Super Clean Your Windshield With Steel Wool

UPDATE: Check out our new updated “express” version of this video:

“HOW TO SUPER CLEAN YOUR WINDSHIELD… SUPER FAST!”

We demonstrate how to make the windshield of your RV or car cleaner and clearer. We’ll show you how to improve the clarity of the glass and improve visibility.

After a little time goes by, every windshield gets a little hazy. That goes double for autos that are towed right behind a large motorhome. Using our toad (towed car), we show you how to use fine steel wool, Rain-X and Invisible Glass to make your view just a little bit clearer.

Although our car’s windshield has a lot of little nicks from over 9 years of being towed around North America, we still want to keep it as clear as possible. Regular washing can’t remove the fine dirt that gets into the pores of the glass, so we use a little detailer’s trick that we learned years ago: 0000 steel wool. While you’d expect that steel wool would scratch the glass, it’s exactly the opposite. Just like furniture makers use extra-fine steel wool to rub out the surface of the wood after each coat of stain, it polishes glass the same way. Everybody we’ve told about this little detailing trick seemed really surprised that steel wool does not scratch glass.

UPDATE: A viewer wrote to say that he experienced some areas of scratching after trying this. We’ve never heard of it scratching before, so we just did a little Googling, and while there seem to be some people who question using steel wool, others swear by it. Some also think you should never us a razor blade on glass, and others do it all the time. One suggestion was to use wet steel wool (of course it will then rust, so pitch it afterwards). Another mentioned buying something called “Poli-Flex Rubberized Clayblock” for cleaning. Although we cannot guarantee that scratching is impossible, many people who’ve tried steel wool since seeing this video have been thrilled with the results. And we think it’s possible that the scratches some people see when trying this technique aren’t in the glass… but are in a wax build-up on the windshield. Either way, proceed slowly and with caution and at your own risk.

NOTE: We mention using fine 0000 steel wool in this video. It is EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE, and care should be used in storing and using it. To see our video demonstrating how to start a fire using only steel wool and a 9-volt battery, CLICK HERE.

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Dan

Tuesday 27th of February 2018

In the video above, you treat the window with Rain-X. In another video on cleaning the windshield of the RV, you use Invisible Glass with rain repellent. Would you recommend going with the Invisible Glass instead of Rain-X?

Thank you,

TheRVgeeks

Hi Dan! We actually use both at different times. They both do a good job, but Rain-X lasts longer... but takes more effort to apply. So we usually use Rain-X when we do a big detailing on our RV or car, like each spring when we wax them. Then we do periodic quick treatments in between with the Invisible Glass with Rain Repellent. Even when we're just doing a quick cleaning, without steel wool, we always use Invisible Glass, because it's the best glass cleaner we know of. :)

Stan

Thursday 19th of October 2017

Any thoughts on using 0000 steel wool to try and repair scratches made from erroneously using a ScotchBrite pad?

Hi Stan. Since 0000 steel wool isn't as hard as glass, we doubt that it can remove scratches. They do make products specifically designed for polishing small scratches out of glass, such as this: http://amzn.to/2xRfj2Q We've never used this type of product, so can't vouch for it personally. But the reviews are generally good, so it might be worth a try. Before you try that, it's possible that the scratches you're seeing aren't actually in the glass, but in any waxy build-up ON the glass (like from having wax applied in a car wash). If you try using some acetone (nail polish remover) on a small area, that may remove the build-up, and therefore the "scratches" in it. Hope this helps.

lin

Sunday 5th of April 2015

great video on how to super clean your windshield thank you. I have a question I have a newmar Dutch star and the diesel leaks out of gas cap I was wondering why that is and what I can do about that. Thank you. Lin

Hi Lin. Of course that should absolutely not be happening. Has it always done that, or is this something new? It sounds like the seal on the fuel cap has been compromised in some way, and may need to be replaced. Spilling diesel is a serious and possibly dangerous problem, and we would suggest you contact Newmar directly to let them know what's happening and ask if there is some known problem. It may be as simple as buying a new cap, but it's possible that the filler has been damaged and is preventing a tight seal. Newmar's number is (800) 731-8300. Of course they may just tell you to take it to your nearest service facility. Until the problem if fixed, we'd suggest that you avoid filling the fuel tank too high to reduce any spillage as much as possible. You could also try posting your question on the user forums on http://iRV2.com to see if anyone has a better idea about this than we do. Please let us know how you make out.