Added: Aug 24, 2011
From: RVgeeks
Duration: 9:23
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. ------------------------------------------------------ UPDATE: A viewer wrote to say that he experienced some areas of scratching after trying this. I've never heard of it scratching before, so I 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 I cannot guarantee that scratching is impossible, many people who've tried steel wool since seeing this video have been thrilled with the results. Either way, proceed slowly and with caution and at your own risk. ------------------------------------------------------ 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 8 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. 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: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjYecQeQ7_A Be sure to confirm that all methods and materials used are compatible with your particular RV or automobile. RV Geeks offers basic DIY (do it yourself) RV service, repair and maintenance tips and tricks from full-time RVers who have been handling most of their own maintenance since hitting the road in 2003. RVgeeks is proud to be affiliated with RVtravel.com. http://www.rvtravel.com ************************************************************************** Save money by extending the life and health of your RV batteries with the BATTERY LIFE SAVER desulfator. Learn more and support RVgeeks by visiting our sponsor at http://buybls.com/ ************************************************************************** While we're not RV technicians, we're very mechanically inclined and have learned a lot about RV systems over the years. We handle most of our own minor service, maintenance and repair work on our 2005 43' Newmar Mountain Aire diesel pusher. We also maintained our 2002 39' Fleetwood Bounder Diesel during our first two years on the road. We meet lots of newer RVers who are eager to learn some basics about maintaining and caring for their rigs. After more than 8 years on the road, we want to share what we've learned (some of it the hard way). We hope our experiences can help other RVers go DIY, saving some time, money and effort, while experiencing the satisfaction of a job well done. We do not pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But lots of things are the same on RVs in general, and diesel pushers in particular. Video Intro Music: Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag from 1899, performed by Peter on a Knabe baby grand piano. Comments welcome! Thanks for watching!
Channel: Autos
Rating: 4.8545456' max='5' min='1' numRaters='110' rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#overall ( ratings) Views: 34384 Comments: 41
timhvac100 Says:
Mar 6, 2012 - Irish Spring soap will get it streak free!
JoeVSvolcano Says:
Mar 19, 2012 - Waxing your windshield makes a pretty shiny looking windshield too, I bet any scratches you may see are wax scratches.
MrDiamondcut Says:
Mar 22, 2012 - WhenI owned a detailing business many years ago, we used 4xxxx steele wood. very soft but very affective. Clients always thought we waxed it until rain-x came along and added to the affect. Never wax your windshield!
21min56secs Says:
Mar 26, 2012 - ehh don't apply it like you would do to car wax because car was is suppose to be applied in straight lines
chrispaulhill Says:
Mar 30, 2012 - Will this technique help remove marks left on the glass by wiper blades??
RVgeeks Says:
Mar 30, 2012 - I'm pretty sure its perfect for that kind of thing. Give it a try!
Mariaflofgrace Says:
Mar 30, 2012 - What kind/size of sock did you use? hahaha
RVgeeks Says:
Mar 30, 2012 - 12-14 WigWam tubes work the best. :-P
ewengert Says:
Apr 2, 2012 - It might help someone to know that paper towels often have a bit of oil-like chemical in them to make them softer, smell nice, or change absorbency and yet maintain strength. However, the oil does tend to leave a film on the windows. Also, paper is slightly abrasive versus a clean towel. Thjs is from the Wood Doctor.
RVgeeks Says:
Apr 2, 2012 - Thanks for the comment Doc! We'll definitely give using a clean towel a try instead of paper towels next time.
mazwt44 Says:
Apr 5, 2012 - Just when I thought I knew how to clean windshields, you changed everything !! thanks, great video
unit399 Says:
Apr 9, 2012 - Do you use invisable glass only on the inside glass?
RVgeeks Says:
Apr 9, 2012 - We use invisible glass anywhere you'd use Windex - on the inside, outside, mirrors, etc. We never use amonia-based window cleaners any more.... just Invisible Glass.
rey5600 Says:
Apr 14, 2012 - You didn't finish the windshield off with the "Invisible Glass" after the Rain-X?
RVgeeks Says:
Apr 14, 2012 - No need to, since the windshield is already clean after using Rain-X. Invisible glass is perfect for in-between spot clean-ups though, both inside and out (WAY better than Windex). I recently found out that Invisible Glass also makes a version of their product specifically designed for the outside of the windshield. It has rain repellent, and was likely designed to compete with Rain-X.
RVgeeks Says:
Apr 14, 2012 - I use Invisible Glass instead of Windex. It's MUCH better. So it's great for those "in-between" windshield cleanings. I also recently found out that Invisible Glass makes a version of their product specifically designed for the outside of the windshield. It has rain repellent, and was likely designed to compete with Rain-X.
RVgeeks Says:
Apr 14, 2012 - In case I wasn't clear about that answer.... yes, I do use Invisible Glass on the outside of the windshield.
kato811 Says:
Apr 23, 2012 - Rain x seems to not work very good if you drive in town a lot other wise its great if your on the highway maybe im just not using it right. headed out to steel wool my windsheild now thanks for the tip
RVgeeks Says:
Apr 23, 2012 - Rain-x definitely works better when driving faster, as the wind drives the rain right up off the windshield without even needing the wipers sometimes.
menzerna1234 Says:
May 6, 2012 - Rain X works great PER SE.......but if you continue using wipers on a Rain-X'ed windshield, then your wipers might start to judder. Once the juddering starts, and worsens, you will wish for a 100% clean and untreated windshield + 100% uncontaminated wiper blades. Remember the time when you bought your brand new car and used the wipers for the 1st time?.........100% smooth and 100% noiseless on most premium cars.
RVgeeks Says:
May 6, 2012 - We have at times seen the juddering you're talking about after the rain-x has been on a while, but not always. When it does happen, we set the wipers to intermittent (which you can usually do even in pretty steady rain with rain-x on the windshield), and it generally helps a lot. Or we re-apply a new coat. When driving at highway speeds in steady rain, we often don't use the wipers at all, and see clearly "through" the beads of water as they ZIP up the windshield.
Parrotluver2 Says:
May 8, 2012 - can't you just put a coat or two of car wax or polish / paint sealant on the windshield after you steel wool it ? i don't see why not i did it..it worked great my 04 windshield looks so much better and clay bared it too b4 i waxed it and sealed it..there's millions of products and sales pitches on here that are a waste of money..i think iv'e watched a lot for the ultimate car care
Joshay784 Says:
May 21, 2012 - The RainX label as you mentioned is not safe on paint and such. Therefore I feel it was unsafe to use on the windshield wipers. im assuming because their must me some kind of petroleum solvent inside to make the rainX much more clear and polished compared to a traditional waxing product (which is degrading to rubber). So in return i just clean them with invisible glass, and wipe on a cheap car wax and i get nice smooth wipers, even on the loudest, cheap, walmart wipers.
MrSalmonguy Says:
May 22, 2012 - Hey, a cloud shaped like Yogi Bear!
. . . . . . . because these video appear directly from youtube.com which we cannot control it.)
theXBOX360comedians Says:
Mar 2, 2012 - have you tried using the rain-x repel wiper blades. The release the rain-x windshield treatment over time.