How to Remove Scratches From Windshield Toothpaste
Everyone knows toothpaste is good for teeth. But did you know that it can also be used to remove scratches from your windshield? Toothpaste contains a polish agent called silica, which makes the paste effective at removing those pesky imperfections on glass. The key to this method of cleaning off the stains and unsightly marks lies in the technique.
The best part about using toothpaste as an alternative car cleaner is that there’s no need to worry about harsh chemicals damaging your paint job if any spills out. This post will show you how easy it is to remove those pesky scratches with toothpaste and a little elbow grease. So let’s dig into it!
Summary: If you’re like most people, you probably use windshield toothpaste to clean your car’s windshield. But did you know that this paste can also remove scratches from glass? Here’s how: Start by rubbing a small amount of toothpaste onto the scratch. Make sure to work the toothpaste into the scratch so that it spreads evenly. Wipe the toothpaste off with a cloth or a paper towel. Repeat the process if necessary, until the scratch is gone.
Common Issues That Causes Windshield Scratches
Improper Cleaning Method:
Inadequate cleaning products and improper cleaning agents will always seem to leave the glass dirty. As a result, you might notice minor scratches on it.
Ice Scrapers:
Ice scrapers are very sharp, which makes them perfect for removing ice and snow from windshields, but not necessarily scratches. As a result, they can easily leave scratches or cracks if you’re not careful.
Rubber Wiper Blade:
Rubber wiper blade can leave streaks and swirls on your windshield if it’s used carelessly or improperly (excessively). That results in deep scratches that are hard to remove.
Bumpy Roads and Weathering:
If you travel a lot over bumpy roads, you risk damaging your windshield and leaving additional scratches from glass. These are hard to remove and require professional help.
Tire Marks:
Tire marks are parts of rubber that, after time, stick on your car’s windshield, at times causing ugly scratch marks which can’t be removed easily. In this case, the best thing to do is to remove them as soon as possible.
Bird Droppings:
Bird droppings can leave marks on your windshield in no time, which means you’ll be scratching your head for longer than you’d like thinking of how to deal with that pesky bird poop stain that looks like a scratch mark.
Bad Paint Job:
A poorly painted windshield will look dirty, and in most cases, shallow scratches result from that. If you’ve noticed the problem early enough, it’s best to redo your paint job immediately.
Cracking:
Windshields can crack way too easily for many reasons. For example, hitting hard ice or a sharp rock with your car, leaving it on hot surfaces for too long, and even bad weather can cause cracks in the windshield.
Small Stones:
Small stones that fly up while you’re driving down the road can leave unsightly scratches or nicks in no time, especially if your windshield is made of old glass.
Uneven Tinting:
Many people assume tinting is a good thing, and it can be if you get it done correctly. But some tints are not evenly applied to your windshield, leading to an uneven glass surface, ultimately resulting in deeper scratches.
What Are The Things You’ll Need To Remove Scratches From Windshield Toothpaste?
- Toothpaste
- Rubbing Alcohol
- A new clean, soft cloth
- A plastic scraper (optional)
- Latex Gloves (optional)
- Bucket of Water
Step by Step Guide: How to Remove Scratches From Windshield Toothpaste
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies and Tools
First things first, gather up your supplies. You’ll need a tube of toothpaste (you may also want to wear gloves if there is any chance that you’re allergic), rubbing alcohol, a clean, lint free cloth, and a plastic scraper (optional)
Step 2: Mark the Scratched Area
Use the plastic scraper to mark a clear line around the scratched area. If you’re using gloves, be sure to scrape down into the lower corner of the windshield, where it meets the rubber seal. Be careful not to get any extraneous toothpaste on this part of your windshield.
Step 3: Fill in Scratches
Using a new, clean, soft dry cloth, apply a thin layer of toothpaste to the entire scratched area. If you’re using gloves, it’s okay to have toothpaste on your gloves as long as they are latex and not rubber gloves. Be sure there is no excess toothpaste or large pockets of toothpaste sitting in one spot on the glass.
Step 4: Scrub Out Surface Scratches
Once you’ve applied a thin layer of toothpaste, scrub in an up and down motion with the new microfiber cloth for about 1 minute. Be careful not to get any of the toothpaste on your windshield outside of the scratched area, or you will be left with a light haze on your windshield that will take some elbow grease to get rid of.
Step 5: Clean Off Toothpaste
Wipe off the white toothpaste with a new clean, soft cloth, and be sure you’re getting it all. The last thing you want is dirt and grime permanently bonded to your tempered glass by leftover toothpaste. Also, be sure to remove any excess rubbing alcohol with cold water.
Step 6: Clean The Glass
Once you’ve removed the toothpaste and rubbing alcohol, clean your window with some glass cleaner, warm water, and a clean microfibre cloth. Be sure to do this over a damp cloth or plastic tarp in case of spills. You can use a microfiber towel to buff out any streaks or haze left on the windshield.
Step 7: Inspect Your Work
You should now inspect your work. You can use any of these methods to ensure that you’ve gotten all the toothpaste off. First, look at the glass from a distance and see if you notice any haze or streaks, especially in the corner where it meets the rubber seal. Second, shine a flashlight through the window at night (or day) and see if you can see any leftover nonabrasive toothpaste on the glass.
Step 8: Enjoy Your Clean Glass
You should now have a clean windshield and did it without spending money on expensive scratch removers. If unsatisfied with your results, you may repeat the process as often as necessary to remove all traces of the scratch marks from your windshield. Ensure any leftover residue (toothpaste or rubbing alcohol) is removed before driving!
Some Other Techniques to Remove Scratches From Windshield:
- Fill scratches with acrylic nail polish, then polish off scratches
- Smooth out scratches with clear scratch removal and then polish off with scratch repair kits
- Use an abrasive compound like Novus or a dab of toothpaste
- Polish out with windshield scratch repair and clean with distilled water
- Score the scratch with a knife or file, fill in the scratch, and buff to shine
- Try a commercial scratch remover common products on small scratches first to see if you can remove them by hand before investing time, money, and your health into a more in-depth scratch repair process.
- Use toothpaste and buff it out with rubbing alcohol to make light scratches in windshields less noticeable without damaging the surface of the glass.
How Does Toothpaste Remove Scratches From Windshield?
Toothpaste contains an abrasive called silica which is used in bit applications of toothpaste to scrub away the plaque from your teeth. It is actually the same abrasive toothpaste found in sandpaper as well! You can buy different grades of sandpaper from very coarse to very fine, with toothpaste being very fine-grit sandpaper.
Rubbing alcohol on top of the actual toothpaste creates a liquid abrasive that can be used to rub away the scratch marks from your windshield replacement. Of course, you could also use rubbing alcohol or toothpaste on their own, but using both is a little more effective.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Is using Toothpaste as a Car Scratch Remover Legal?
A: The answer is yes. Using toothpaste as a scratch remover is not illegal. By the same token, if you use glass cleaner, Windex, or any other cleaning product to remove scratches from your windshield, it’s not illegal either. Unfortunately, a lot of people think that this method is some kind of a scam because they’re skeptical as to how toothpaste could really repair damage on a windshield.
The reason why toothpaste is used as a scratch remover in the first place is that it works! Although using toothpaste to remove scratches from your windshield may sound silly, it’s actually quite effective. Of course, it won’t remove very deep or long scratches if you use this method on its own, but it will help polish out shallow ones that you can’t see from the driver’s seat.
Q: Does WD 40 Remove Scratches From Windshield?
A: WD-40 is a lubricant that helps loosen up rust and other squeaky parts in your car. WD-40 will not remove scratches from your windshield, as the harsh chemicals found in formulas of headlight restoration kits won’t get through the clear coat on your windshield.
The abrasive compounds found in toothpaste and rubbing alcohol were originally made to clean and polish your teeth. They can remove scratches on a toothbrush or other small objects, but they must be used in combination with an oil-based substance like WD-40 to get the job done properly.
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Conclusion
We bet you’ve seen the dreaded scratch on your windshield if you have a car. Whether from another driver or an object on the road, scratches are unsightly and make driving difficult. Luckily, After reading this blog post, we hope that removing those annoying scratches won’t be so daunting now because everyone has their own way of doing it, but our tips work too!
We hope this blog post on removing scratches from windshield toothpaste has been helpful and informative. If you have any more questions about removing scratches from a windshield, we encourage you to reach out to us! Remember, if you’re looking for other tips, such as how to get rid of bird droppings or protect against tree sap, check out our blog.
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Louis Wein
Louis has always been fascinated by cars. He loves the way they look, the sound of the engine, and how they make him feel when he's driving. He is always keen to learn more about different mechanics of cars and how the engine contributes to other aspects of the car. As an automotive technician with over 10 years of experience, he knew how they worked and loved taking them apart to see how they went back together. He was especially interested in the mechanics of combustion engines and loved finding ways to make them more efficient. He loves to work on cars and help people keep their vehicles running smoothly. As a senior editor, he enjoys contributing to Diy quickly because it allows him to share his knowledge and expertise with others.
