keeping glass clean

[CincyDavid]

I absolutely hate dirty eye glass lenses and dirty automotive glass. The exception is dog nose prints on the back door glass, I can live with that. I have used Windex, Invisible Glass, newspaper, everything I can think of, but still get smudges on the outside, and film on the inside.

What is everyone's preferred cleaning method? I'm not a detailer by any stretch of the imagination, I just want to look through clean glass.

 

[barkingspider]

Try a rag damp w just water. Works for me

 

[pandus13]

It's not the solution/cleaner, is what is on the surface (film on the interior of the car's windshield) and what you wipe it with.

Probably start with clean towels/fiber clothes, washed good and double rinsed, no softener
I personally had trouble with some of the paper towels....
And some of the lint-free towels are not so lint free when used on glasses (i work in a dusty/oily/coolanty environment)

you may have to change your glasses every 2-3 years because of the micro scratches

Chris fixit on youtube has a couple videos on cleaning.

start with water and vinegar and a mr cleanit pad, then your favorite cleaner (preferably no ammonia because of windshield solar films, or protection film on glasses)

 

[Bgallagher]

I would stay away from windex or any ammonia based cleaners if you have any window tint. I have had luck with rubbing alcohol and water 50/50. Zep also makes a nice ammonia free glass cleaner I have used. Biggest key is to use multiple towels or microfibers. Cleaner, new towels, dry, new towels, buff, new towels.

 

[DBMaster]

I've just used the natural chamois that I use for drying the car. I use the smooth, clean side for the glass. It has worked very well on tinted windows as well as on the exterior glass. I haven't yet found a synthetic chamois that leaves the glass as streak-free as the natural skin.

 

[azjake]

For my eye glasses I use a non alcohol spray I got from my eye doctor and the cloth he provided with it. Once a week or so I soak the cloth in Dawn, rinse and air dry to keep it clean. I was told to stay away from the alcohol wipes as they can remove the UV coating on the glasses over time. Obviously you also want to stay away from any cloth that might scratch the lenses.

For car windows I use Invisible glass to liberally spray the window, work it in with the foam pad side of a squeegee, then use the rubber blade side to clean it off.

 

[CincyDavid]

I got Crizal lenses in my latest glasses and it's nearly impossible to clean them without getting smudges. The little blue cloth that the optometrist gave me is just about the only thing that works. makes me nuts looking through streaks.

I'll try some of your suggestions and see what works. I don't have tint film on my cars because the dog could be in the back seat of any of them and I was always nervous about his pawing at the glass and damaging the film.

The '14 Accord has tint film that the daughter had installed so she'd look cool. She doesn't transport the shaggy beast so we don't have to worry about damage to the film.

 

[Carbon]

For eyeglasses, I use dishwashing detergent, tap water, and fingers. Rinse under running tap. Follow up with rinsing spray of distilled water, shake, and do not wipe the water droplets off.

 

[CincyDavid]

The dishwashing soap method is what I have used for the past 40 years, but there's something about the dumb Crizal lenses that just doesn't work. I'm not going to opt for that "upgrade" next time.

 

[DBMaster]

My glasses have Crizal lenses. They were cheap. I ordered them through eyeglasslensdirect.com. They are just CR39, the least expensive plastic lenses. I haven't noticed any issues cleaning them. I use the same bar soap I use on my face, rinse them under the tap and dry them with an old "burp cloth" that I've had around since my daughter was a baby 25 years ago. They come out spotless. Maybe others' glasses have anti-reflective coating? I had that once and found that it seemed to just magnify smudges.

 

[John_K]

I have found a squeegee works wonders on windows. And you can reuse it pretty much forever.

John

 

[nthach]

For cars, I use Sprayway glass cleaner or Hope's Perfect Glass with commercial paper towels(GP Marathon or Scott). Windex doesn't have the solvency to break through plasticizer film or car muck. Microfiber works even better but be sure not to use ones washed with fabric softener.

On my glasses, I prefer dish soap and a silken microfiber. Costco's cleaner(it's AR Clean, uses a BASF-produced surfactant and EDTA as the chelating agent) works well in a pinch.

 

[CourierDriver]

I use a high-tech glass cleaner,,,, wait for it...wait................ Vinegar, white vinegar and newspapers to wipe it off,,,not a national bell ringer in here, but hey, it works.....only tough guys need to apply.

 

[OneEyeJack]

I'm late to this thread but I've just finished my search for a good ammonia free auto glass cleaner. I really like clean auto glass and I don't like a lot of fuss getting there.

I found what I was looking for, Sprayway. It comes in an aerosol can and goes on as a white foam. I use a microfiber cloth and there's no special technique required. Just wipe it off.

One problem area this stuff handles is the film on the inside of the windshield from what ever gasses off the dashboard material of a new car. It also handles dog slobber. That's important with 6 dogs. One wipe and it's gone.

Well, this is my 2 cents worth.

 

[SatinSilver]

Yes sir on the Sprayway, available at Home Depot for $2.29 or per can.

 

[The Critic]

Most glass cleaners work similarly - pick the one that you like. Glass cleaning is very dependent on the technique. The trick is to use 2 towels and moderate pressure. Use 1 towel for the initial cleaning and a second towel to follow up.

 

[gofast182]

Absolutely! More about the technique than the cleaner (although I am partial to Sprayway Glass Cleaner). Mastering glass cleaning is harder than learning to polish paint.

 

[BobFout]

So far the best cleaner for automotive glass I've found is rubbing alcohol.

 

[raytseng]

for the interior. agree with sprayway and mf towel.
be sure to minimize interior detailers that may fume or react with the plastics and vinyls to fume.
use a swiffer dry instead or just water and mild soap to keep things clean.


outside if window is not clean, use a claybar or mr. clean magic eraser sponge with ipa. then clean with sprayway. the seal with a sealant like aquapel or other product like rainx and stuff wont stick as much.