If it is an older car I suspect the problem is simply the thousands of tiny chips which build up over time. As an ex bus driver, this would cause me all sorts of problems at night with the glare of oncoming headlights lighting up these tiny chips resulting in it seeming like trying to peer through a thick fog with main beam on. Same problem with a low sun.

Not strictly ethical (or legal!), but try to arrange some proper 'damage' (which was 'done' by something falling off a truck you were following) to the screen and claim off your insurance for a new screen. You'll probably have some excess to pay, but I suspect rather cheaper than paying for a new screen yourself.

Edited by badbusdriver on 21/10/2021 at 07:55

<< If this was a new car, I know, I would not have this problem with the windscreen. Does the screen degrade with the age of the car. >>

You have said it is an 'old' car, presumably with its original screen. Years of using the wipers will have scoured the surface with fine road dust, so it has become microscopically frosted. People I have asked in the past have always said this frosting cannot be effectively polished off. So perhaps trying these apparently unsuccessful treatments is making things a bit worse ?

Maybe the only effective answer is a new screen.

I have an older car, which I get hand washed by the various car washes. The pearl off effect does n't last. It was overdue a car wash.

It has been raining heavily, but the visibility from my windscreen is not great, especially as it was nighttime. I have new wipers (Bosch). I have tried various cleaner, but my windscreen does not clean like a new car. It was hard to see the white lines on the road. I think there is a film of something on the windscreen.....

I have tried various windscreen cleaners e.g Windowlene, Mr Muscle, Turtle Wax glass cleaner, Fairy....

If this was a new car, I know, I would not have this problem with the windscreen

Does the windscreen degrade with the age of the car.

How can I fix it?

Apologies if this doesn't apply to you, but one thing a lot of people miss is properly cleaning the inside windscreen and making sure the ventilation / A/C settings are sufficient to keep it from steaming up. All matter of muck - including a mixture of dirt, dust, whatever we breathe out and moisture from the vents, can build up on the inside windows, especially the front windscreen.

I prefer using Autoglym's cleaners - after all, The Queen uses them! :-)

Not sure about the physical causes but I use this Duxback product, which is quite pricey but works a treat to keep the rain drops from splattering as they hit the windscreen.

There's a film on windscreen from some car washes who spray wax on windscreen as well as bodywork and hard to shift. There's a cheap glass cleaner Elbow Grease Power performance probably around £2. You need three goes but not when it is warm sunlight and you can visibly see the film removed. Worked for me, but but your issue could be something else. If you notice bodywork has strange line marks after a car wash noticeably in sunlight, then that is what they ares praying on the windows!

Edited by DreamDetail on 26/10/2021 at 09:13