How do you clean your windshield?

"nermal" (nermal) 05/29/2015 at 09:34 • Filed to: splat, wiping, can't see shit

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There’s bug guts and bird poo everywhere. What’s the best way to eradicate the visual impurities? The inside gets dusty too, any pro-tips for keeping that side clear?

LongbowMkII > nermal 05/29/2015 at 09:42

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gas station squeegee

every year or so I use windex on the inside and am always amazed at the improvement and vow to do it more often. ...then next year rolls around.

Sejji > nermal 05/29/2015 at 09:44

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For the inside, I’ve had the best luck with invisible glass (it’s a foam like spray), and a microfiber towel. Really good about not streaking.

For the outside, I need suggestions too! I don’t think my sponges are abrasive enough to remove the bug splats. I was thinking about taking a kitchen sponge to the outside glass...

spanfucker retire bitch > nermal 05/29/2015 at 09:44

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Invisible glass and a microfiber cloth are my go-to when the wiper fluid is no longer cutting the trick.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > nermal 05/29/2015 at 09:47

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Another vote for Invisible Glass and Microfiber. Best combo I've ever used to clean windows. If you don't have a microfiber handy, newspaper works too (yes, really).

nermal > Sejji 05/29/2015 at 09:48

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I’ve tried using the invisible glass and microfiber towel on the inside, the only problem is that it seems to leave a film. This doesn’t cause a problem during the day, but at night the headlights from opposing traffic cause a horrible glare.

nermal > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 05/29/2015 at 09:53

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On the inside too? How do you make sure it doesn’t cause glare at night?

jmalek > nermal 05/29/2015 at 09:55

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For the exterior, I get the bugs off with a gas station squeegee or bug and tar remover, then clean the windshield with Rain-x glass cleaner.

For the interior, I also vote for Invisible Glass. To cut down on the glare, wipe in a single direction while you are cleaning to minimize streaks, and sometimes I also go back over it with a clean rag to get any residue off.

Wacko > nermal 05/29/2015 at 09:56

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for the outside, I use my pressure washer when I clean the car. Then use the Abrasive side of my sponge to get the rest.

newsmctado > nermal 05/29/2015 at 09:57

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I have a similar question for my rear window. I live in Michigan and, therefore, have to use the rear defroster pretty much every day between Oct and March. I now have slightly foggy looking glass on the interior of the rear window in the space between where the defroster wires are embedded. Windex and glass cleaner has not helped. Suggestions?

Sejji > nermal 05/29/2015 at 10:00

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Weird! I’ve had really good luck with it. I don’t even see it driving into sunlight in the morning. To be more specific, I spray the invisible glass on the window, then wipe it all down with a microfiber. Then I take a second clean microfiber towel and rewipe it after everything is totally dry. Maybe that is getting anything leftover?

misfitmascots > nermal 05/29/2015 at 10:01

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For the outside, I use a combination of invisible glass and windex then squeegee it off, for the inside, invisible glass and newspaper.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > nermal 05/29/2015 at 10:20

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NoneOfYourBiz > nermal 05/29/2015 at 10:21

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Keep a bunch of these in a Zip-Loc bag, a bottle of this , and a bottle of this in the trunk of your car. The quick detailer is for body work, AutoGlym’s Fast Glass for (duh) the windshield.

Fold the microfiber towels twice, never use a side for more than one wipe. (so, with two folds, you get “eight sides”). Don’t use cheap microfiber; those are 70/30 polyester/polyamide, the latter being the expensive, fluffy part that traps contaminants and prevents scratching.

Cheap, Walmart microfiber skimps out on the polyamide with maybe 10-15%. Reserve that for “wheel well” or door jam duty - it’s NOT for glass or paint.

For the inside of the glass, spray the FastGlass on a clean microfiber and wipe, then polish with the dry side.

random001 > nermal 05/29/2015 at 10:25

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That’s not the invisible glass. That’s a film, likely an outgassing product or the result of using an interior cleaner or conditioner that is evaporating onto the windshield. Basically, it’s from the dash, maybe from the HVAC system.

You need to get rid of the film first, which is completely and utterly counterintuitive. This is a multistep process that I’ve had to do many times, and works for a while to permanently, depending on the source. It sucks, it’s a pain, you will miss spots and curse them every time you see them and likely forget they are there the next time you want to do this. If you’re lucky, do it once, do it right, and keep up with the invisible glass and you’ll be ok.

You can do this one of two ways. Both ways, you NEED a good, lint free microfiber towel. I know they look gimmicky, but those triangle shaped as seen on tv microfiber windshield cleaners with the handle are great for this process. You can do it with water, or with a 10:1 water and white vinegar solution. Be careful with that. Spray either one lightly on the microfiber, and scrub like you are removing baked on grease from a pan. Do this 2-3 times. Then get a new cloth, and repeat. Like I said, it sucks. But in the end, you’ll have a nice clean windshield and you can hit it with Stoner’s regularly to keep it clean.

This is literally the worst part of detailing a car, but so worth it.

nermal > Sejji 05/29/2015 at 10:25

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That’s probably it. I’m only single wiping. Gotta try double wiping with the second clean towel.

random001 > Sejji 05/29/2015 at 10:26

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Don’t spray it onto the windshield. It’ll fall down onto your dash, mix with whatever you use on the dash, and be just awful. Spray onto the cloth, then wipe, muy better!

Also, the part about following up with a clean cloth is perfect.

jmedarts > nermal 05/29/2015 at 10:28

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Clean it with Cinch - then clean it with Invis Glass, and don;t use the same towel between the two. Keep wiping the invis glass until it’s 100% gone from the window, doing it in your garage and looking at the reflection of your overhead light at an oblique angle will show you the streaks appearing until you’ve actually wiped enough. Invisible glass is great for not leaving a film, but in my experience it doesnt actually dissolve much except the films left by other cleaners. Works on the inside as well.

nermal > random001 05/29/2015 at 10:29

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I usually use the Armor-All wipes on the dash. So you’re saying that doing that, then letting the car bake in the sun is what causes the film on the inside of the windshield that causes all of the glare at night?

Based on that, perhaps I should be using something else on the dash then. Any suggestions there?

random001 > nermal 05/29/2015 at 10:29

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My favorite bug and tar remover is Griot’s Garage Bug and Smudge remover. I use this everywhere on the car to get crap off. It’s really the best I’ve ever used.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/bug+sm…

If something is really crammed on there, you can use a razor blade to scrape anything off the glass. It won’t scratch. Then invisible glass a couple times, then rain-x a couple times.s really crammed on there, you can use a razor blade to scrape anything off the glass. It won’t scratch.

If you’re really ambitious, you can actually wax your windshield to help next time.

NoneOfYourBiz > Sejji 05/29/2015 at 10:37

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For the love of gawd don’t use sponges on your car... at all, ever. They don’t lift and trap dirt; you just end up grinding contaminants into the surface you’re trying to clean.

See my previous reply with product suggestions.

Sejji > nermal 05/29/2015 at 10:41

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Some of this is really funny to read, because at the OEM’s we agonize over gloss characteristics of the dash, then the cars make it to the dealership and get armor all wiped over the whole thing which shines it up like crazy before the customer even gets it.

Also, we do testing to make sure that interactions between the various VOC’s don’t deposit on the windshield. So the windshield fogging may be better or worse depending on what type of car you have.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > nermal 05/29/2015 at 10:42

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I just keep a microfibre cloth inside the car and wipe it regularly. I have to get the suction cup marks off from my sat nav pretty regularly anyway.

Sejji > NoneOfYourBiz 05/29/2015 at 10:45

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Of course not on the paint, but you can’t sponge the windshield? I thought you could scrub to your hearts content? I’ll have to check out the products you mentioned.

NoneOfYourBiz > StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 05/29/2015 at 10:45

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Larry Kosilla of AmmoNYC knows his stuff.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > nermal 05/29/2015 at 10:52

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Definitely on the inside, no glare at all. Even with tinted windows.

NoneOfYourBiz > Sejji 05/29/2015 at 10:59

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The issue with sponges is they don’t move the contaminants away from the surface contacting the windshield or paint; they lock it right at the surface of the sponge which can act as an abrasive.

This is pollen, viewed under a microscope:

You won’t notice the effect immediately but over time you will make your windshield hazy with micro-abrasions.

bryan40oop > nermal 05/29/2015 at 11:24

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random001 > nermal 05/29/2015 at 11:57

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I’ve tried to respond about 12 times, to no avail. Once more?

Yes, this is the source of your issue. Armor-all is notorious for this. Never shall it be used by you again.

For the interior, I usually hit it regularly with Griot’s Garage Interior cleaner. You can get this at Advance Auto parts pretty much anywhere, or from their site. I don’t use a lot of protectant or conditioner, but they have a Vinyl and Rubber Dressing that is pretty good for that. 1-2 times a year for me on that stuff, but I use the cleaner a lot. It’s very safe, and cleans great. If you have leather, they have either the leather care, or the 3 in 1 leather product. I have not use the 3 in 1 yet, but I plan to when I’m out of my leather care.

random001 > nermal 05/29/2015 at 12:05

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Apparently I’m not allowed to post anything with links in it anymore. Sorry about that. If you need any other detailing tips, I’m a tad obsessive. I like the Griot’s products for a lot of reasons. I’ve used better stuff in almost all situations, but to get better you are spending 2-3x more money, and it’s usually not worth it to me.

I’m not a big fan of their glass cleaner, I’d stick with Stoner’s Invisible glass. For wax, Griot’s Best of show is very nice, but it’s also a PITA. The process to make it right is just too much. I’ve switched to using something called Race Glaze (amazon.com) and I really like the results of a few coats. Incredible value in that. For inbetween waxes, after a wash, hit the car with Griot’s Speed Shine. Also use speed shine if you clay bar, or you need to get some old dried wax off anything.

On top of everything I've said, the cloths are going to make or break the whole end result. GET GOOD QUALITY CLOTHS.

deekster_caddy > nermal 05/29/2015 at 12:09

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I find that the inside of the windows gets dirtier much faster than I think. Outside - any glass cleaner then Rain-X. Bird poo washes off so easy.

Also - are you in Florida by any chance? Love-bug mating season? Been there, it really really sucks. I waxed the front of my van and didn’t buff it off until after I drove through the bugs. Disgusting. Next time I’m bringing an ice scraper for that crap.

nermal > deekster_caddy 05/29/2015 at 12:44

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Yep, according to others the problem with the interior is Armor-All on the dash, combined with sitting in the sun.

I’m in the Northeast, and do frequent road trips. Bugs and pollen everywhere.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > nermal 05/29/2015 at 13:22

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Fire

deekster_caddy > nermal 05/29/2015 at 15:27

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Northeast, phew that’s just regular bugs. I just GIS’d the thing I was talking about in Florida... so gross I think I’ll make my own post about it.