Oily residue on your windshield could stem from a number of causes. Road film builds up on cars and can appear oily. Splatters from fluids used during mechanical work may be the cause or even a prank done in poor taste may leave you with a baby oil coated windshield. In any event, you will need to remove it to be able to operate the vehicle safely. Use one of several methods to get the grime away and return your glass to a clean, clear state.

White Vinegar

Use white distilled vinegar to clean oily residue from your windshield. Vinegar is a widely used cleaning agent that has the ability to strip even the toughest oily and waxy substances from glass surfaces. Apply the vinegar to one side of a clean towel or piece of crumpled newspaper and wipe the glass in an up-and-down motion to remove the film. Turn the towel over, or use a dry piece of newspaper, to dry the glass and rub it to a shine. Do not use a towel that has a lot of lint on it. Use 100 percent cotton towels or newspapers that are lint-free and do not leave behind streaks, according to HowToCleanAnything.com.

Think About Your Dishes

Consider using the same solution you'd use to clean up oily dishes after dinner. That glass salad bowl coated with oil and vinegar dressing is not much different than the oily film on your windshield, although it may taste better. Fill a small bucket with hot water from the tap and add a large squirt of grease-cutting dishwashing liquid to the water while it runs, according to ThriftyFun.com. This will mix the soap with the water and make it foam up. Scrub the glass with a rag soaked in the soapy water until the oil releases from the glass and rinses away with scrubbing. Rinse the glass with the garden hose and then dry it. Polish the glass using your favorite glass cleaner or vinegar.

Commercial Products

Purchase one of many glass cleaners from your local auto supply store. According to GWS-MBCA.org, using 3M glass cleaner or Invisible Glass are excellent choices for thoroughly cleaning the glass in your car. Be sure to wash your hands to remove any greasy residue from your hands that might make its way back onto the glass while cleaning it.

Source:

Greater Washington Section: The Devil is in the Details

How To Clean Anything: Glass Cleaners

ThriftyFun: Removing Oil and Vinegar From Windshield