Removing the factory glass sunroof tint?
06-05-07, 12:29 PM
#27
Doug's warning about TSP got me curious, I knew it was a strong alkaline detergent, but I had some doubts about it eating glass, at least with relatively short exposures used for cleaning purposes. (However it is not a good idea to store TSP solutions or other alkaline solutions in glass containers, which will etch over time).
So I did the following experiment:
I found my box of TSP and made a 2% solution of TSP (about 2 tablespoons in a cup of hot water):
I selected for the test the rear quarter window on one of my parts cars. It was really dirty from sitting for a few years:
I used an abrasive plastic scrub pad to aggressively scrub the glass with the warm TSP solution for about two full minutes. Then I allowed the TSP solution to dry onto the glass surface, which took about 15 minutes:
Then I hosed off the dried TSP solution and dried the widow with a towel. There was no evidence at all of any etching or damage:
Next I got some enamel spray paint and painted a spot on the window and let it dry for about 30 minutes:
Then I got some coarse steel and proceeded to scrub the paint off, which was easy. Then I deliberately scrubbed hard with the steel wool to see if I could cause any damage to the glass. It wasn't happening, there was no scratching:
The results of all this abuse was an extremely clean and polished window, with no evidence at all of damage by the TSP or steel wool. I conclude that used in moderation, these methods are effective ways to get glass really clean.
They might even take that mirroring off the glass sun roof, if the dish detergent isn't aggressive enough. Both of my glass sun roofs are in very good shape, so unfortunately I can't do that experiment.
So I did the following experiment:
I found my box of TSP and made a 2% solution of TSP (about 2 tablespoons in a cup of hot water):
I selected for the test the rear quarter window on one of my parts cars. It was really dirty from sitting for a few years:
I used an abrasive plastic scrub pad to aggressively scrub the glass with the warm TSP solution for about two full minutes. Then I allowed the TSP solution to dry onto the glass surface, which took about 15 minutes:
Then I hosed off the dried TSP solution and dried the widow with a towel. There was no evidence at all of any etching or damage:
Next I got some enamel spray paint and painted a spot on the window and let it dry for about 30 minutes:
Then I got some coarse steel and proceeded to scrub the paint off, which was easy. Then I deliberately scrubbed hard with the steel wool to see if I could cause any damage to the glass. It wasn't happening, there was no scratching:
The results of all this abuse was an extremely clean and polished window, with no evidence at all of damage by the TSP or steel wool. I conclude that used in moderation, these methods are effective ways to get glass really clean.
They might even take that mirroring off the glass sun roof, if the dish detergent isn't aggressive enough. Both of my glass sun roofs are in very good shape, so unfortunately I can't do that experiment.
Last edited by ray green; 06-05-07 at 12:37 PM.
