Five Tips for Cleaning Car Glass

Clean car glass can make or break a newly cleaned car’s appearance. This post will detail five tips to save time and effort without sacrificing those crystal-clear results. 

Five tips when cleaning car glass: 

1. Use a streak-free glass cleaner with no added scents or dyes.
2. Use an effective cleaning cloth.
3. Wash your microfiber cloths correctly. 
4. Roll down the windows before cleaning each side. 
5. Use different cleaning motions for each side of the glass.

Tip #1 – Use a streak-free glass cleaner with no added scents or dyes

Glass cleaners with scents or dyes will compromise your result, leaving a filmy residue on your glass or tint. Avoid all glass cleaners with either additive if you want the best results possible. 

If you need a powerful auto glass cleaner, consider Stoner’s Invisible Glass. Invisible Glass is completely tint-safe and uses no added scents, dyes, or ammonia. It’s safe yet effective and yields proven results. 

Tip #2 – Use an effective cleaning cloth

Resist the temptation to grab a paper towel or that basic rag lying around the house. Either choice compromises a clean window. Paper towels can easily tear or shed material; old towels or rags clean unevenly and leave behind streaks or spots.

Instead, use a microfiber towel, specifically with a waffle weave texture. Microfiber towels are both absorbent and reusable – making them the best option for cleaning glass. Waffle weave textures are particularly good at trapping liquid. As you wipe with these towels, they spread the liquid evenly, allowing it to be soaked up or evaporate.

Tip #3 – Wash your microfiber cloths correctly

Proper cleaning and drying are crucial to your microfiber towel’s effectiveness. Harsh detergents, heat, or fabric softeners degrade microfiber towels and compromise their absorbency. Check out our guide here for proper instructions on cleaning microfiber towels. For basic info, check out the handy chart below:

Tip #4 – Roll down the windows before cleaning each side

Before cleaning, roll down all the vehicle windows to roughly the halfway point. The top part of the window pane is often forgotten and frequently covered with dust and other light debris. Spray the top of the window, and run a microfiber towel over it. Odds are you’ll be shocked by how much dirt you remove. 

Tip #5 -- Use different cleaning motions for each side of the glass

When cleaning glass, we recommend using different cleaning motions for each side. For example, clean the interior surface of the glass using long, horizontal strokes. For the exterior, use long vertical strokes when swiping with a microfiber or glass cleaning tool. 

If streaks appear, this technique makes it easy to determine which side of the glass they’re on. 

Bonus tip: Avoid circular motions when cleaning glass 

Outside of buffing product on, all detailers should avoid circular motions when cleaning – especially with glass. Using circular motions can cause the cleaning solution to pool on the surface of the glass, leading  to spots or streaks when it dries. 

In addition, you increase the risk of fine scratches if you drag light debris over the same area repeatedly. Stick with long, straight motions for the best possible results. 

Use these tips to keep your glass invisible! 

Cleaning glass seems simplistic, but proper technique and proven products are critical to successful results. Keep these tips in mind to get the crystal-clear results you desire. 

1. Use a streak-free glass cleaner with no added scents or dyes.
2. Use an effective cleaning cloth.
3. Wash your microfiber cloths correctly. 
4. Roll down the windows before cleaning each side. 
5. Use different cleaning motions for each side of the glass.

Enjoy the clean, and enjoy the views through your invisible glass!