Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD Mirror Glass

Some Troubles You May Encounter with Your Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD Mirror Glass

Driving a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD with the truck bed fully loaded prevents you from looking at the rear with the rearview mirror. This means you will have to rely wholly on the two side mirrors when viewing the rear. But the side mirrors can't always be reliable especially when you've just driven through a rainy afternoon the other day and you haven't had time to wipe it dry. This can cause blind spots that may result in an accident. Take a look at some other reasons that bring about some inconveniences with your Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD mirror glass.

Hard water spots

Hard water contains mineral salts such as calcium, magnesium ions, and iron. You could be washing your car with hard water every time but not notice it. And sometimes, when the mirror glasses are not thoroughly wiped and dried, chances are, the minerals will harden and can impede your vision when you use the mirrors. This can also be caused when it rains, since your side mirrors are not at all exempted from getting wet. Although rainwater is naturally soft, as it travels from the clouds, it may collect mineral salts that will eventually make it hard. And when it lands on your mirror glass and not wipe it off, you will eventually see white spots when you look through them. If left untreated, these hard water spots will create stains that will be impossible to remove.

Scratches

As the mirrors are constantly exposed to external weather and all kinds of debris, they are very prone to scratches. And although the mirrors are made of glass, these can cause scratches on the surface of the mirror glasses that can probably cause distractions to your driving.

Breaks and cracks

The Silverado's glass mirrors are usually made of glass and are breakable under pressure. There are, however, some aftermarket and OE replacement glass mirrors that are made of acrylic, which is a kind of heavy duty plastic. These may be a bit tougher when it comes to the issue on breaking, but are not that safe when it comes to cracks and scratches.

The capability to see around the vehicle while driving is crucial for any driver, not just to the front, but also to the direction of the rear and the sides. This is what your Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD mirror glass is for. Both the right and the left side mirrors play a vital role in helping you keep away from scratches on the sides and the rear when turning and backing. That's why it is very important to have the mirror glasses clear of any spots or damages. Here are a few tips to keep them in perfect condition.

• Remove the streaks when cleaning.
When you use regular cleaning agents for washing the side mirrors, you will notice some streaks after wiping the mirror glass dry with a cloth. To clear the mirror glass from streaks, you can wipe a clean cloth dampened with water and vinegar solution in a circular motion all over the surface. Afterwards, you can polish it up with a crumpled newspaper. If there are any stubborn streaks, just repeat the procedure. You may also add a drop of dish soap to the vinegar solution so you can turn it into a heavy-duty cleaner.
• Remove hard water stains and spots.
When mineral salts from hard water build stains and spots on the surface of your Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD mirror glass, you can remove them by simply using acidic cleaners. You don't need to buy any special cleaning products, because you can actually use fresh cut lemon juice or pure white vinegar, since they are naturally acidic. Another product you can use is the DP High Performance Glass Restorer. You won't need any fancy equipment, just use a couple of microfiber towels and do the cleaning by hand.
• Remove the scratches.
Now, when you have scratches on the mirror glasses, you can buff them out yourself and restore the smooth surface they once had. For this, you only need to apply classic, non-whitening toothpaste on the scratches. After allowing the toothpaste to dry for three to five minutes, you can use a buffer to buff the scratches out, or you can simply remove the excess toothpaste using a sharp razor blade. If you use a buffer, you may need to repeat the process up to two more times. If you use a razor blade, you must rinse the excess toothpaste off the mirror glass and dry it off with lint free cloth.