It's almost non-existent in the area where both wipers overlap, whether from better cleaning or a "polishing" effect of having both wipers wipe that area.

Sometimes new wipers improve it, if you wipers were worn, but not always.

Does anyone know (a) what causes it, and (b) how to fix it?

There are as many ways to clean glass as there are humans (newspaper and vinegar is always popular), but I don't know that just additional cleaning is needed.

I once used a fine-cut cleaner and an orbital buffer and that got rid of it, but that's overkill. I might have waxed the window for all I know, maybe that's the fix!

- Dave

[70STOVEBOLT]

Silicone wiper blades may fix it.

[chiefcfd]

It's not the glass it is the wipers. Next time this happens stop in at the market and pick up a Coke. The acid will clean the blades. My Dad showed me that trick probably 50 years ago.

[Clavo106]

Cut and polish the glass they sell buffing kits..

[Stocker]

[toolboxchev]

I have always used a little wet sand paper about 400-600 grit and brush them a bit. It seems to leave a nice surface on the wiper blade and cleans off old rubber oxidation to get them working better.

White vinegar mixed with Denatured Alcohol and water is a great glass cleaner. (25/25/50)

[swamp rat]

Denatured alcohol on a rag might help.

But i love that rain-X stuff.

[mike16]

chemicals in the atmosphere? oxidized rubber from the blades smearing across the dry film what ever that it that settles on the windshield and acts as an abrasive during the initial wipe....

[87Skier]

My dad had some stuff like this years ago: http://www.amazon.com/Duragloss-755-Automotive-Gla.... I used it on everything and made rainy nights much easier. I'm not sure this is the same stuff but I used to do this every fall on every vehicle, then treated with rain-x, then new wiper blades. Made everything like new.

[FirstOwner69]

Straight ammonia on a rag or paper towel will remove oxidation rubber from wiper blades.

[67chevy_hotrod]

I get the same thing on my jeep. I'm Seattle area also. I usually will take a dry rag to a wet blade and pinch the blade real hard well I slide it down.. It helps a bit. Combined with rain x. I don't know what it is though, I can wash the rig and scrub the glass clean and clean water comes off fine no haze but rain water seems to make it worse on mine..

[Grumpy old man]

It's a conspiracy by the wiper manufacturer in China belching contaminants into the atmosphere and you guys in Seattle just get the worst of it ! it's just another ploy to make you buy new wiper blades .Clean them with ammonia and use Rain-X to thwart their cunning plot !

Anyone ever notice that most environmentalist and tree huggers live in the city ?

[toolboxchev]

Conspiracy nothing! The only thing this country did when everything got moved to being made overseas is the wealth production started there and they get to pollute the world.