Film on my windows

[HisFrogness]

It looks like the film that might build up in a smokers car. The problem is it's on the outside. Soap and water doesn't take it off, neither does massive amounts of windex. These things just swirl it around. Has anyone had anything like this before? I mean, what could it possibly be and why wouldn't Windex take it off?

[theotherredline]

sounds to me like someone put something on your windows, like an oil substance. The only thing you can do is keep on washing it with soap and water.

[00 scrub]

you could try claybar on your windows, or waxing them with a buffer. Have you tried a little bit of vinegar on your windows? That might work.

[bme107]

It is safe to use a clay bar on your windows. When you are done you will have to wash them again to remove the haze from the quick detailer, but it should remove caked on dirt.

Some companies make glass polish, a product that is applied to the windows in the same fashion as you would use to wax the rest of the car.
http://www.griotsgarage.com/images/products/lg/11063_LG.jpg
at http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L1=L1_1000&L2=L2_1001&SKU=11063

or
http://www.goodspeedmotoring.com/images/c27q.jpg
at http://www.goodspeedmotoring.com/subcat.php?get_category=1&get_subcategory=Glass%20Care

[theotherredline]

Well, before you polish the glass wash with soap and water, polishing a dirty window isnt that smart...I would try clay afterwards, but I doubt the clay will remove that kind of debris b/c of the chemical makeup of it. Polish should do the trick in the end

[HisFrogness]

Wow, thanks for all the good advice guys! :)

I might have found out what it was. I bought the car used and dealerships often use wax crayon-like utensils to write on the windshields. My friend found a tiny glob of wax at the edge of the windshield. That would probably be enough to cause the film if I ran my towel over it when I was cleaning. Until I clean it again that's my best guess.