Blemish buff

I recently responded to a reader who had a streak on her windshield that wouldn’t go away, and after I gave my suggestions, I asked readers to share their recommendations.

From one: “Your reader who inquired about a streak on the windshield after a detailing postulated that something ‘penetrated the glass.’ Chemically there isn’t much that can actually do that, and I doubt any auto servicers have those chemicals around ... (they’re) just too corrosive and dangerous. If something has actually attacked the surface and left it etched, it’s time to call a windshield replacement company for a professional assessment and maybe a new windshield.”

Now, without actually confessing to being perhaps a little O.C. about clean glass, I have tried many, many ways to get auto glass clean — from lab-ware cleansers to diamond powder glass polish. But I have narrowed the list of readily available, effective “windshield cleaners” to one thing: glass stove-top cleaner.

A vigorous rub with a sponge and, ideally, a finishing rinse with deionized water, and dirt, bugs, wiper-blade residue (clean your wiper blades or they will re-smear on every wipe), and even old water spots can be removed with reasonable effort. Did I mention rinse, rinse, rinse? I use Costco all-cotton bar towels for cleaning, and when washing those rags I never use softener, which itself will leave streaks.

Another reader offered this: “Some thoughts on the bad streak: If it’s a streak of tough wax (think ‘candle wax’) I suggest trying rubbing with a dab of mineral spirits and see if that works. If it does, then follow it up with greasecutting dish soap. Simple Green is a great grease-cutter. Another possibility is it may not be a smear of something. Maybe someone rubbed it with a scrubber-type pad and left fine scratches. If that’s the case and the dealership put it there, they should remedy it or replace the windshield.”

And another reader’s tip: “Tub O Towels — these are hand wipes used to clean your hands of grease, dirt, oil, etc. They are fantastic. I recently used them to thoroughly clean the windshield of my 15-yearold pickup. Take your time and put some effort in the job. Available at Amazon, Walmart and others.”