Over time, your windshield is likely to get pitted from rocks and road debris. In addition, thigs like tree sap and acorns dropping from trees can do the same. The biggest concern with this type of windshield glass damage is that it can interfere with your ability to see clearly when driving at night. Headlight glare can reflect in the pits of the glass, obstructing your vision. If your windshield is pitted, the best thing you can do is smooth the surface with auto glass polish and a sander. You can take it to a windshield repair shop, or you can do the work on your own. Here's a look at what you need to know to tackle it.
Gathering Supplies
Before you get started, make sure you have all of the supplies you need. First, you'll have to wash the windshield, so make sure you have a garden hose, some car wash detergent, a large sponge and a bucket. Then, you'll need auto glass polish, an orbital sander and the sander disc for glass polishing.
Getting Started
Turn on your garden hose and rinse the whole windshield to get rid of the loose debris from the surface of the glass. Then, make a wash solution with a bit of car wash detergent and water in a bucket. Once you have a soapy solution, dip the sponge in the bucket and scrub the windshield. The goal is to clear off as much as you can from the surface of the glass. Then, rinse the windshield thoroughly with your hose and let the glass dry.
Polishing the Glass
Affix the glass polishing disc to your orbital sander. It should press into place, securing with hook and loop attachments. Spray some auto glass polish on the sanding disc, then turn the sander on and put it on the glass. Move the sander in circular movements over the pitted area of the glass. The polishing pad and glass polish will fill in the pits so they are no longer visible.
Turn off the sander, then run your finger over the pits in the glass. Repeat the process as necessary until all of the pits are filled in.
With a process like this, you can restore the surface of your car windshield and eliminate the glare from pits and damage. If you're not comfortable doing the work on your own, or you're having trouble with particularly deep chips and pits, you may want to work with a local windshield repair shop to get the job done.
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