Cleaning Car Glass

[aidank]

I need to give the windshield and indeed all the glass in my car a proper clean to remove all the smears and streaks.

what product and materials would be best. and I guess I should clean inside and outside

Long time ago I went to a SH car dealer looking at a car and glass was spotless and I think he said warm water and newspaper........

 

[JOEPRO]

I use glass wipes followed by a clean dry microfibre cloth to buff the glass after. (Or 2x microfibres and spray glass cleaner)

 

[MysterG]

Vinegar and news paper is traditionally the best glass cleaner.
Might make the inside smell like a chip shop though

 

[Beanwood]

Autoglym glass cleaner - expensive but works really well.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

+1 for autoglym...I usually clean as best I can...then use autoglym and it takes a load more muck off!

 

[tom2207]

good old foam cleaner seems to work quite well ,,,

 

[DennisCA]

Autoglym glass cleaner - expensive but works really well.

Is it this one?

 

[Morris]

I find that a quick scuzz over with an old brick compliments the patina perfectly.

 

[Beanwood]

Is it this one?

View attachment 517218

Oops - sorry my mistake - it's POLISH not Cleaner you need for the best results.
Autoglym polish

 

[DennisCA]

OK I got some glass polish stuff too, it really makes the glass clean, cheap brand. But it's difficult to get the residue entirely gone.

 

[voipio]

For the outside, car shampoo and a decent sponge, plus a bit of elbow grease, to get the worst off first. Whilst the windows are still wet, skim the glass with a razor blade, or fresh Stanley knife blade, to get the persistent little bits off. It can be surprising how smooth the the glass feels after doing that, plus the wipers will thank you for it. For anything left after that, use one of the above mentioned products.

For interior window surfaces, use some isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle (it doesn't need much), and a nice clean cloth. I've tried using Rain-X anti mist on the inside, and wasn't impressed.

 

[steveo3002]

soapy warm warm water on a cloth , then dry with a clean one , repeat with another clean cloth

then onto the glass cleaner of choice - autglym fast glass is pretty decent and easily avail , clean cloths or blue paper roll is the way forward , dont try using a dirty rag

 

[MetalMonkey]

Soapy water to get the grime and grease off and finish with nilco nilglass

 

[Turbo]

There are folk who use a clay bar on their auto glass.

 

[BrokenBiker]

There are folk who use a clay bar on their auto glass.

I use a clay bar on the glass...not all the time but if normal cleaner won't do it, a good go with a clay bar...also helps after people have washed their car with cheap wash and wax, gets that residue off that smears when it rains...

Once I've used the clay bar, I use a generic household glass cleaner then spray with rainx or similar, seems to keep it cleaner for longer (on the outside)...the inside usually just gets glass cleaner

 

[Onthespotwelding]

Tesco glass cleaner, it works and its cheap at 85p.

A chap i know who valets cars uses chrome glass cleaner at £9.99 a pop.

he was impressed at how the tesco one.

 

[rtcosic]

Another vote for the annual clay bar, or more often if I've been forced to visit a major metropolitan area, or SWMBO parked near a tree again!
Don't forget to clean the wiper blades as well.

 

[Ross365]

Vinegar and news paper is traditionally the best glass cleaner.
Might make the inside smell like a chip shop though

A dilute citric acid solution (much discussed on the forum for dealing with rust) should offer the same results as vinegar (acetic acid), minus the smell. Adding ~5% IPA, (as a wetting agent) might well be worth trying. Another vote for Autoglym too.

I have two cars which are both ~25 years old and I've never thought of claying the windscreens; that could be an interesting thing to try!

Especially for those of us who wear specs, peering through 4 refracting surfaces on a murky night can be hard if all the surfaces aren't reasonably clean.

 

[Erie Fred]

My F-150....is in the parking lot presently.
It is raining...all day.
Windshield cleaned.....

Now the inside....I have a little window cleaner tool with a swivel and triangular
shaped pad, works well.

 

[arther dailey]

cut a potato in half and try that , dad suggested to me as a nipper and it worked , just wash them with the truck these days..about twice a year.