Auto Detailing FAQs | Cleaning Automotive Glass

Have you cleaned your car’s interior glass, then driven out into the sun & suddenly your clean glass is covered with horrible streaky wipe marks all over?

This week, Adventures in Detailing tackles a recurring problem for our “do-it-yourselfers”. How do we clean our cars interior glass & get “streak-free” results?

Supplies you will need: (available at practically any big-box or care care store)

• glass cleaner
• lint-free window rag or new, clean (washed once) terri-cloth
• new, clean microfiber cloth
• chamois
• a minimal amount of elbow grease

Procedure:

• park under a shady area where you will not be in other peoples’ way
• if your car’s interior glass is visibly dirty, go over all interior glass first with your damp chamois. This is especially important if there was anything greasy (like interior dressing) that has found its way to your glass
• spray your window rag (all rags folded into quarters) a couple of times, then go over the entire glass (or half if front windshield or back glass) quickly & evenly.
  • immediately flip the towel over (dry side) & go over the same area again. You should be able to see the visible streaks disappear as you take them into the dry side of your cloth.
    • it’s important to “erase” the glass cleaner streaks before they dry on the glass, or you will have streaks appear when you drive out into different lighting conditions
  • wipe over the entire area again with your microfiber
• spray once onto the damp side of your window rag & repeat the above on all windows
  • if any of your rags become visibly dirty, you may have to fold over to a clean quarter
  • your finishing rag (microfiber) needs to be dry (enough to remove any dampness remaining on the glass)

Procedure when you do not have a shady area:

• There are a couple techniques you could use here, but the one I would suggest if your front windshield & back glass is hot, would be this. Use only your microfiber clothes. Spray once on your microfiber folded in quarters (do not overly wet). Wipe over entire area. You should not be leaving any glass cleaner streaks behind, if you are, immediately flip to dry side & wipe over again. If your new side becomes to damp, refold. If you have to use more than one microfiber, so be it.

Problems with your exterior glass? Didn’t we already cover that one in a past issue? I’m pretty sure we did. Removing waterspots anyway.

Please feel free to give me a call if you need immediate assistance…& keep those questions coming!

Thank you for tuning in again. See you next week.