Maintaining Your Car's New Windshield

Are you excited to get back behind the wheel of your car? Even though your windshield looks like new, the auto glass installation professional may caution you to wait before you drive. The safe drive-away or minimum drive-away time is a wait period that can save your new windshield from premature failure.

While waiting may be inconvenient, a safe drive-away period provides your new windshield with time to properly cure. The adhesive used to attach the glass to your car won't harden immediately. If you move the car right away, the adhesive may not stick — at least not in the way you expect it to. The windshield could loosen and pose a serious safety risk.

Before you drive your car, ask the technician to verify the wait time. The length of time depends on several factors, such as the type of adhesive the glass contractor chooses to use, your vehicle, the glass, and the weather. Different outdoor air temperatures and humidity levels can affect the adhesive's ability to cure completely and the safe drive-away time.

Is a clean car important to you? If you're tempted to take your car through a high-pressure car wash immediately after installation, stop and consider the possible effects. The high-pressure jets of a commercial car wash can displace the moldings immediately after a windshield installation. This could result in the need for a re-installation.

If you want to clean your car within the first few days after a windshield installation, hand-washing is the safest option. Avoid hose rinses or any other higher-pressure technique. As you wash the car, stay away from the windshield. Even though the windshield may seem solid, the moldings may still need more time to cure.

The auto glass technician may leave adhesive tape on the windshield. This is not a mistake or an oversight. The retention tape protects the new seal as the adhesive cures. You may need to leave the tape in place for a day or two after the installation. Ask the technician for the specific number of hours or days you should wait before removal.

Should you wipe down the windshield immediately after installation? Again, the adhesive needs time to completely cure. This means you shouldn't clean your windshield in the hours, or even days, after this type of major repair. Even though an immediate spray with window cleaner or soap and water wash may interfere with the adhesive, you should continue to wash the windshield regularly after it cures.

A clean windshield is more than just an aesthetic choice. While streak-free auto glass gives your car a pristine, new look, it also serves a safety purpose. Dirt, debris, or other roadside gunk can make it hard to see through your windshield. This impairs your ability to safely drive your car. While the windshield wipers can remove some of the buildup, a full cleaning is necessary.

Avoid ammonia-based cleaners. These can damage plastic, vinyl, or rubber areas surrounding the glass. Ammonia-based sprays and other cleaning products can also cause problems for tinted windows. If you're not sure what to clean your windshield with, ask the installation technician. The auto glass professional can help you to choose the right cleaner for the specific type of glass.

Leave the windshield for last — if you plan to clean your car's entire interior, exterior, or both. You may accidentally spray or suds the windshield as you clean the rest of your car. This can leave behind streaks on an already-cleaned windshield.

Where should you clean your car's new windshield? While direct sunshine provides plenty of light, it can also cause the cleaner to prematurely dry. This can leave behind noticeable streaks.

A shaded outdoor area offers the ventilation you may need for spray cleaners and similar auto glass products—without the drying sun overhead. After you clean the windshield you may want to drive your car into a sunnier spot. The full light gives you an easy way to see streaks or catch spots you may have missed.

Even though gunk and grime may coat the outside of the windshield, you also need to clean the interior of the glass. This provides the clearest view and can help to maintain your car's appearance. Use the same cleaning products for both sides of the glass. 

Does your car need a new windshield? Contact MS Glass Outlet for more information on windshield replacements.