would windex harm the paint on my xb.the reason i ask i was cleaning my windows today and i saw a smug on my drivers side door and i cleaned it with the same rag i was using to wash my windows.it worked great and was very shiny after.so if i use windex on all smuges i get on my car would the windex harm the paint?? :? :?

 

I don't think it will harm anything seriously, it may leave some swirl marks/tiny scratches on the surface of the paint.

I would suggest using only wax on the paint, and using windex on the windows and mirrors...

 

It won't hurt anything if you wipe if off quickly. If you leave it on for a longer amount of time, it will leave spots. It happend to me on one of my cars. But, if the car is waxed regularly it shouldn't be a problem.

 

To remove any paw prints off your ride, use the propper stuff .... spray on detailer. Mist it on, and wipe it off, it wont hurt your wax job, where as Windex might. USE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB!

 

You won't see any problem from Windex in the short term. But be warned: The active ingredient of Windex is ammonia. Ammonia is highly caustic. Even the best modern paints don't like caustic. In time, with repeated uses, ammonia can only shorten the clearcoat's lifespan.

Citrus extract cleaners are even more active against polyurethane clearcoat. As the fellow right above me advises- use the right product for the job or risk the possible consequences of $$$ failure.

BTW; Ammonia and other caustics like lye are excellent grease solvents. They dissolve oily or greasey matter by converting it into (get this!) -soap-.

In fact, your great great greats made there own soap by boiling water run through wood ashes (lye) with pig and other animal lard. This makes a practical equivalent of Ivory Soap.

X Boxer

 

Windex would strip off the wax, too, wouldn't it?

 

Yes, it would remove wax pretty well- due to its detergent ingredients perhaps moreso than the "ammonia d" as Windex calls it.