Removing adhesive from windscreen

manic_man

manic_man

manic_man

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
2,953
Location
Greater Manchester
Hi all,

I don't often post in this part of the forum, but I'm looking for some advice and hoped someone here might be able to help.

In the underground bit of my block of flats where I park my car, there is always the odd drip of moisture from the girders overhead. I didn't think anything about it and one day parked so that they were dripping on my windscreen. Anyway it got left for a few days and when I went to wipe the water away there was a permanent mark left...

The only way I can describe them is like slug trails on the screen, but it's over maybe 50% of the total area. When its not too bright it isn't an issue but as soon as it gets sunny, it really impedes the view.

Now i'm fully comp, so a new windscreen will in theory cost me £70, so that's an option, but before that I have been trying to remove whatever it is.

Where it's at its worse you can actually feel it slightly with your nail, so its definitely a deposit rather than something acidic that has etched the screen. I have also managed to scrape some away using a flat blade, but as there is so much I'll be there forever, it's not really an option.

Aside from the blade I have also tried:

Acetone (in the form of strong nail varnish remover)
White spirit
Meths
Polishing, first with Autoglym super resin and then using T-Cut

I have made a few areas slightly better, but that too a LOT of work and really hasn't made that much of an impact.

So, anyone got anything I should try that I haven't already? Any advice would be much appreciated.
 
Might give brasso a go, hadn't thought of that.

Will also see if there's any adhesive remover knocking about the office to give it a go.

I've noticed you can also buy glass/tile scrapers for removing paint etc from tiles and mirrors from DIY stores, gnna give that a go as the stanley blade has still been the most successful, just too small.
 
Yeah, going to grab a proper window scraper tomorrow. I don't mind a bit of hard work but a flat stanley blade was just too much ;)

Will report back, thanks guys.
 
I had this on my windscreen before when I parked under a drip in my underground parking. it's a sort of white calcium carbonate type build up? Rock hard too, lots of scrapping got mine off. No glue remover would've done anything on it!
 
tigerstyle said:
I had this on my windscreen before when I parked under a drip in my underground parking. it's a sort of white calcium carbonate type build up? Rock hard too, lots of scrapping got mine off. No glue remover would've done anything on it!
Click to expand...

Yeah i'd say that's about the best description of it.

descaler aside (not a bad idea btw, will give it a shot when I can), what did you do about it, just scrape? Did you manage to get it all?
 
Window cleaning solution with vinegar in it, or even white vinegar? (I'm assuming a mild acid won't hurt the paint - I would hope the paint is sealed well enough Windex won't hurt it:p).
That's if it is something like calcium carbonate.
 
So something acidic basically.

You'd still think something like acetone would take off calcium deposits if that's what it is, but then again i'm no chemistry expert!

Unfortunately I don't have any of these things, even vinegar... will go on a random shopping spree tonight :)
 
manic_man said:
Yeah i'd say that's about the best description of it.

descaler aside (not a bad idea btw, will give it a shot when I can), what did you do about it, just scrape? Did you manage to get it all?
Click to expand...

one bird crap sized piece on the windscreen was there for ages, chipped most of it off, I'd say the rest went by it's own accord over the next 2 months. Sadly a bit got on the paintwork and left white circle stain too, sold the car 3 months later so don't know what happened, wasn't a nice car by any means, an old beater, if it had been a good/mates car I'd be gutted/fretting like you are if it was on the paintwork rather than fairy tough glass!
 
TBH I think it may have gone down the driver side wing as well, but as its a silver car, it's very difficult to see the trails. Polished the area and I can't really see anything.

Either way, it's something I'll be looking out for in the future, haven't parked in that space since that's for sure!

Will report back any success will decalcifier/acid.
 
Apologies this has taken me so long to get to, been a bit busy.

I got hold of some "gel lime scale remover" from the supermarket. It took a lot of elbow grease and the use of the scouring side of a sponge, as well as about 15 minutes soaking (bottle said never leave for more than 2...) but it's mostly gone!

Pretty sure it wasn't just the scrubbing that removed it, as I had done that before, but wow what stubborn stuff!

Anyway, thanks a lot all for your help, wouldn't have even considered using an acid based product otherwise.
 
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