Spotty windows...

[cornflake_81]

I was in my garage today trying to undo some swirls from a recent wash(I'm blaming it on my wash mitt). I decided to try to tackle my windows as well, which are riddled with water spots. In the past, using some pointers I found on this forum, I've tried clay, QD, vinegar and a myriad of other remedies, all with less than spiffy results. And it seems tinted windows make the water spots look a hundred times worse...

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/window_before_1.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/window_before_2.jpg

I recall reading a post on here somewhere that #83 on an 8006 pad worked well. So, since I already had my G100 out and warmed up, I figured, "When in Rome..."

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/window_after_1.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/windows_after_2.jpg

A couple of passes seems to do the trick. I had to get the hard-to-reach areas by hand, but I'm more than happy with it. It made such an obvious difference that I found a bubble in my tint that I had never noticed. Now i'm off to finish that window...and then go to the tint shop and test out that lifetime guarantee I paid for... :D

[Lydia]

That looks much better!! I should try that on my windows...the water spots have been bothering me for a while.


Where did you get that light? It looks like it be very handy for finding swirls...

[cornflake_81]

Where did you get that light? It looks like it be very handy for finding swirls...

Its a halogen stand light I got from wal-mart for about $30. I think they actually had a cheaper one at Lowe's that seemed to be better quality. Helps out alot...

[Lydia]

Thanks! :)

[poyo]

Whoa, #83 can also be used to remove water marks from windows too?

[sixty7mustang22]

Very nice. I have been looking for a solution to my spotted windows problem.:bigups

[TrufflePig aka Calogero]

i haven't had thisproblem YET. hopefully i won't.

i do know that, everyone should invest in MF GLASS TOWEL. they work awesome.

[74 thing]

A Magic Eraser does wonders as well.

[MaximusZTS]

It made such an obvious difference that I found a bubble in my tint that I had never noticed. Now i'm off to finish that window...and then go to the tint shop and test out that lifetime guarantee I paid for... :D

How did you Lifetime warrenty hold up? I have the same but I am afraid the place I got my tint will be hard to work with.

A Magic Eraser does wonders as well.

I bet! Those Magic Erasers work well on this kind of surface.

[cornflake_81]

[quote=MaximusZTS;161263]How did you Lifetime warrenty hold up? I have the same but I am afraid the place I got my tint will be hard to work with.

I actually haven't made it up there yet for the same reason. But, supposedly, any tinter that uses Llumar tint will fix it, no charge. We'll see.

[Toyman]

Would #80 work as well?

[cornflake_81]

Considering how easily #83 worked, I'd imagine #80 would work just as well.

[*Nor Cal*]

Man i'm doing this for sure. Is there a way to wax the glass?

[cornflake_81]

I've done it before, but I remember reading that Meguiar's official answer is "Don't do it." I'm not sure of others' results with waxing glass, but for me its never made a big enough difference to justify doing it. However, if one was so inclined to do it, the process would be no different than waxing paint.

[*Nor Cal*]

I've used rainX but... it's not all that great.

[Houstunna]

#80 and #83?


What are those?

I have this problem aswell...

[Mayur]

Just to let you know about the tint problem, if its a small speckle (i have tons on my rear and it makes me angry) then it depends on the guy. The guy that did mine (a complete jerk) said that they are small dust particles and that every car will get them. He supposedly gave me a paper stating this before I paid and I told him he did not (he actually didn't). So now I got a speckled rear window in one spot and I'm pissed.

[Edit: Non-family friendly language removed. -Mike Phillips]

[harryboy22002]

hi there
always found when doing windows =it;s nice to finish with paper -i.e. kitchen roll gives a nice clean finish [thats my opinion]
give it a crack
harry.

[Paradox]

#80 and #83? WTF?

What are those?

I have this problem aswell...

Had me stumped also. Try this like. Will reveal all.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1293

[MandarinaRacing]

My go-to product for water spots on windows is #49 Heavy Duty Oxidation Remover, from the Marine Line.

http://www.meguiars.com/estore/products/product_M4916.jpg

Alex

[sunny2185]

thanks bro

[RogueGypsy]

Somewhere on here is a tutorial by Mike using #4 Heavy Cut Cleaner to remove hard water stains and spots from windows. It does not nave diminishing abrasives so it makes spots vanish pretty quick.

I've used it with a PC a 7006 pad on the read window of one of my water trucks. The window looked fogged the mineral was so thick. Took less than 5 minutes and the glass was crystal clear.

[Mike Phillips]

Somewhere on here is a tutorial by Mike using #4 Heavy Cut Cleaner to remove hard water stains and spots from windows.


Here's the thread, it's not so much a tutorial as an article that explains in detail how two products in Meguiar's line work to cut the gunge off glass without scratching the glass and why other products in the thread brought up by members won't and don't work.

Glass Polishing - Deep Cleaning (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4930)



It does not nave diminishing abrasives so it makes spots vanish pretty quick.


Actually, both M04 and M49 use diminishing abrasives. The type used is a very 'chunky' type and size and it's this feature that enables the diminishing abrasive to actually 'cut' through the film or junk, or water spots that have built up on glass without scratching the glass.

Most spray-on glass cleaners can't do this as the film/water spots are to tightly bonded to the glass.

:xyxthumbs

[Mike Phillips]

Here's another article that explains what it means and what's required to remove scratches out of glass...

Removing Scratches out of Glass (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18275)

:)

[RogueGypsy]

Thanks for the correction and links Mike. This sight rocks.

[Mr Mustang]

wow, thats great info, I'd be wondering about this as well

[redhotchevy2000]

back to the waxing windows no-no... whats wrong with it? i have a little cavalier coupe and i wax everything but the windshield. thats rain-x'd regularly.
never had a problem with water spots, plus when the car is moving in the rain my windows stay almost perfectly clear.

[Murr1525]

Waxing windows, just like using Rain-X, seems to be one of those things that works for some people, but makes the wipers chatter or causes smearing issues for others.

If it works for you, it certainly wont cause any damage.

[Ryan L.]

Some chemical I was using on a Odyssey today spotted up where ever I sprayed it...Ultra Cut Compound (#105) (http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+ULTRA+32) by hand with a terry cloth got rid of them in a jiffy.

Ryan

[Erik Mejia]

Some chemical I was using on a Odyssey today spotted up where ever I sprayed it...Ultra Cut Compound (#105) by hand with a terry cloth got rid of them in a jiffy.

I was just about to ask if any one had tried #105 for water spots on glass.

[moparman426]

nice another good way to get crystal clear windows is to use newspaper on them the ink and texture of the paper make a skreak free shine every time

[Mike Phillips]

nice another good way to get crystal clear windows is to use newspaper on them the ink and texture of the paper make a skreak free shine every time

Just to note, Meguiar's doesn't endorse or recommend using newspaper for cleaning glass when there are better options available.

The newspaper recommendation is a method used and talked about but that doesn't make it a great way or even a good way to clean windows.

Newspapers are at their core paper paper that tends to be clean and dry and for the most part abundant and free if you know where to look and cheap to buy if you look at them as wiping cloths instead of information compared to paper towels.

It's completely possible that the entire "use newspaper to clean glass" recommendation came about because as an abundant, cheap/free source of clean, (not including the ink), dry paper towels of sorts, it could just be this is the accurate history behind why people use newspapers to clean and dry glass. Because newspaper is free and abundant, not because they're actually good at cleaning glass as compared to glass cleaning towels.

Does using newspapers to dry glass work? Yes. Is newspaper the best option for a wiping cloth? No. There are better wiping cloth options on the market even clean cotton towels work.

:)