It looks great, but keeping your car’s windscreen clean is essential, as dirt, stains, and smears could obstruct your vision whilst driving and distract your focus on the road ahead. 

 As our team of technicians at O'Brien® AutoGlass are experts on caring for your windscreens, we’ve compiled a tried-and-tested guide on achieving a spotless windscreen.   

Exterior 

What to use: 

• Alcohol-based glass cleaner 
• At least two pieces of clean, lint-free microfibre cloths or towels 
• Rubber gloves & eye protection (optional but recommended) 

Expert Tips: 

* Avoid using ammonia-based glass cleaners if your windscreen is tinted, as it can cause discolouration. 

* Use reusable microfibre cloths or towels for a streak-free finish. These cloths/towels are long-lasting, can be washed after use, and are better for the environment. Avoid using disposable cloths/towels to make your windscreen clean and as green as possible!
* If you see a chip in your windscreen, make sure to get the chip repaired before applying pressure to any of the damaged areas of the chip, as this could cause the damage to spread into a crack. 

Steps to follow: 

1. Carefully lift both the wiper blades outwards and off the windscreen. 
2. Spray the glass cleaner evenly to thoroughly coat the first half of the windscreen. 
3. Wipe the windscreen with one of your clean microfibre cloths in straight vertical motions. 
4. Take another clean microfibre cloth and wipe the same part of the glass in straight horizontal motions, ensuring that the glass is completely dry. 
5. Moving to the second half of your windscreen, repeat steps 2-4 using either the clean sides of the same cloth or a fresh, new set. 
6. With the wiper blades still positioned off the windscreen, spray the glass cleaner on the wiper blades. 
7. With a towel, pinch both sides at the top of the wiper blades and wipe downwards; repeat until dry. 
8. Lastly, use a dry microfibre cloth to buff the entirety of the windscreen in small circular motions. 

Expert Tips: 

* Avoid having your hands or fingers touch the glass while wiping. Doing so can leave smears on the windscreen.
* Don’t leave the overspray on the trim and edges of the windscreen unwiped, as this will become visible when it dries.
* Make sure to remove any dirt and grime accumulated in the wiper blades; if left, this may scratch your windscreen when you use the wipers.
* Be sure to remove any leaves and twigs at the foot of the windscreen as well. 

Interior 

Now that the outside of your windscreen is sparkling clean, read on for more tips from our O'Brien® AutoGlass experts on cleaning the interior of your windscreen. 

What to use: 

• Rubbing alcohol 
• Alcohol-based glass cleaner 
• Three pieces of clean, lint-free microfibre cloths or towels 
• Rubber gloves & eye protection (optional but recommended) 

Steps to follow: 

1. With a clean cloth, wipe the interior of your windscreen using circular motions, starting at its bottom and moving upwards. 
2. Flip the cloth to the clean side and wipe the windscreen again, using up and down motions. 
3. Apply enough rubbing alcohol onto a fresh, clean cloth but not so much that it drips. Wipe the windscreen using circular motions. If you get alcohol on the dash, clean it off immediately with a paper towel to avoid staining. 
4. Spray the glass cleaner directly on another clean cloth. Wipe the first half of the windscreen using vertical, and then horizontal movements. 
5. Repeat step 4 on the other half of the windscreen using the same cloth. 

Expert Tips: 

* Don’t spray the rubbing alcohol and glass cleaner directly onto the windscreen to avoid overspray staining the dashboard. 

Time to check the condition of your windscreen 

Regularly cleaning your car’s windscreen is recommended as it allows you to monitor its condition and ensure there are no small chips that you may not have noticed since you last cleaned the glass.  

If you do notice a small chip, it’s important to get it fixed before it turns into a crack. Read here to find out more about how O'Brien® can repair a chip in your windscreen. 

Make cleaning easier next time, with O’Brien® Vis-Tech! 

A treatment for your windscreen, like our new O’Brien® Vis-Tech, can make your cleaning job much easier! 

Not only can O’Brien® Vis-Tech help to prevent dirt, insects and other debris from sticking to your windscreen, it makes driving in the rain safer, as it improves your visibility by repelling the rain. One application lasts for up to 12-months (or up to 20,000kms), and can be applied by our expert technicians at any of our Service Centres. For more information on O'Brien® Vis-Tech, click here. 

With locations across Australia, the O'Brien® AutoGlass team are your local experts for all things windscreens, so contact us online or call 1800 059 829 to speak to one of our friendly team members. Our experienced technicians will assess and discuss your windscreen repair or replacement options, as well as help with a range of auto accessories that can improve your driving experience, and help you get back on the road quickly and safely. 

The post The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning your Windscreen appeared first on O'Brien.

As we head into winter which is normally wet, it is important for you to ensure your vehicle is equipped to handle these adverse weather conditions. Windscreen wipers work to keep our windscreens clear when it rains, but there is an additional step you can take to improve your visibility and extend the life of your wipers, like using a high-quality windscreen rain repellent treatment.

With winter now upon us, it’s timely to explore a little bit about rain repellent for your windscreen, and how it can help make your drive safer in wet conditions.

Firstly, what is a windscreen rain repellent?

Put simply, it’s a treatment that you apply, usually as a spray, that helps repel rain from your windscreen.

Repellents, when used with standard windscreen wipers, can improve a driver’s visibility in the rain and deliver other benefits (like making glass easier to clean).

These treatments are not new, and you can find repellents in Auto Stores and online. But all repellents are not made equal. They have different ingredients (some are silicone-based, and others are more advanced, with nano-based formulas), with varying durability, so can last for different times, e.g. for 1-2 months and even up to six months, and cost. These treatments have to be applied by you, and require careful following of instructions to ensure application is done correctly.

So, how do you select the right windscreen repellent to use? It’s important to choose a product that offers proven, effective performance that lasts.

Meet O’Brien® Vis-Tech, our new rain repellent for your windscreen

O’Brien® Vis-Tech is a new, durable rain repellent treatment that stands out in the market, providing a superior invisible coating that ensures water droplets effortlessly

slide off your windscreen when driving over 65km/hr, enhancing your driving vision and safety.

Here’s how O’Brien® Vis-Tech can make your driving safer and more comfortable in the rain this winter:

1. Improved visibility on the road.

By effectively repelling water, the windscreen remains clearer during heavy rain, enhancing the driver’s ability to see the road ahead.

It does this by creating a hydrophobic (water-repellent) barrier that prevents water droplets from sticking to the glass, allowing them to quickly slide away as you drive, improving your windscreen vision. Even when not driving, the coating will make the water form into droplets (which is different to how it would appear on an untreated screen!).

2. Glare is reduced, especially when driving at night.

O’Brien® Vis-Tech can also reduce glare caused by oncoming headlights or other light sources reflecting off wet glass, providing a safer driving experience.

3. Rain-repellent-treated windscreens are easier to clean.

The hydrophobic barrier also helps keep the windscreen clean, as dirt, insects and other debris are less likely to stick to the treated glass. This also extends to frost or ice, which can easily come off when formed on the windscreen, meaning you don’t have to scrape it off like before!

• Proven effectiveness, across the globe

The Belron Group offers our Vis-Tech treatment as the standard windscreen care technology across many of our Belron companies.

• One treatment lasts for up to 12 months.

One treatment will last up to 12 months or 20,000 km, offering a reliable rain repellent that protects your windscreen for a long time across the year. With less reliance on wiper blades, O’Brien® Vis-Tech also increases the lifespan of your wiper blades.

• Convenient application by our expert technicians

If you’re booked to have your windscreen repaired or replaced, you can top it off with the O’Brien® Vis-Tech treatment. The treatment is done in the same booking, and it takes only a short while to have it applied; then you’re set to drive away straight after!

You can also book in to get O’Brien® Vis-Tech applied to your windscreen without a repair or replacement. At the same time, we’ll provide a complimentary wiper blade check to ensure your blades are in good working condition.

Right now there has never been a better time as you can get FREE O’Brien® Vis-Tech for your windscreen with any Bosch wiper blade purchase from any O’Brien® AutoGlass Service Centre between 6th May and 16th June.

Considering the impact of winter’s possible rains, prioritising clear visibility while driving is an important step toward better safety for you and your passengers.

By choosing O’Brien® Vis-Tech treatment, you can improve visibility when it rains, and therefor drive safer when conditions deteriorate.

Enhance your driving experience with O’Brien® Vis-Tech today

Don’t let the winter rain compromise your driving safety and comfort!

With O’Brien® Vis-Tech, you can gain the confidence to face a downpour with a clearer view. Simply ask for more information when you chat with our friendly O’Brien® team while booking your appointment, or from your expert technician at the time of your appointment. Call 1800 059 829 today or click here to find your local O’Brien® AutoGlass service centre and ask your local expert about O’Brien® Vis-Tech.

The post Introducing O’Brien® Vis-Tech: The windscreen rain repellent solution you’ll want this winter appeared first on O'Brien.

Not only does it look great, but it’s essential to keep your car’s windscreen clean, as dirt, stains, and smears could obstruct your vision whilst driving and distract your focus on the road ahead.

Our team of expert windscreen technicians at O'Brien^® have provided some of their tips on achieving a spotless windscreen.

Exterior

What to use:

• Alcohol-based glass cleaner
• At least two pieces of clean, lint-free microfibre cloths or towels
• Rubber gloves & eye protection (optional but recommended)

Expert Tips:

* Avoid using ammonia-based glass cleaners if your windscreen is tinted, as it can cause discolouration.
* Use reusable microfibre cloths or towels for a streak-free finish. Reusable microfibre cloths are long-lasting, able to be washed after use and better for the environment. Avoid using disposable cloth/towels to make your windscreen clean and as green as possible!
* If you see a chip in your windscreen, make sure to get the chip repaired before applying pressure to the area of the chip, as some chips will crack if you apply pressure to the area that is chipped.

Steps to follow:

1. Carefully lift both the wiper blades outwards and off the windscreen.
2. Spray the glass cleaner evenly to coat the first half of the windscreen thoroughly.
3. Wipe the windscreen with one of your clean microfibre cloths in straight vertical motions.
4. Take another clean microfibre cloth and wipe the same part of the glass in straight horizontal motions, ensuring that the glass is completely dry.
5. Moving to the second half of your windscreen, repeat steps 2-4 using either the clean sides of the same cloth or a fresh, new set.
6. Spray the glass cleaner on the wiper blades while they are still positioned off the windscreen.
7. With a towel, pinch both sides at the top of the wiper blades and wipe downwards; repeat until dry.
8. Lastly, use a dry microfibre cloth to buff the entirety of the windscreen in small circular motions.

Expert Tips:

* Avoid having your hands or fingers touch the glass while wiping. Doing so can leave smears on the windscreen.
* Don’t leave the overspray on the trim and edges of the windscreen unwiped, as this will become visible when it dries.
* Make sure to remove any dirt and grime accumulated in the wiper blades; if left, this may scratch your windscreen when you use the wipers.
* Be sure to remove any leaves and twigs at the foot of the windscreen as well.

Interior

Now that the outside of your windscreen is sparkling clean read on for more tips from our O'Brien^® technicians on cleaning the interior of your windscreen.

What to use:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Alcohol-based glass cleaner
• Three pieces of clean, lint-free microfibre cloths or towels
• Rubber gloves & eye protection (optional but recommended)

Steps to follow:

1. With a clean cloth, wipe the interior of your windscreen using circular motions, starting at its bottom and moving upwards.
2. Flip the cloth to the clean side and wipe the windscreen once more, using up and down motions.
3. Apply enough rubbing alcohol onto a fresh, clean cloth but not so much that it drips. Wipe the windscreen using circular motions. If you get alcohol on the dash, clean it off immeadiately with a paper towel to avoid staining.
4. Spray the glass cleaner directly on another clean cloth. Wipe the first half of the windscreen using vertical then horizontal movements.
5. Using the same cloth, repeat step 4 on the other half of the windscreen.

Expert Tips:

* Don’t spray the rubbing alcohol and glass cleaner directly onto the windscreen to avoid any overspray staining the dashboard.

Time to check the condition of your windscreen

Regularly cleaning your car’s windscreen gives you a chance to look closely to check its condition and make sure there are no small chips that you may not have noticed since the last clean.

If you notice a small chip, it’s important to get it fixed before it turns into a crack. Read here to find out more about how O'Brien^® can repair a chip in your windscreen.

With locations across Australia, O'Brien^® AutoGlass can help, so contact us online or call to speak to one of our friendly team. Our experienced technicians will assess and discuss your windscreen repair or replacement options and help you get back on the road quickly and safely.

The post How To Clean A Car Windscreen Like An Expert appeared first on O'Brien.