So when I first got my hands on some (glass cleaning) MF towels from Walmart, I wasn't aware of what would eventually happen to my windows. Then came the time to clean my side windows. I noticed some strange scratches and I was wondering where they were coming from. Then I realized, the more I kept wiping, the more they started to appear! These cheapass MF towels are actually scratching my window! And they get pretty etched enough that even my fingernails catch on them. I guess it's time for me to invest in some better quality towels. But now the scratches.... Will polishing remove most if not all of them? The scratches are pretty much etched since my fingernails catch on them easily.

 

microfiber towels scratching glass.??? you sure they were clean???

 

yeah thats very odd for any fabric to make such deep cuts...
might of been dirty

 

must be something embedded in the towel- i assume no tags or staples in the towel?

if you did not apply a window tint, then it sounds like your glass is scratched. whether you can remove the scratches or not depends on how deep they are- do you have any glass polishes? (for example, zaino makes one)
that would be my first product choice. try a small area first to make sure that you are not removing window tint and to make sure that th e product works.

 

 

The Eastwood company also makes a couple of glass polishing kits. I haven't had the opportunity to use either one, so I can't comment on the effectiveness.

 

You know, now that I think of it, the scratches might have been from dust that sticks on the window. I live in a rural desert area, so it's pretty much impossible to keep the car clean without dust having to settle on it (no garage), especially if it's windy. This is what might have caused all those scratches and etches, as the towels aren't thick enough to keep the dirt trapped well.

When I wipe the windows after washing, it's harder for scratches to come up since there's nothing between the window and the towel except for water.

 

It sounds like you're seeing lint on your windows from the towels...

 

I do see lint, but that's not the problem here. I can actually feel the scratches with my fingernails.

Well, it turns out that in fact, the dust and dirt that settle on the windows are what is causing the scratch. Wiping the windows after washing do no damage that I can notice, but when I wipe them later on when dust has already accumulated, that's when it starts to get bad.

From now on I'll either just water down the windows to take out the dust, or go over it lightly with a duster before cleaning them (if I'm not washing the whole car beforehand).

 

That does sound strange?

My S has over 71,500 miles on it and the windshield is fairly "sand blasted". Today, I used Zaino Brothers Z-12 glass polish on it for the first time. In fact I applied it with a small corner of a MF towel (that I bought at Costco) and then buffed it off after it hazed up.

I give Z-12 I went for a drive and the windshield "pitting" was noticeably deminished. I guess it must fill in the pits?