Selling a car is never easy. You want to make sure you get the best offer, which means you need to ensure that your car is in top shape. Most sellers focus on the basics such as scratches and dents, ignoring the windshields. While the body of the car accounts for most of its exterior and its appeal, the windshield is equally important. Ignoring it will lead to smart buyers taking advantage and lowballing you, citing the condition of the windshield as the reason behind the offer. This article will explain those must have windshield hacks.
Now, you don’t have to go all out and replace a windshield, not unless it is filled with cracks and is unrepairable. We have tips from auto glass pros that car sellers can use to make their windshield appear as good as new. All to enhance the value of your car and ensure you aren’t lowballed.
Windshield Hacks 1: Make the windshield spotless
Before you even consider showing your car to a buyer, the first thing you need to do is ensure that the windshield is spotless. A crystal-clear windshield is one of the first things a driver notices once he or she steps into a car. To achieve a spotless windshield, you need the following materials:
- Fine steel wool
- Rags
- Rainx or any glass cleaner and rain repellent mix
- One sock
- Invisible glass
Start by polishing your windshield using a circular motion until you’ve completely covered the windshield. Soak the rag in Rainx and clean the windshield properly. Make sure you don’t get the vehicle’s paint as you clean the windshield. Give it some time to dry and then soak the rag with water and wipe the windshield down. Now, soak the sock with Rainx and wipe the windshield wipers with it, this will help the wipers work more effectively when it rains. Lastly, apply the Invisible Glass coat to the windshield.
You want to properly clean the windshield from both outside and inside. When cleaning the inside, you don’t have to use Rainx or Invisible Glass. Just a quality glass cleaner and a rag will get the job done.
Windshield Hacks 2: Repair small chip
If you notice any chips in the windshield, you can treat them yourself. Matter of fact, you should repair any chips you notice as soon as they are visible. Leaving chips untreated results in cracks. You can find a windshield repair kit that is simple to use and make the windshield appear as good as new. When using the kit, you need to do the following:
- Move your car into a garage, so the windshield is not exposed to sunlight and is in an environment that is near room temperature.
- Dry off the windshield completely.
- The kit comes with an adhesive patch, apply that directly in the center of the chip.
- Use the syringe with the adhesive material which is used to connect the patch and fill the chip.
- Remove everything from the windshield. Using a thin razor, you can shave any excess adhesive off the windshield.
- Buff down the adhesive, if needed, to blend it seamlessly.
The repair kit can fix minor chips. For others, you may need to seek expert help to either repair or replace the windshield.
Windshield Hacks 3: Get rid of streaks and blotches
Streaks and blotches can be annoying when you drive. There is a simple way of removing them with two items that you can commonly find in your home, coke and a towel. All you need to do is directly pour the coke onto the windshield. To protect the hood paint, you can stretch the towel across the bottom of your windshield. Wipe the coke off with the towel. The windshield will be slightly sticky so you can wash it down. This will remove any streaks or blotches on the windshield.
Windshield Hacks 4: Clean your windshield often
As a car owner, you need to clean your windshield often and be aware of its condition at all times. At times when you don’t have access to a windshield cleaner and a towel, you can use other products. Products such as baby wipes work well to clean the windshield. You may want to consider keeping some in your car because they are easy to store and will give you the option to keep your windshield clean at all times.
A car’s windshield is just as important as any other part when it comes to selling your car. Buyers will closely examine it, so you want to make sure you use our windshield Hack tips to make your windshield appear as if it was new. — Tarek Salam is a Canadian auto glass repair technician with over a decade of experience repairing automotive glass for all makes and models of vehicles in Canada. He loves sharing interesting and useful information with the intention of educating and helping people make better automotive decisions.
