Transportation has come a long way since the days of horse-and-buggy travel, and the most convenient and enjoyable form of transportation is the personal motor vehicle. We can travel for hours, through various sorts of weather conditions, while safely enclosed in a comfortable, climate-controlled car interior.
While we drive and ride happily in the cozy interior of the car, the exterior is buffeted by all sorts of debris and unpredictable weather. Dirt, dust, bugs, and rocks get thrown up against the front of our cars on the freeway, while sleet and hail can bombard us in the winter.
The windshield is the first and most important barrier between us and everything that comes rushing headlong towards us as we travel. A strong windshield protects us from wind, precipitation, debris, and any animals that may leap in front of our vehicles while we drive. While it’s impossible to control the conditions we have to drive in, properly caring for your windshield can help keep the glass in the best and safest condition possible.
Here are five of the most effective ways to protect your windshield:
1: Stay in the Shade
One of the simplest things you can do to keep the windshield of your car in top condition is to park your car in the shade whenever possible. If you’ve ever seen an old window in a house that looks like it’s “melting,” it will come as no surprise that the hot sun can weaken your glass windshield over time.
The heat can also make the glass expand, causing any small chips that you might not have noticed to develop into full-blown cracks that will require a windshield replacement.
2: Don’t Get Too Close to the Car in Front of You
It’s best safety practice not to get too close to the car you’re following anyway, but it can help keep your windshield intact too. In addition to avoiding potential windshield damage from collisions, staying far enough back from the car in front of you will reduce the amount of dirt and pebbles that get flung against your windshield.
3: Don’t Overload your Car — Especially the Roof
Overloading your car with excess weight is of course hard on your tires and engine, but it can also be disastrous for your windshield if you load that extra weight onto the roof. The roof isn’t made to hold cargo, and even with the help of roof racks, it’s easy to overload your car. The added weight from an overloaded roof may initially cause dents in the roof, but as more weight is added, it has nowhere to go but down — straight into the windshield. This can cause your windshield to weaken over time, or even shatter outright.
4: Use Glass Cleaners Without Ammonia
Keeping your windshield clean and streak-free is vital for safe driving. It reduces glare and ensures you can see road hazards clearly. With how important a clean windshield is, the cleaner you use needs to be suitable for glass. Using cleaners with ammonia can leave film on your windshield and harm its protective tint.
With mobile detailing from a reputable company like Mobile Detailing Pros, you can rest easy knowing the best cleaners are used for each part of the car. You can leave the cleaning to the professionals, without having to spend time sorting through products and squinting at ingredient lists.
5: Avoid Wear and Tear from Windshield Wipers
As we said, clean windshields are vital for visual clarity while driving. A clean windshield can also ensure that the wipers don’t damage the glass during heavy precipitation.
In heavy rain and snow, we often turn our windshield wipers up as much as possible to see, which can cause any dirt and debris on the surface of the windshield to grate against the glass. This can result in scratches and chips, which can eventually develop into full cracks with temperature fluctuations.
Regularly cleaning the windshield surface can help prevent scratches and chips from high-speed wipers. A convenient mobile detailing service can also make sure that all dirt and grime gets cleaned from the wipers themselves, ensuring there will be no unnecessary damage during heavy precipitation.
Following these simple tips can help protect your windshield from avoidable damage, and can in turn help keep you safe. Do you have any additional tips to keep your windshield in top condition? Let us know in the comments!
