Glass Cleaner Help

[Scott Harness]

Bart,I wasn't sure if you were talking inside or out, tinted or not. The vinegar is good on non-tinted windows. Iwould use a silicon based cleaner on the tint works wonders. I had my tint basically ruined at a carwash using a windex type cleaner. It looked like they used steel wool on my tint. I got out the silicon based cleaner, It took a while but now look brand new. I guess it fills in scratches and bonds with the tint. The brand I use is called Solar Solutions. Hope all is well!! Later Scott

[circmand]

Bart I am not sure but I think I may have discovered your problem. Rain X is NOT a cleaner is is more of a glass wax. You need to thoroughly clean and dry your windows before applyng and removing. Done this way it does an awesome job of repeling rain from the windows.

[nfpgasmask]

Well, when I was using Rain-X, I would typically wash the truck with normal car washing soap, including the outside windows. Then, after the drying is done, the cladding and tires are shining, I would then use some glass cleaner (like Invisible Glass) and wipe and dry that, and then apply the Rain-X.

But I stopped using Rain-X, and now I just want my Windows to shine and stay that way for a while, with no streaking. I will try the vinegar solution next time around and see how that works.

Thanks - Bart

Bart I am not sure but I think I may have discovered your problem. Rain X is NOT a cleaner is is more of a glass wax. You need to thoroughly clean and dry your windows before applyng and removing. Done this way it does an awesome job of repeling rain from the windows.

[VehiGAZ]

Bart,

It's not always the cleaning solution, it's what you wipe with. I have two suggestions for you, both of which I learned in the detail shop of a car dealership I worked at for a summer in college:

1) Glass cleaner + newspapers - yes, wadded-up newsprint (B&W preferred) leaves no streaks with regular window cleaner. It comes apart pretty quick when you rub it along rubber weatherstripping, but it really works. My wife uses it on the sliding glass doors, windows, and mirros in the house, too.

2) Damp chamois - this also works, and it's probably handy if you've just washed your car, but from what I remember, it was best when used on off-gassing residues.

Speaking of off-gassing (hee-hee), if you use any interior products on the upholstery or the dash when you do your windows, such as Armor All, prepare to see streaking in about 48 hours. That stuff will evaporate to some extent and settle on the inside of your windows, most noticeably on the windshield. Whenever I use those, I wipe the surfaces down with a clean terrycloth towel after a few hours of soak time. I think this helps, but who knows. If your windows appear very clear after all your hard work but look streaky or cloudy after a day or two, this might be your main problem.

Good luck and happy detailing!

[JHarris1385]

Why does newspaper work so well?

[Cobrajet]

My approach to windshield cleaning is very simple. I use plain tap water -- warm. I wipe with a damp wash cloth (almost dripping), wipe once with a dry terry cloth towel, and then buff completely dry with a second terry cloth towel.

No more glass cleaner for me since both of my previous favorites (Meguire's Final Inspection and Cinch Window cleaner) starting streaking. Every couple weeks I apply Rain-X, using a paper towel to remove the haze, and then the above method to polish the windows clean.

I even carry a damp cloth, in a zip-lock baggie, in my detailing bag to clear the bugs and road spray I frequently get during my hour-long commute (which always seems to be directly into the sun.) I hate dirty, streaky windows! I sometimes wonder how the person in the car in front of me can see out their windshield. They probably can't.

[circmand]

I doubt there is study on why newspapewr is so effective but my guess would be that due to high press speeds dust is removed, It is bleached so it is very clean, and it is pretty absobent when you consider what it soaks up versus what it weighs. It also makes a decent hand towel but avoid using it as toilet paper unless very desperate. It also does not flush very well.

[nfpgasmask]

Interesting, and you are probably right. The streaking is usually apparent after the next day or two. And yes, I use ArmorAll on my dash, and the streaking seems to be on the inside of the windsheild. Maybe next time I will try not using the ArmorAll.

Newspaper eh? That sounds strange, but I will give it a shot! My first thought is that the ink would come off on the windshield and make a big mess...but then again?

Thanks! Bart

Bart,

It's not always the cleaning solution, it's what you wipe with. I have two suggestions for you, both of which I learned in the detail shop of a car dealership I worked at for a summer in college:

1) Glass cleaner + newspapers - yes, wadded-up newsprint (B&W preferred) leaves no streaks with regular window cleaner. It comes apart pretty quick when you rub it along rubber weatherstripping, but it really works. My wife uses it on the sliding glass doors, windows, and mirros in the house, too.

2) Damp chamois - this also works, and it's probably handy if you've just washed your car, but from what I remember, it was best when used on off-gassing residues.

Speaking of off-gassing (hee-hee), if you use any interior products on the upholstery or the dash when you do your windows, such as Armor All, prepare to see streaking in about 48 hours. That stuff will evaporate to some extent and settle on the inside of your windows, most noticeably on the windshield. Whenever I use those, I wipe the surfaces down with a clean terrycloth towel after a few hours of soak time. I think this helps, but who knows. If your windows appear very clear after all your hard work but look streaky or cloudy after a day or two, this might be your main problem.

Good luck and happy detailing!

[rowhard]

Bart, newspaper works very well, but it's ackward to work with. am sure you have some microfiber clothes around, so give them a try.

Insert 2 cents
My spin on Armorall, it's full of ph, can't spell it, the **** frogs sat in in biology class, it dries out the vinyl, get some good stuff. They are like Fram, they spend all their money on advertizing and not on the product.

[etlsport]

i like f21 for my interior...

for my windows i like this stuff made by 3M its aptly named... "Glass Cleaner" it comes in an aeresol can the same size as invisible glass... except the can is light blue at the bottom and fades to white at the top with a blue lid... works awesome... for leftover streaking like what you are describing, i use distilled water in a spray bottle.. always with microfiber cloths

[nfpgasmask]

Hey Scott, thanks. I will try that on the tinted side for sure!

Bart

Bart,I wasn't sure if you were talking inside or out, tinted or not. The vinegar is good on non-tinted windows. Iwould use a silicon based cleaner on the tint works wonders. I had my tint basically ruined at a carwash using a windex type cleaner. It looked like they used steel wool on my tint. I got out the silicon based cleaner, It took a while but now look brand new. I guess it fills in scratches and bonds with the tint. The brand I use is called Solar Solutions. Hope all is well!! Later Scott