Celebrations bring out the creative spirits in all of us. And sometimes our car windows may receive the extremity of it. Writing celebratory messages using a car window marker may seem fun at first but worrying about the repercussions of it ruins the festive mood.
So if you are looking to remove any writing from your car windows, worry no more for this article will guide you in doing just that. We will list out what window cleaner you can use, and how you can get that dirty chalk marker off your windows.
Prepare Cleaning Materials
In removing glass chalk marker writings from car windows, you must be equipped with the right materials. Necessary materials in cleaning car windows include water, a bucket, and microfiber towels.
The following are the cleaning agents that can be used to help clean your car windows without inflicting any foreseeable damage.
- Dish Soap
- Glass Cleaner
- All-Purpose Cleaner
- WD-40
Removing Glass Chalk Marker Inscriptions
Step 1: Prepare a Water Bucket
Just as with any cleaning, you start by preparing your pail of warm water to be used. It is advisable and important to remember to get clean water since having contaminated and filthy water may further do some damage to your perfectly fine car windows.
You may also prepare another bucket of water for the dilution of certain cleaning agents. For example, liquid all-purpose cleaners typically need to be diluted before use. If anything is specified regarding cleaning windows in the instruction panel, be sure to follow it thoroughly.
Step 2: Wear Protective Gloves
When working with chemicals, don’t forget to stay safe and wear protective gloves to avoid skin irritation and other possible complications. Particularly, glass cleaners, although generally harmless, can sometimes irritate your skin, so it’s best to be safe and make sure to wear safety gloves when using these.
Step 3: Wipe Car Windows
Start with cleaning your windows with the most basic cleaning agent in every household: dish soap. This method is one of the easiest and most traditional methods of removing the writing in your car windows. It only needs very minimal effort with accessible materials. You can also make do with any water-based liquid detergent.
When using this, you can expect markings to be removed after a bit of wiping the soapy water with a soft cloth. Wiping in a circular motion does wonders in doing the job faster.
Dish soap doesn’t work all the time, unfortunately. In this instance, don’t worry because an all-purpose cleaner may also accomplish the job. Just make sure to read the instructions in the bottle because different brands may have slight differences in application.
If you want to use a cleaning agent purely intended for your car windows, I suggest using a glass cleaner. What makes this great is that it doesn’t only clean glass chalk markers but can also remove tough dirt, grime, and grease from your windows.
You can also use WD-40 if you have it. As a popular cleaning agent, its formula allows it to be used as a cleaning agent on many types of surfaces while ensuring the safety of any vulnerable component in your car. In cleaning a window surface, you need to apply a decent amount of the product onto a microfiber cloth and proceed to wipe said surface.
Step 4: Let Sit
Some cleaning agents may take time in removing glass chalk markers from your car windows. For instance, WD-40 needs to sit undisturbed for a couple of minutes. See to it that the mixture is slowly removing glass chalk markers from the surface.
However, note that this step isn’t necessary all the time. If none of the writings are visible after some wiping then you can just proceed with the next step.
Step 5: Finish off
Wash off any cleaning agent used with a damp cloth. However, if you can still see a bit of residue from the writing and you wish to remove it completely, prepare a mixture of dish soap and water. Apply the mixture to the area and proceed to clean it.
If you are now satisfied with your car windows, don’t forget to dry your windows after by using a clean cloth, preferably a dry microfiber cloth, to avoid any water stains.
Extra Tips: Taking Care of Car Windows
Taking care of your car windows may sound exhausting at first, but would you believe it if I told you that it only takes a bit of a change and an effort in your daily routine to make drastic changes?
What to Use When Writing on Car Windows
As we’ve exhaustively discussed above, chalk markers are perfectly safe to use on our car windows. However, it is important not to mistake a glass chalk marker for a permanent marker. Both have very distinct properties and the latter will definitely give you a nasty piece of work.
Using a liquid chalk marker makes it easier on you to erase them off your windows, as you can simply use a paper towel or a magic eraser to get rid of them.
Avoid Too Much Sun Exposure
An extended period of sun exposure causes a temperature change in your car that may further cause your windows to expand or contract. This causes your car windows to weaken over time.
Remember to park your car somewhere with shade or better yet invest in a good car cover that will keep your car in pristine condition. Just remember to keep your car out of intense heat.
What Not To Use
You must avoid ammonia-based cleaning kits like the plague if you want to keep your car in a good condition. Although they can indeed remove chalk marker stains, they can also damage the paintwork of your car.
Conclusion
Glass chalk markers are one of the preferable methods of writing a celebratory message or any kind of inscription in your car windows for they offer the owners to have multiple cleaning method choices. Of course, moderation should always be observed.
If following the steps above does not prove to be a thorough cleaning job, try seeking out professional help near your area. If you have more questions, feel free to drop a comment and we’ll try our best to help.