Professional Windscreen Deep Cleaning and Ceramic Repellent Application

Ensure the vehicle is parked in a shaded, well-ventilated area. The glass surface temperature must be between 15°C and 30°C. In Australian summer, this usually means working in the early morning. If the glass is too hot, cleaners and coatings will flash (evaporate) too quickly, leading to streaks and uneven curing. Use an infrared thermometer if available to verify surface temp.

Thoroughly wash the windscreen and surrounding rubber seals with a high-pH strip wash or a standard automotive shampoo. This removes loose dust, salt, and heavy road film. Pay particular attention to the area under the wiper blades and the 'scuttle' (the plastic trim at the base of the screen) where red dust and leaf litter accumulate.

Using a dedicated clay lubricant or a mixture of water and a drop of car shampoo, glide the clay bar over the wet glass. You will feel and hear the 'grit' initially; continue until the clay glides silently. This removes embedded metallic particles and industrial fallout that a standard wash cannot touch. Dry the glass thoroughly with a microfibre towel after completion.

Apply low-tack painter's tape to the plastic trim, rubber seals, and wiper arms surrounding the glass. Glass polishes and ceramic coatings can often stain or whiten textured plastics. This 5-minute step saves hours of cleanup later and ensures the chemical treatment stays strictly on the glass surface.

Apply a small amount of glass polish to a firm foam applicator. Work in 30x30cm sections using heavy overlapping circular motions. This step is critical; it removes the 'road film'—a microscopic layer of oil and exhaust soot—and levels out light water spot etching. The polish should start to break down and become translucent as you work it.

Wipe away the polish residue with a damp microfibre towel followed by a dry one. Inspect the glass using a high-output LED torch or by looking through the glass at a low angle. If you see any remaining 'ghosting' from old water spots, repeat the polishing step. The glass must be optically perfect before proceeding.

Spray a generous amount of IPA solution onto a clean microfibre towel (not directly onto the glass to avoid overspray). Wipe the entire windscreen thoroughly. This removes any remaining polishing oils. A 'squeaky' sound when wiping is a good indicator that the surface is chemically bare and ready for the coating to bond.

Apply 5-10 drops of the ceramic glass coating to a fresh suede applicator. Start at the top corner and apply in straight, overlapping vertical lines, then repeat with horizontal lines (cross-hatch pattern). Ensure total coverage. For the front windscreen, work on one half at a time to prevent the product from drying too quickly in warm conditions.

Wait for the coating to 'flash' or haze. Depending on the humidity (common in QLD/NSW) and temperature, this typically takes 2 to 5 minutes. The coating will often begin to look like 'beads of sweat' or a light rainbow oil slick. Do not wait longer than the manufacturer's recommended time as it will become extremely difficult to buff off.

Using a clean, short-pile microfibre towel, lightly wipe the surface to level the coating. Do not use heavy pressure; the goal is to remove the excess product while leaving the bonded layer intact. Use a slow, methodical motion to ensure you don't miss any high spots (darker, oily-looking patches).

Switch to a fresh, dry waffle-weave towel for the final buff. Use circular motions to remove any remaining haze. If the coating feels 'grabby', you may need to use a slightly damp towel (distilled water only) to help level it, followed immediately by a dry buff. The glass should now look invisible and feel incredibly slick.

For the front windscreen, which takes the most abrasion from wipers and dust, wait 15-20 minutes and apply a second layer. This ensures 100% coverage and increases the longevity of the repellent. Do not layer more than three times as it can lead to 'chattering' of the wiper blades.

Clean your wiper blades with a microfibre dampened with glass cleaner. Inspect the rubber for cracks. If the blades are old, replace them now. Applying a tiny amount of the glass coating to the edge of the rubber blade can help prevent 'wiper judder' on the newly coated surface.

The coating requires a 'dry' cure time. Keep the vehicle out of the rain and do not use the windscreen washers for at least 12 hours. In high-humidity coastal areas, 24 hours is safer. Full chemical cross-linking usually takes 7 days; avoid harsh detergents or commercial car washes during this first week.