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Everybody has to clean their vehicle's windows at some point. Dirty windows fog easier, reduce your ability to read traffic signs, and create glare during evening traffic. There is a right way, a wrong way, and a best way to keep them crystal clear. Let's look at the best way!
You wouldn't think there would be many ways that they could get dirty, being on the inside of the vehicle and all, but you'd be surprised at the amount of oily residue your heater, defroster, and air-conditioner puts out on your windows in just a short amount of time.
When the time comes to wipe those windows down, many folks grab a bottle of glass cleaner, a tissue or paper towel, and go to town. The problem with this method, is it often only accomplishes smearing the dirt, leaving smudges and lint, and in some cases causing more harm than good.
Today I'm going to show you a method of window cleaning that most professional vehicle detailers use. It provides crystal clear viewing, zero lint, uses less harmful chemical detergents, and shouldn't take much more time than the method you are currently using.
Here's what you will need:
Spray bottle
2 cups of filtered water
1/2 cup white (clear) or cider vinegar
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70% concentration)
100% cotton surgical cloth (lint-free)
microfiber cloth (buffing cloth)
Mix the Cleaner
First off, we are going to make our own glass cleaner. One thing that many people don't know, is you can achieve an award winning streak-free glass surface using a very simple and diluted solution of glass cleaner. More is not better in this scenario. All those extra ingredients, detergents, and scents found in store bought window cleaners do nothing but add unpleasant chemicals into our environment, while also creating excess smudging and smearing.
Take the empty spray bottle and mix in the 2 cups of filtered water, 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, and gently stir it. Professionals usually recommend starting with the hardest window first, which is the windshield.
Note: You never want to use paper towels or tissue paper when cleaning your windows. Not only are they not reusable, but they have a greater tendency of spreading the dirt around once they become dirty. Surgical towels are reusable, lint free, and are very absorbent. Some people prefer using newspaper to clean their windows, which became popular back in the day when newsprint used kerosene ink. The Kerosene made an excellent cleaning solution on its own. Today however, newspaper no longer uses Kerosene, so it has lost that part of its effectiveness. In addition, the crinkled nature of a wadded up newspaper tends to miss spots, requiring more wiping to achieve a streak-free surface.
Cleaning Technique
Start by folding the surgical towel into an 8 by 8 inch square and spraying a generous amount of the home brew cleaner over its surface until it is well saturated. Never spray cleaner on the glass itself, as you loose more of the solution to the air, it gives the dirt a chance to soak-up the cleaner (reducing its effectiveness), and it is almost impossible to get it everywhere it is needed.
By spreading the cleaner on the towel first, you are ensuring that the entire window will come in contact with the cleaner and you will have the most control over unnecessary over spray. Take your time while wiping the window and have a systematic sweeping motion that will reduce the possibility of missing any spots.
Once you are happy with the cleanliness of the window, take the microfiber towel and briskly buff over the entire window one more time. This will remove any leftover cleaner residue and streaks, giving you a showroom quality, crystal-clear glass surface.
Why You Need Two Different Towels
In case you are wondering why we did not use the microfiber towel for the entire process, the reason is that the material, while fundamentally lint-free, is not quite as good at absorbing the window cleaner as the surgical towel. Microfiber tends to push the cleaner around the window, letting it dry on the glass surface, which will leave more residue and streaks.
There you have it. A simple, easy, effective, and environmentally-friendly method of cleaning your automotive windows. This technique can of course also be used for any windows, including those on your motorcycle, boat, house, office building, or even the doghouse (whether you happen to be in it, or your dog is)!
More tips on cleaning and detailing your vehicle:
Clean Up Your Ride During National Car Care Month
Car Care Tips to Lower Your Carbon Footprint
Save Water at the Car Wash
Don't DIY: Car Washing
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