How to remove the 5 most difficult things from your auto glass

It can be such a time-consuming hassle to remove sticky residue, ice, or really anything else from your auto glass. Keep reading below if you would like some easy tips on how to keep your windshield & glass free of debris and residue.

Window Tint

Window tinting film can be one of the hardest things to remove from your glass. Here’s how we do it:

1. Use a hairdryer or heat gun on high to loosen the adhesive on the window tint film (note: do not point hair dryer directly to surface, fan back and forth)
2. Working in small sections, gently lift the edges away from the glass with a plastic scraper
3. Use a lint-free rag and 3M adhesive remover to rub off any remaining adhesive
4. Clean the car window with a glass cleaner

Spray Paint

You may fear that the spray paint that you accidentally got on your auto glass and is never coming off, but fear not! Here’s how to remove it:

1. First, scrape the paint off the glass with a plastic blade by using long strokes in one direction.
2. Next, use a small amount of acetone nail polish remover on a microfiber cloth to dissolve any remaining paint.
3. Lastly, rinse your glass and wash the car thoroughly.

Ice

When you don’t have the luxury of a heated garage or a covered parking spot in the cold winter months, removing ice from your windshield is something that you have to deal with constantly and it can be really time-consuming. Here’s an easy trick to remove it:

1. Fill a spray bottle with ⅔ rubbing alcohol and ⅓ water and keep it handy. 
2. Quickly spray the solution across the windshield to dissolve the ice.

Tree Sap

Sticky tree sap is a huge pain to remove from your auto glass, especially if it gets smeared by your wipers. Here’s how we recommend removing it:

1. Pour a small amount of diluted rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer on a lint-free rag.
2. Lay the rag on top of the sap smear for about one minute.
3. Use the rag to rub the area.
4. Continue to add more diluted alcohol or hand sanitizer until it is fully dissolved.
5. Clean the windshield using a glass cleaner.

Stickers & Decals

Perhaps you fell in love with a car decal at one point but it no longer suits your taste. Car decals and stickers don’t need to last forever. Here’s how to remove them:

1. Most paper stickers can easily be scraped off after soaking them in soapy water or a solution of laundry softener and water
2. Scrape off the soaked sticker with a plastic scraper. Never use a metal razor blade as this may scratch your windshield
3. For more stubborn vinyl decals, try heating the area with a hairdryer or heat gun with a high setting using a fanning motion with the dryer to avoid it burning up. 
4. After that, use a plastic blade to scrape the decal off the windshield.
5. Use 3M adhesive remover or Goo Gone to remove the remaining residue.
6. Lastly, clean the car glass with a lint-free rag.

For stubborn residue that just won’t budge, cracks, scratches, or other imperfections on your windshield, rely on the experts of Abra Auto Glass! Our friendly team is here to make your auto glass look brand-new again. No matter where you are or what you need, Abra Auto is here to provide quality workmanship, superior service, and dedication to detail in everything that we do.