White Paint Mark on Windshield. What's This and How to Clean?

Did you know that most states have laws prohibiting drivers from operating a vehicle whose windshield is obstructed? Proper visibility is crucial to ensuring that every car on the road is not an accident waiting to happen. Whether your field of view is obstructed by cracks or white paint, you must restore your windshield as soon as possible.

Not only is it likely illegal to drive your vehicle with the windshield obstructed, but your insurance company will also hang you out to dry should you suffer an accident in this condition. However, the white paint got on your car, we are here to help you figure out the fastest way to remove it without damaging your windshield. The good news is that paint damage is superficial and very easy to clean at home.

By the time you finish reading this article, you will know exactly how to remove the white paint from your windshield before you find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

Material Needed to Clean White Paint off Your Windshield

You will not need all the material listed below. The materials that apply to you will depend on the type of white paint that has dried on your windshield. Tinted windows are also treated differently from non-tinted ones. Gather the required tools in this list before you being your cleaning process. 

• Bucket
• Liquid detergent
• Water
• Sponges
• Cotton cloths
• Broom and dustpan
• Putty knife or razor blade
• Rubbing alcohol, vinegar, acetone or WD40
• Protective equipment e.g. rubber gloves, eye goggles, and mask when handling acetone and hot vinegar.
• Window cleaner

Determine the Type of White Paint on your Windshield

Before you begin scraping away, it is vital to figure out the type of white paint on your windshield. Oil-based paint and water-based paints are removed using different procedures. Oil-based paint is much harder to remove than water-based paint, especially once it dries. There are several ways to figure out the type of paint scarring your windshield. One way is to observe the sheen.

Oil paints have a glossy high sheen that seems to reflect light while water-based paints have a duller and less impressive sheen. 

The easiest way to investigate is by using a rag or cotton ball that has been dipped in acetone or rubbing alcohol. Use the rag or cotton ball to rub on a spot of paint. If the paint softens or comes off easily, it must be water-based. white paint that stands up to acetone or alcohol-dampened rag is certainly oil-based. 

Wash Your Windshield

Whether the white paint on your windshield is water-based or oil-based, it is best to begin the process by cleaning the windshield. It will undoubtedly make the job easier. Use warm water and liquid detergent to make a soapy solution. Dip the sponge into the soapy water and use it to clean the area covered in paint. 

Scrape the White Paint Off

As soon as you are done cleaning, it is best to begin scraping off the white paint while the windshield is still moist. The paint can be effectively scraped off using a putty knife or a razor blade. The right tool for the job depends on whether your windshield is tinted for me. 

Ensure you do not use any old razor that may scratch your precious windshield, there are special blades that are manufactured for white paint removal. The paint-scraping razor is best used for windows that are not tinted, while the putty knife best suits the more delicate tinted windows. 

Use a firm but gentle technique when scraping off the paint to avoid damaging the windshield. Hold your putty knife or razor blade at an angle, then place the tool's edge against the surface of the paint. Next, push your tool against the paint. Ensure you scrape in one direction and use long moderate motions instead of sharp short ones. 

Do not scrape back and forth because after you are done cleaning the paint, you will have a new problem, a scratched-up windshield. If you get carried away and begin to chip at the white paint rather than scraping it, you are very likely to cause permanent structural damage that may compel you to replace the windshield. Tread carefully. 

If the paint clings onto the windshield, do not increase the vigor of your scraping. Simply wipe off the white paint flakes, reapply the soapy solution, and have another go at it. Once the bulk of the white paint has come, sweep up the white paint on your garage floor before the next step. 

Rub the White Paint on Your Windshield

If the paint on your windshield is water-based, it is likely to come off entirely during the soaping and scraping process. Should a few flakes linger on the windshield, wipe them off using warm soapy water. Where you are dealing with water-based paint, you still have some way to go before your windshield is spotless.  

1) Using WD40 to Remove Oil-Based Paint 

After scraping off all the paint that comes off with moderate elbow grease, clean the area with a warm soapy solution before bringing out the big guns. Spray a light coat of WD40 onto a cotton rag and use it to scrub the paint. Allow the WD40 to sit on the windshield for about fifteen minutes. Finally use the warm soap water solution to clean the area. If your windshield isn't spotless, repeat the entire process until the paint gives in. 

2) Using Acetone to Remove Oil-Based Paint 

Acetone plays second fiddle to WD40 because it is much more hazardous to work with. Should you choose to use acetone to remove the paint, ensure you work in a well-ventilated area. Additionally, it is important to wear protective equipment e.g. rubber gloves, eye goggles, and a mask. Acetone is very toxic, do not use it if you cannot meet the minimum security requirements. 

Wash the painted area of the windshield with a warm soapy water solution. Next, put a little acetone on a rag and use it to scrub the painted area. Be careful to not let acetone drip or rub on your vehicle's paintwork because it will be ruined. 

3) Using White Vinegar to Remove Oil-Based Paint

White vinegar can be found in most kitchen cabinets. It happens to be quite effective at removing paint from various surfaces, including your car's windshield. Half-fill a cup with white vinegar, place the cup in the cup in the microwave and bring it to a boil. 

Wear a pair of rubber gloves before removing the cup from the microwave. Next, dip a cotton cloth in the cup of hot vinegar. Rub the paint with the cloth until it comes off your windshield. If some of the paint fails to come off, clean the area using warm soapy water, scrape off the paint using a putty knife or razor blade, and clean the area using the hot vinegar once more. 

4) Rubbing Alcohol 

Rubbing alcohol is yet another common household product that can eliminate the pesky white paint from your windshield. Apply the rubbing alcohol directly on the white paint and leave it to soak for several minutes. Next, use a soft cloth and vigorously rub the paint until it comes off. Should some paint remain adhered to the windshield, repeat the steps above until your windshield is spotless. 

Clean the Windshield

Once the paint is gone, you have to clean the chemicals you used off the windshield. Once again, use the warm soapy water solution and a sponge to thoroughly clean the area. After you feel confident you have removed all traces of WD40 and acetone, use clean water and a sponge to rinse off the windshield. If you want your windshield gleaming like one fresh off the dealership floor, spray a glass cleaner on it and buff using a soft lint-free cloth. 

Precautions to Take When Removing White Paint from Windshield

Removing white paint from a windshield is quite easy. So easy that some people may be tempted to dispense with the safety precautions. While restoring your windshield to its original state, remember:

• Do not use a razor blade if your windshield is tinted.
• Do not use excessive force to scrape the paint off.
• Do not scrape back and forth.
• Do not use acetone in a poorly ventilated area.
• Wear protective gear while using acetone or hot vinegar.

Conclusion

Whether the paint on your windshield was applied by vandals, to mark a celebration or it simply spilled over while a different section was being painted, the process above will help forget this was ever a problem. With the right cleaning products, tools and an abundance of caution paint on your windshield is nothing to fret about.

You do not have to be a seasoned DIYer to restore your windshield to normal without having to pay a mechanic an arm and a leg. Just be careful not to scratch or crack your windshield in your earnest effort to rid it of the white paint.