How Do You Get Scratches Out of a Car Windshield?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 30, 2020

Small scratches on a windshield can be removed by the following these steps: determining the type of the scratch, purchasing the right glass repair kit, cleaning and applying a rubbing compound to the windshield and allowing the compound to dry. While this procedure is applicable to oxidation marks and small scratches, major scratches on a windshield should be handled by a professional to ensure that further damage does not occur.

There are four types of materials that will be needed to remove a windshield scratch: a glass cleaner, glass repair kit, dry soft cloth and a rubbing compound with cerium oxide as one of its constituent compounds.

The scratch type can be determined by rubbing a finger over the scratch to ascertain if it is a deep scratch or a surface scratch. Surface scratches are easy to fix, but deep scratches will require the replacement of the windshield by a professional.
The glass repair kit should be purchased from an auto repair shop.
The windshield should be washed with soap and water before applying the rubbing compound. This compound should be applied to the scratch and gently rubbed using a clean soft cloth. The main purpose of cerium oxide is to seal and bond the scratch, preventing further damage.
The final step is to allow the compound to dry, which may take up to 30 minutes, after which the windshield should be washed.