Cleaning Windows

[Dorjak]

I seem to have a heck of a time trying to get my car windows clean.
I have tried Windex and all sorts of cleaners. Vinegar and water.
Even tried plain water and chamois.
They all leave streaks and patches.

Anyone know of a good product or home remedy??

My car looks brilliant after washing except for the windows.

[mander]

My first question would be, are you cleaning the windows while the car is in the sun? The heat from the sun dries most cleaners before you can get them wiped off. Coller is best when cleaning windows. A product that does very well with windows as well as other household cleaning can be found here (http://www.tkoorange.com/). If you need to know of someone to buy direct from, send me a PM and I will tell you where to get it.

[Yogi]

Cleaning car windows is a pain and can be time consuming.

As mander said, do it in the shade, not in direct sunlight. I generally use Windex, but what I do is do all the windows once, inside and out. I then wait about 15-20 minutes and do it all over again. I find I get great results this way.

[Devil Dog]

Try this Link...


http://www.diynet.com/diy/ab_safety/article/0,2021,DIY_13691_2270901,00.html

[Dorjak]

I wash the car in the driveway and then put it in the garage
to finish wiping it down. I try to wash it on cloudy days.

I'll try Yogi's suggestion of using Windex twice.

[funnyman82]

I use the Eagle one window cleaner which i get at canadian tire. It is about 5.99 a bottle and it is really good...just do it in the shade, spray your windows and then just use a paper towel and clean it off....it looks like a mirror on my tinted windows....give it a try..

[Dr.Dan]

Maybe your windows were once cleaned with a product that contains silicone... which will look streaky until it's all removed... which can take a long time :(

If that's not the case, and you're doing it on cool glass, then you're not getting them fully clean.
Try as Yogi said and do them a second and maybe even a third time.
Just be sure you're not using the same dirty paper towel over and over ;)

[Mviper]

I do detailing in my job. We use a glass cleaner. Apply the glass cleaner to one clean towel until the towel is wet. do one window at a time. Use a clean towel to dry off the window then proceed to do the inside. Use only one dry towel to dry off the window for each window. ( If there are smokers & depending on how dirty they are you may need more glass cleaner & more towels.)

We use as many as 2 wet towels & 8 dry off towels.

[Neal]

Off gassing plastic in todays cars make keeping the windows clean a real pain.

[sybil]

Anything left on the window as a residue will streak at some point. I use a cheap, mix yourself window cleaner (learned from picture framing where the glass has to be spotless and neutral pH). Fill a spray bottle with distilled water (not spring water), add a couple of drops of a mild, preferably colourless dish detergent (like Dawn), and a bit of denatured or methyl alcohol (an ounce? - not sure, don't measure - to cut grease and aid in drying. That's it - best to use a microfiber cloth to polish. If you've got a really tough job, you can add a bit of rottenstone to the mix.

[TedN]

I use a Blue Wonder Cloth (http://www.bluewondercloth.com/index.html) at home on windows and mirrors. Works great.

Ted

[Taz]

I detailed cars for 5 years, If you have aftermarket tinted windows absolutely do not use an ammonia based cleaner.

Most household glass cleaners won't cut through road grime without some effort unless your windows are done regularily (weekly). If they are really bad try and find an aerosol foaming glass cleaner ( possibly at an auto parts store) once clean then a weekly shot of windex will do. Use glass cleaner sparingly to much and you can get streaks as well. You should do both the outside and inside of each window twice, do 1 window at a time using clean paper towel for each window

[Steve]

dont use windex. the best glass cleaner is stoners invisible glass.

[Rustynut]

A 50/50 water, Alcohol mix works just fine and is cheap. Cleaning any windows with anything should be done in the shade or late in the day when the sun's rays do not hit directly onto the glass. Anything sprayed onto hot glass then wiped will streak.

[The Computer Guy]

Mother's glass cleaner is great, safe for tinted windows too. Amonia free. Available at Canadian Tire

[Joe]

A fireman friend of mine uses pledge. Who knows more about cleaning a vehicle than a fireman?

[Frogy]

"Invisible Glass" by Stoner works great and can be purchased at an auto parts store.

[Lesley]

I use lens cleaner for the insides, it does a good job. I also use the blue wonder cloth. It's really amazing if you follow the directions

[funnyman82]

I was watching the shopping channel the other day and there was a guy selling a book on tips for around the house. He said to stop ice from building up on the windshield in the wintertime, to spray a mixture of 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water on the windshield, and in the morning you will not have to scrape your windows. Now my question is, will this affect tinted windows?

[Dr.Dan]

That you just spray on the outside of the windshield, to prevent the ice from sticking to the glass (don't know if it actually works or not).
Tint is on the inside of your windows and would not be affected by whatever you spray on the outside.

But, also remember that vinegar is acidic... get a strong concentration like this on your paint and it'll etch into the finish ;)

[Taz]

I was watching the shopping channel the other day and there was a guy selling a book on tips for around the house. He said to stop ice from building up on the windshield in the wintertime, to spray a mixture of 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water on the windshield, and in the morning you will not have to scrape your windows. Now my question is, will this affect tinted windows?

Pick yourself up a bottle of Rain X works wonders

[funnyman82]

Rain X works for ice too?

[Rustynut]

Pick yourself up a bottle of Rain X works wonders
Do not use that crap! If you do not clean the window extremely clean before smearing that stuff on the glass, you will end up with a haze on your glass.

One of my co-workers decided to do me a favour and put that shirt ( delete the "r") on my windshield and it was a long time before I could see clearly through the glass at night again. Headlights from oncomming vehicles would flare with a halo around the light source and to top it off when ever it misted and you had to turn on the wipers you get a smear in the wiper path.

That stuff may work fine on a NEW windshield but stay away from using it on an older "pitted" windshield that has the pits of 100,000 km leaves in the glass.

Simple pre - cleaner wax and a good car polish works great on mirrors and side windows, that does the same as your rain-x by beading and rolling water off. Do not use it on the main windshield as that will cause streaking and smearing.
Wash your windscreen daily if you must with a good glass cleaner to keep the road grime off the window, but remember if you follow just one truck/car that is bleeding oil just a bit and it is time to clean again.

[Dr.Dan]

{RAIN-X} If you do not clean the window extremely clean before smearing that stuff on the glass, you will end up with a haze on your glass. That's exactly what I always tell people... it has to be clean *BEFORE* you apply it.
Using a glass polish (a super fine compound) before use is the best ;)



That stuff may work fine on a NEW windshield but stay away from using it on an older "pitted" windshield that has the pits of 100,000 km leaves in the glass. My truck's windshield has tonnes of pits... it's really bad... but after a few applications of Rain-X it's much improved over the way it was... even the sun glare (that washes out your vision) is better than before :)


Simple pre - cleaner wax and a good car polish works great on mirrors and side windows, that does the same as your rain-x by beading and rolling water off. Do not use it on the main windshield as that will cause streaking and smearing. Yep, that's how I treat all other windows too... speaking of which, they really need to be done right now... there's my afternoon plans :hsh:

[Rustynut]

My truck's windshield has tonnes of pits... it's really bad... but after a few applications of Rain-X it's much improved over the way it was... even the sun glare (that washes out your vision) is better than before :)

I'm glad it works for you, in my case when buddy put the stuff on my windshield, remember this glass has the pits of a million and a quarter km's on it, so it really made a mess. The only way I could clear it up was to remove the rain-x totally and that was a process that took some time since I don't have a lot of time to clean the glass between "hooks" or at the pre-trip. I ended up using a lot of amonia cleaners that didn't touch the stuff but luckily I found some Bon Ami cleanser down in the states that will not scratch glass but does a great job ridding the grime and rain-x.
We used to have that cleanser in the powder form here in Canada but over the last few years I cannot find it any more. I might add it is scarce down south of the border too but Meijer still had a supply.

Just a warning for those that may think Comet is ok, DON'T USE IT!
Bon Ami was great on the glass during a rain when your glass got greased and all you got was smears, a little dusting of that stuff and you had clean vision until the next greasy vehicle sprayed it's oil onto your window. One of the other drivers decided that since we were using a powder cleanser, any cleanser will do, he ended up having the wiper path on his glass scratched with small scratches that in essence destroyed the glass as the only way to clear it up was to use Jeweller's rouge to buff up the glass again or to replace the windshield.

[Dr.Dan]

Yes, if not preped right first you get the mess that you had... :(
After using the Bon Ami would have been a great time to apply a couple coats of Rain-X... ;)

And yes, Bon Ami is the only cleanser that's safe to use on glass. I swear they're taking it off the market so that others can sell the same thing as glass polish for 30 times the price :mad:

[Taz]

Rusty, my Truck has 634,351 kms on it and I use Rain X regularily and never had a problem. The important thing is to make sure the glass is completely clean a good washing followed by a good glass cleaner.

A precleaner and wax will work on glass but wax will eventually cause a build up turning into a haze. If one wants to go the wax route for glass treatment I recomend stripping the wax with a degreaser(one that is paint safe). every three treatments.

[hbk2k1]

if you're feeling rich, u could just take it 2 a car wash.....or if you're feeling really rich.....replace the windows

[Rustynut]

Rusty, my Truck has 634,351 kms on it and I use Rain X regularily and never had a problem. The important thing is to make sure the glass is completely clean a good washing followed by a good glass cleaner.

A precleaner and wax will work on glass but wax will eventually cause a build up turning into a haze. If one wants to go the wax route for glass treatment I recomend stripping the wax with a degreaser(one that is paint safe). every three treatments.
I understand what you're saying but in my case it was a co-worker who was assigned to take my unit to the rail, and whilst waiting for his can, he wanted to do something nice, and clean my windshield andtreat it to the RainX.
That old puppy dog had 1,700,000k on the clock and it had the same glass in it since I was issued it with a million on the clock. The glass seemed like it was never replaced and the pits sure seemed to point to it.
Any how it was a nightmare trying to see through salt covered windows when the window washers smear rather than clear the glass. Once the rainx was removed it made all the difference when wetted with the window washer fluid.
I don't think I would ever use it again on any glass that has wipers atached to clear the window. One bad experience and that is it.

[Dr.Dan]

It's too bad that because someone made a mess of it on your truck has left you sour about the product.
I know if it was done right you would be very happy with it. :)

Of course, with glass that bad I don't think anything is going to make it great...

[Bluvertigo]

I've used this in the past, works great on windows

Bon Ami Glass Cleaner
http://www.windex.ca/windex_bonami.asp

[neil01]

I have always used a LITTLE vinegar in water (with a FEW DROPS of lemon juice for the smell) and find it just as good as many of the proprietary brands. I then buff it up with a duster (one which has never been used for anything else)

Pledge - if it contains silicone (which I believe it does) it is NOT suitable, as mentioned by a previous poster, anything with silicone MUST be avoided.

As for RainX - I have used it in the past, and it was great on the windows other than the front - I am not saying that it didn't do what it said it should, or that it wasn't any good - I just found the beading distracting - but I know others who didn't. The instructions also clearly state that it is for external glass surfaces only.

Unfortunately, from what I can see, people are confusing, how to keep a windscreen clean with how to get the previous 'cleaning' products off. While I am not saying that there are no ways of cleaning a badly cleaned window, I once had a car (bought about 12 months old) which had obviously been badly cleaned before (they missed bits which never caused a problem) and I was never able to get it really clean again - low sun was the worst. Not until it had to be replaced (stone crack in drivers view) did I have a really clean window windsceen. I never had any difficulty keeping it so.

For heavy cleaning - I have had qualified success with methylated spirit - but can only really recomend it for external surfaces - the smell is appalling!

[webz]

i've not read any of this thread but

GM sells the best car window cleaner
any dealership in the parts dept.

[jessomine]

Get one of the micro cloths at the $ store. Use a mixture of a 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water in a spray bottle, spray the window/glass and wipe with the micro cloth. Does a better job than anything I've tried.

Actually, pick up a few of the micro cloths because they are super for cleaning.

[Matrix]

i use newspaper. works great.