Film buildup on inside windsheild

'06 Accord EX 6cyl Auto. sedan. We've noticed alight filmy buildup on the
inside of the windshield for the last year or so. It's not that noticeable
unless your driving towards the setting sun, then its almost blinding.

Really tough to get off, diluted vinegar seems to work best, but its back
again in a few weeks. Any idea what this is? Could it be the cabin air
filter needs to be changed? Is it plasticizers from the vinyl dashboard?

TIA,
Jon

 

are you sure it's not the other driver wiping the shield with those hand
wipey things? gf does that and completely ruins visibility every time
because they contain lanolin and that leaves a film.

 

Plasticizers are exactly what it is. All you can do is keep cleaning the
glass. It will eventually let up a bit over the years as the vinyl dries
out.

What works REALLY well for cleaning are those Rain-X cleaning wipes made
for auto glass. They are little "moist towelettes" that come packed in
tear-open pouches. Use a very clean terrycloth towel (no fabric softener;
double-rinsed) to buff up after cleaning, not paper towels.

 

common myth but typically not true. much more commonly it's bacterial
blooms and dust from the air system.

 

Then why is it oily? And why does buildup diminish with age?

 

i got a new windshield recently and whatever goop comes on those things
when new is a real pita to clean off. that part of the effect
diminishes with repetition. [can't argue that my near-20 year old car
have much of an out-gassing problem. not unless the driver's been to
chinatown anyway.] the rest of it is same old bacterial blooms. that's
why it's patchy if you look at it up close.

 

Thanks Jim and Tegger. Sorry I couldn't respond before this but I started a
new job last week and I've been behind the 8 ball time-wise.

I know it's not wipes leaving the mess as I've done that in my car before
and know what a mess it leaves. This is too even for that.

I changed out the cabin filter and cleaned the inside of the car and dash
really well. I used some vinyl conditioner on the dash so perhaps that will
help the problem.

We'll just keep cleaning the inside of the windshield for now.

Regards,
Jon

 

I know it's not wipes leaving the mess as I've done that in my car before

Just a follow-up. The cabin filter seems to have been the culprit. No new
buildup since I did that. It's still too soon to be sure but this is the
longest we've had a clean windshield in a long time.

Jon

 

glad that worked - a good post for the archive.

 

the film buildup is plasticizers outgassing from the plastics inside the
car.
changing the cabin air filter just means the new filter is more capable of
absorbing the plasticizers(for a while).
However,using a "vinyl conditioner" may just add more plasticizer to be
deposited on the windscreen.

 

popular myth. go back and read the thread.