Windscreen Misty/Marky Streaks

[Annastesia]

Hello,

I'm looking for advice on an issue I am currently having.

When using my wipers normally in the rain the windshield is fine, although leaves markings. But when I use my washer fluid it leaves misty/marky streaks.
Although it clears after a few seconds it still leaves faint marks, particularly if wipers continue. It does disappear fully after no usage for a period of time.
I'm concerned as I have my MOT next month and this visual impairment may cause it to fail.


I've noticed this for a while but has gotten worse since filling up the washer tank recently - (I used 2 different types to fill and diluted in water to recommended dose for each).

I'm not sure if it may be worth me emptying the tank (if its possible) or going to a garage.

And help or advice would be appreciated

[Lord Voltermore]

Have you tried wiping the blade edges with a bit of damp kitchen paper?  You'd be amazed how much black dirt/rubber residue comes off.   You can find recommendations on line of a soap/detegent/ solvent that will do an even better job, but there is often controversy, with others claiming various products do more harm than good.   

If this doesnt help I would drain off the washer fluid  and try a bottle of ready mixed fluid without adding any tap water  - maybe premixed minus 20C winter mix .

If there is still no luck  ,and you have eliminated other possible causes such as you or a carwash having used a car shampoo with a lot of wax in it , streaking may be a sign its time to replace your wiper blades.. Even if they look ok there may be tiny scores in the rubber. 

[ColinB]

You may have some traffic film contamination on the screen. See this …
https://www.detailingwiki.org/washing/what-is-traffic-film/
…. for an explanation. So you could try a specialist traffic film remover from your local auto shop.
Or it could be that your wipers are worn and need replacing.

[Annastesia]

thanks both for your help!

I will try and clean the wipers properly first.

I found it strange how it can leave marks when wipers used normally, but is amplified hugely with misty/fog streaks when using washer fluid.
This is why I thought it might be the fluid, but maybe it could be the wipers after all.

We have had a few spells of sahara dust covering cars where I live so I will also consider this as a possibility - although I have cleaned the windscreen after each spell.

Thanks again

[Kremmen]

Cleaning windscreens can be hit and miss depending on what you use

Over the years I've used allsorts and there are those that leave residue behind, which I find a problem, and those that evaporate and leave the screen squeaky clean

At the moment my favourite is 'Invisible Glass'

As far as wiper blades are concerned I think Bosch Aerotwins take some beating

[Lord Voltermore]

I found it strange how it can leave marks when wipers used normally, but is amplified hugely with misty/fog streaks when using washer fluid.

Thanks again

Speculation here but  one possibility is that  with  plain rainwater , the blades skim across the glass  lubricated slightly by a very  fine film of water . Screenwash contains detergent and a surfactant which reduces surface tension. The blade may cut through this more easily and wipe the glass dry, apart from streaks left by any fine imperfections in the blade rubber.   Or some other reason   

[Annastesia]

Update: I went to Halfords and was told that wipers need replacing as they are smearing regardless.
But also something must be wrong with the washer fluid as the smearing is visibly more and foggy, so was advised to leave them on to pump it all out.

So I need new wipers and also to refill the washer fluid tank.

Thanks everyone for your help! I think the issue was covered by all who helped

[olduser1]

Your question is common when rainfall increases, not only do drivers notice changes on the screen but the roads are full of debris and old rubber etc.
Forum members have good suggestions I would add wash the washer bottle using warm water and all purpose cleaner . Lightly used cars sometime suffer steaks every few months. If you can get the bottle out it's best  otherwise use a hose to pump clean water in then add cleaning agent , allow to dry. Refill with winter mixture of windscreen . Then clean blades with either methaleted spirits or concentrated scee wash, again warm water help Try using a new sponge plenty of water clean the used blade then work the blade edge across the sponge plenty of black rubber muck should be removed . The refit

[Lord Voltermore]

Although you may well need new wipers I did suggest  trying different screenwash first as it might prevent you fitting new blades unnecessarily,  just in time for them to be more vulnerable to damage from ice and frost

 Attempting to free blades imbedded in ice , or allowing them to wipe across a rough frosty screen can shred them very quickly. But if you  definitely need new blades now  dont delay it for this reason.   My car lives outside and however much care I take to free blades the wipers sometimes start before I have finished clearing the screen because I had left the wipers on when last used. . 

The new flat type blades are a bit less liable to damage than the old type  if you have to free them from embedded ice.  . But I have noticed that even if you clear all  the ice from their rubber blade there may still be ice clogging their flexible flat backing .If so it may not  flex well to the curvature of the screen and wiper performance will be poor. You can free it up by flexing it a few times 

There are various techniques I could have used the night before to protect the screen and blades and speed up screen clearance, but I   am usually too lazy to bother 

[madasafish]

A cloth soaked in WD40 is ideal for cleaning wipers .. And screen - removes deposits...

[embee]

A friend worked for a European component manufacturer and said that the UK has the lowest sales of aftermarket wiper blades in the west of Europe,  equalled only in former Eastern block  countries. We're tight.
I also rate the Bosch aerotwins, but due to availability at the time I fitted some Denso Hybrid blades on the Jazz with excellent results,  so would also recommend them.
Tradition said you could clean glass using a cut potato,  not sure how effective they are.

[Kremmen]

My old trick of deep cleaning a contaminated windscreen is to use Invisible Glass with one of those kitchen scourer/sponge blocks for the first pass

The scourer side is just plastic and has never damaged any screen I've cleaned, especially as I never press too hard

Then the second pass is the same stuff on a microfibre cloth

[embee]

As Kremmen alludes above,  kitchen pads are usually OK (though I'd always recommend doing a trial patch somewhere unobtrusive,) but never ever use "Scotchbrite" pads on glass. They might look like a kitchen pad but have abrasive grit bonded on the fibres and will scratch glass very effectively.  Be careful out there.

[His_name_is_robertpaulson]

Use a clay bar or clay mit to clean the windscreen. Wash first then clay bar. Apply Autogglym fast glass, can be used on glass, rubber and plastic. Also use on the wiper blades. Don't use wash and wax shampoo on the glass as it leaves a residue behind on the glass and wipers.

[Jeff B]

I have had the same problem. The cure was to flush the washer bottle continuously with water. As access to the bottle on my Jazz is diabolical I set up a syphon system with plastic tubing and added water from a garden hose, adjusting the flow rate so that input and output matched. Subsequently I only use either rain water or demin water from my dehumidifier to fill the wash bottle most of the year. For the very few times when it is frosty only then do I use an additive but always flush it out again in the spring.

I found with a previous vehicle where I could easily access the washer bottle that over time the additive produces a gungy slime at the bottom of the bottle which must be the cause of the smearing.

Also when I wash the car I try to avoid getting any of the waxy car wash solution onto the windscreen.