How to care for car windows in winter (PHOTOS)

Good visibility in the autumn-winter season is one of the most important factors affecting driving safety. Each driver must take care of this himself.

Dirty and wet windows severely limit visibility. Especially after dark, when the water drops reflect the lights of street lamps and other cars. Visibility is also reduced when a layer of dirt accumulates on the glass, which additionally freezes in the cold. Since heated windshields are still only optional equipment used in a few cars, the driver on the road can have serious problems with it.

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Need a good liquid

Therefore, for low temperatures, manufacturers produce washer fluids with a special composition. They contain more detergents and alcohol, which facilitate the removal of dirt, degreasing and prevent the liquid from freezing at low temperatures. How to choose the best product? First of all, you should focus on the price. The lower, the lower the content of glass cleaners. Most often, poisonous methanol is also used in cheap e-liquids instead of ethanol (food alcohol). Therefore, before buying, you should check the composition of the liquid on the label. Although ethanol will be much more expensive, its cleaning properties will be much better, and resistance to low temperatures will be higher. Importantly, cheap methanol-based liquid not only does a poor job of cleaning windows, but can also be dangerous for the driver. During a long journey in difficult conditions, repeated use of sprayers leads to the ingress of particles of this alcohol into the passenger compartment, which can lead to a deterioration in concentration, a violation of the nervous system and vision.

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Useful coating for glass

A very useful invention in winter is the so-called. invisible rug, i.e. hydrophobic coating. This solution makes the glass perfectly smooth and water flows off it more easily. The coating increases the resistance of the glass to dirt by approximately 70% and improves visual acuity in difficult conditions. The disadvantage of this solution is the frequent problems with the work of traditional wipers. On slippery surfaces, the rubber does not have as much resistance and jumps around, accelerating wear on the linkage. According to the manufacturers, thanks to the coating, wipers need to be used less often when driving slowly, and at speeds above 80 km / h, their use is practically not required. The coating can be applied, for example, in glass repair shops. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and consists in applying a special, liquid substance to the glass. It costs about 50 zł and is enough for about 20-25 kilometers. You can also do it yourself. A package of a special liquid costs about PLN XNUMX. Apply to washed, dried glass with a soft cloth.

Bananas are best in summer

So that dirt does not interfere with driving, you must also take care of the condition of the wipers. In many cars, the wear of the rubber brushes is indicated by an indicator on the wiper, which changes color over time. In other cases, the driver must evaluate whether the tire is suitable for replacement.

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- Over time, the feathers will flake off and become stiffer. Then, especially at low temperatures, they will not be able to clean the glass. Instead of removing the dirt, they smear it out, creating streaks on the surface that limit visibility,” explains auto mechanic Stanislav Plonka.

The damage very often also affects the ends of the rubber elements, which break away from the structure. It happens that this is due to improper use of wipers in cold weather.

– Do not use them if they are frozen to the windshield after overnight. Rubber wear is also accelerated when using wipers on an icy windshield. Therefore, before starting them, the driver must carefully clean the glass with a scraper, says Stanislav Plonka.

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New pens are the most expensive in authorized services. For example, two pieces for a Volkswagen Passat B6 cost PLN 159, and for a Ford Mondeo MKIV - PLN 184. Replacements from well-known manufacturers such as Bosch or Valeo are about 30-50 percent cheaper. A kit for Passat costs about PLN 90-95, and for Mondeo PLN 145.

– Installation is very simple, the hooks match the original mountings on the wiper arms. We also offer cheaper grips with universal adapters that allow them to be adapted to around 80 percent of car models. Then one rug costs about PLN 35, says Waldemar Bomba from the Full Car store in Lutorož.

For the winter, however, it is more recommended to install traditional feathers, in which the rubber is fixed along the entire length on a metal structure.

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– This solution provides better pressure and more precise glass cleaning. The so-called bananas are less pressed, and we recommend them more for the summer, says Waldemar Bomba.

Win with a couple on the windows

From the inside, it is best to take care of the glasses by rubbing them with a special anti-dew agent that prevents the deposition of water vapor. Depending on the manufacturer, the drug is applied with a cloth or sprayed onto glass from a spray bottle. A 200 ml pack costs about PLN 25. It is effective and allows you to wipe the windows several times during the season.

Governorate Bartosz

photo by Bartosz Guberna