I Can See Clearly Now
That old song was easy to sing and made sense.
Two things that upset most outdoor sports are cloudy, glazy, dirty windscreens and eyewear. Whether you are trying to birdwatch through binos, 4 WD in a wheeler, tie a knot when fishing, or drive home into the sunset, the glary windscreens and eyewear can be annoying and dangerous.
Usually, when mud, crud, and mess coat our line of sight, we use a shirt, some spit, or a rinse of water to help. Abrasive cloth, dirty liquids, and the wrong cleaners will just make things worse.
Let’s start with your windscreens. Use a cleaner made from 50% water and isopropyl alcohol. White vinegar will also work but it has an odor. Ammonia based cleaners break down over time and form a film. Hotter water works better. Getting into the interior cloudy windscreens require you to be double jointed. It is hard to get the corners and evenly clean the surface. Try an articulated wand that angles and can reach every nook. The final clean should use a microfiber cloth or towel. I have also used old dryer sheets for this final shing wipe. Avoid over spraying onto the dash or cloth surfaces. This may cause stains.
Interior windshields get a glary film coating for many reasons. This may not be your fault. The upholstery and plastic dash give off VOC’s which form vapors when hot. These will accumulate on the clear surfaces. Smoking and the wrong glass cleaners also leave a film. Old cabin air filters should be changed every 12-15,000 miles. This is also when you should change the wipers.
For your fishing glasses, optics, and goggles, use soapy hot water to clean. Now come back with the water/alcohol mix. You can make your own and keep handy in a small spray bottle. The alcohol will not freeze. Once the glasses are clean, finish with a proper eyewear cleaning cloth. These are usually silk or abrasion free. A used drier sheet also works. Eventually, you will need to launder these clothes or towels.
Once the windscreens and optics are clean, you can add a layer of added protection. As a guide, my hands were usually on the oars or fishing net. In the rain or splashing situations, drops of water would end up on my glasses. I used a touch of RAINEX to add a coating of water repelling liquid. Now the water simply fell off and caused no blur or coating. You can do the same with windscreens.
Seeing is believing!
Montana Grant
