Advice on cleaning automotive glass?

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The Critic

The Critic

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OK, I am REALLY frustrated. This is an ongoing problem that has been occuring for years.

I have tried using water, washer fluid, car wash soap, and ZEP window cleaner concentrate, all with the same results-- streaks and water "marks" (those perforated looking dotted water lines).

I have tried using thick, cloth baby diapers and microfiber rags. Regardless of which cleaner/rag combo I use, I always get nasty looking windows. I just leave behind a ton of streaks and/or water marks. It seems like I don't get the window 100% dry on the first pass, and by the time I come back with a dry rag for the second pass, any liquid I originally left on the glass from the first pass dries up and leaves those marks. It seems like I need a kind of glass cleaner that just evaporates instantly?

Can anyone please help me with some tips or advice on how to get sparkly clean windows? I'm tired of watching the guys at the car wash get sparkly clean windows with minimal effort and me not having the same success.

Thanks.
 
Am I right in thinking that newsprint gets class really clean and streak-free?

I swear I've read that in a few places...windex and newspaper to get glass streak-free......
 
I suggest a waffle weave microfibre.

microfiber008%20007.jpg



They work much better at cleaning glass.
 
I use Meguiar's NXT glass cleaner. Works even better than Invisible Glass. Makes windows look like new.
Microfiber must be clean and not washed with fabric softeners to minimize streaking.
HTH
 
I get good results using newspaper and Windex for the first pass and then Invisible Glass with newsprint for the second pass.
 
My wife buys these crazy expensive microfiber cloths made by a company called Norwex (fancy "Norwegian" microfiber). They make a window cleaning microfiber cloth that really does wonders. It truly is amazing. To demonstrate, they smear butter on your window and then wipe it off with just a spray of water and wipe it right off with no streaks.

I'm not really into all this pyramid MLM stuff that my wife buys because her friends are trying to make a few bucks, but this product is the real thing.

- Mike.. PM me your mailing address and I'll send you a lightly used one that I can spare. I have a few in the garage.
 
Sounds like you have nasty water and high pollen and smog. I use black print newspapers and ammoinia for pass #1 and if its "show car clean" #2 pass I use ~ 30/80% 2-propanol/Distilled water mix to finish, using a low lint laboratory kimwipe for the final wipe.
 
Norwex is excellent. You can buy E-Cloth for half the price - same technology. Do not use ammonia on any plastic, and that includes tint film if you have it on your windows.
 
Use Bo Nami. Works like a charm. Either that or [censored] and Span. I've found products like Windex to be worthless if there's a lot of grease and road grime on windows. Bo Nami cuts right through it. Then follow up with a quickly evaporating aerosol glass cleaner like Magic Glass.
 
Do you have tinted windows? If so, be careful about what you use. Don't use anything with ammonia.

Invisible Glass is tint-safe. I use regular paper towel for pass one and then use a clean microfiber to buff for pass 2.

The detail shop that did my tint recommended blue surgical cloth. I just haven't sought it out yet.
 
I like the Sprayway glass cleaner, ammonia free and newspaper to wipe off.
It sounds weird, but it works very well!
the Sprayway I get at home depot, OSH, Lowe's..

A road rally guy I knew said he uses colgate toothpaste (not the gel) and a toothbrush and he scrubs his windshield with it and it not only shines, it's easier to clean afterwards!
I can't see wasting good toothpaste on a windshield, but I have used Nu-Finish polish on my windshield, and had excellent results as well.
the road grime get caked up pretty good and you just can't tell
 
My windshield worked perfectly until I waxed the hood of the car last month. Now its streaks and the wiper just dont do get. You get the wax dust on the WS and the wiper blades and they will never be the same. Ammonia takes wax off. Maybe floor stripper too! Mr. Clean?
 
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I use the "Absorber" synthetic chamois and pull it over the glass to get the water off. After rinsing off the the car soap off. It still leaves very tiny water droplets but they dry up in seconds and don't leave anything behind.

I've used MFs and other cloths, but they just don't pull the water off like the Absorber. It almost like a squeegee but more gentle on the paint and glass.

Turtlewax makes something similar which I found for $5 at Biglots.
 
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Originally Posted By: dparm
I suggest a waffle weave microfibre.

They work much better at cleaning glass.

X2, they are all I use when drying my vehicles
thumbsup2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: EricF
I like the Sprayway glass cleaner, ammonia free and newspaper to wipe off.
It sounds weird, but it works very well!
the Sprayway I get at home depot, OSH, Lowe's..

I just found a can of this in my garage last night and it seemed to work better than most other cleaners I've tried, but it still isn't perfect. Either my expectations are too high or there's something wrong with my technique.

Originally Posted By: Jim 5
- Mike.. PM me your mailing address and I'll send you a lightly used one that I can spare. I have a few in the garage.

Thanks.

Originally Posted By: dparm
I suggest a waffle weave microfibre.

They work much better at cleaning glass.

I have one of these, I'll have to try it.
 
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