5 Bad Auto Glass Habits

01 Jul 5 Bad Auto Glass Habits

We know what you’re thinking – chances are, you’ve got more than just five bad habits. Don’t worry, we’re not going to psycho-analyze all those in a blog post. Probably better to handle those with a professional. However, there are five bad habits that you may be doing that can be harmful to your auto glass and could even ruin your windshield. Since a damaged windshield is more likely to crack, chip or splinter , these bad habits could wind up costing you. Here are a few bad auto glass habits to stop doing as quickly as possible.

Using Sponges and Towels to Clean the Glass

Sponges and towels might feel soft, but not on your auto glass. Using sponges and towels to clean your auto glass could be the worst technique to use. Sponges are designed to scrub out hard-to-remove stains from grimy dishes and other kitchen tools. Therefore, they are not soft. Cleaning our cars with them could scratch the glass and dull the paint little by little. Regular towels, too, are not smooth because of the material they are made of. When we dry our hands with them, they do not affect us. However, if we use towels to dry our cars, we could be scraping at the paint and glass.

You cannot end the habit without an alternative method to cleaning your car. So, what can you use in place of sponges and towels to prevent costly windshield damage? Get a microfiber cloth, of course! Purchase two of this soft cloth and you will have two items in place of the sponge and towel.

Removing Decals with Keys

Peeling a car sticker or decal with keys is a horrible idea! You peel the decal by hand, and then the sticker breaks off. And when you eventually cannot take it anymore, you reach for your car keys and use them to scratch out the remaining sticker and glue. This habit can cause you to scratch your windshield and windows, so it is clearly not good.

Instead, spray WD-40 or Goof-Off on the sticker or decal that you want to remove and let it set for a minute. After that, you can easily peel the rest of the sticker with your fingernail and remove the remaining glue faster.

Keeping Old Windshield Wipers

This is a common habit among young drivers. When your windshield wipers are old, your rubber blades wear-out and crack, and you should never keep them in use. They have done their time and need to be thrown out. Continuing to use them during rain can be highly damaging to the glass, so much so that the windshield could shatter altogether.

Therefore, if you want to steer clear of a costly auto glass repair, install new wiper blades. They cost way less than a new windshield.

Getting Car Glass Tinted at-Home

Unless you are an expert when it comes to auto glass, do not tint your car by yourself. You need the right tools and the proper, legal tinted glass or film. Besides, you do not want to make mistakes when you tint the glass, so it is best to leave this to the auto glass professionals.

Not Parking Cautiously

Not parking cautiously or safely — such as by not paying attention to the threats that surround your car when you park — can risk your car getting damaged. For example, if you park under a tree, especially one that has fragile-looking branches, there is nothing stopping those branches from falling onto your windshield and breaking it. Additionally, if there is a storm, the likelihood of something going wrong arises. So be a cautious parker by inspecting the parking lot before you park in a specific area

Cutting these five bad auto glass habits can help extend the lifespan of your glass and keep more money in your pocket. However, if it’s already too late and you find yourself in need of some expert San Antonio auto glass repair, be sure to bring your car in to RNR. We’d love to help with your chips, cracks, replacements and recalibrations. Contact our team today for a free quote!