# any way to fix a scratched windshield?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-fix-a-scratched-windshield/568313>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 20, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-fix-a-scratched-windshield/568313 "2011-01-20T12:02:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-fix-a-scratched-windshield/568313/1 "2011-01-20T12:02:49Z")

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Well, crap. I came out of the house this morning to find a frost-covered car, so I grabbed a can to clear the windshield. Now my ignorant ass has a scratched windshield. Is there any way to buff out the scratches?

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**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-fix-a-scratched-windshield/568313/2 "2011-01-20T13:22:28Z")

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Yes, for smallish scratches (ime) [Here ya go](http://www.ehow.com/how_4421708_repair-windshield-scratch.html) I have no idea of name-brands or what exactly to use, but I do think there are plenty of brands of scratch-repair kits. There is a limit as to effectiveness due to depth and area covered by the scratches (ymmv etc). You may want to get a pro to do it so things aren’t worse after ‘repair’. Messing up means new windshield at times. There are a number of videos found through Googling to show what (and how) to do things, fwiw. [Here’s a link](http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&q=windshield+glass+repair&biw=918&bih=566&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw#q=windshield+scratch+repair&hl=en&biw=918&bih=566&prmd=ivns&source=lnms&tbs=vid:1&ei=sjQ4TaG1GIXGlQeT4dXUBg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQ_AUoAg&fp=b3d77fe297812951) to make that easier.

Good luck. And try to use something softer than glass to scrape your windshield, ya know?! I’ve been there and done that myself - but just the once. Like 30+ years ago on my beloved first vehicle :smack: Ironically, I am sitting here atm watching an ice-storm coat my car with hard ice/sleet/freezing rain and I gotta go to Oklahoma City shortly. Ain’t gonna scratch _my_ windshield today, LOL!

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**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-fix-a-scratched-windshield/568313/3 "2011-01-20T14:16:23Z")

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I’ve used a kit from this company before with good results.

[Glass Repair Kit](http://www.pjtool.com/glasspolishingkitformediumscratches-2.aspx)

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**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-fix-a-scratched-windshield/568313/4 "2011-01-20T15:57:11Z")

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Thanks!  
I have learned a valuable and humiliating lesson today…