You’ve got your car windows all fogged up on a hot day. You might even have the defroster on, but it doesn’t do much good. That’s because the problem isn’t on the outside of your windows – it’s on the inside. In this article, we’ll cover best practices for cleaning your car windows, windshield, and more.
First things first…
Your windshield and side-view mirrors have a thin layer of oily film that naturally forms over time from condensation, dirt and pollution. That greasy coating reduces your visibility. Not only does it look bad, it’s rough on the glass, which reduces its lifespan.
If you don’t clean your windshield regularly, it can make your wipers wear out faster. They’ll turn streaky and loose their effectiveness (not to mention do a lousy job).
Auto glass cleaner is designed to remove that oily film without damaging any of the car glass, including automotive windshields. Glass cleaner will also leave behind a thin coat of silicone, which helps repel dirt and dust.
What about the inside?
Most auto glass cleaners are designed for outdoor use only. That means you need to get an interior cleaner if you want to clean your windshield or side-view mirror from the inside. Use it just like any other glass cleaner, applying it in a circular motion. Use a microfiber towel or paper towels. Your car windows will be clean and smudge-free in no time at all.
Take special care when cleaning any plastic surfaces. Use a mild cleaner and avoid anything with ammonia, which can damage the plastic.
Turn off your air conditioning or heating system.
If the airflow is stuck on, it will interfere with your cleaning.
Don’t use a scraper or razor blade to remove ice from your windshield – you may scratch the glass and cause permanent damage. Use warm soapy water instead.
Your car’s windows are made of laminated safety glass, which means there are two or more layers of thin glass with a plastic inner layer. When you press on the glass, the force is distributed across the layers instead of going straight through to your finger.
If you try to clean a window that has a thin coating of frost or ice, you could rub that hard-to-see film right off onto the sponge or wiper.
That’s why you should always do a quick check for ice before you start to clean your car windshield.
When the weather is cold, scrape ice from the window with a plastic card or credit card. Don’t use metal scrapers – they can scratch and ruin your auto glass.
Spray on, wipe off.
To clean your windows, put some cleaner on a soft, lint-free cloth or paper towel. Paper towels are great because they often have just the right texture to wipe away that greasy film.
Wipe windows and mirrors with a cleaner-dampened cloth or paper towel. Don’t spray it directly onto the glass; you can always add more cleaner if you need it later.
A folded-up t-shirt will work in a pinch. Just don’t use any spray cleaners on fabric – it can ruin clothes with its caustic chemicals. Your best bet is a microfiber towel, which is great for picking up dust and grime. You could also use a traditional terry cloth towel, but be careful to only wipe in one direction as you may scratch the glass. Household glass cleaner is fine to use on your windshield. It has special ingredients that won’t damage automotive glass. If you don’t have it, dishwashing liquid will also work in a pinch.
Spritz or spray the household glass cleaner right onto the surface of your car window and wipe it off with a paper towel or cloth. Your car windows should be free of that oily film. Car windows will naturally fog or form water spots when it rains or snows, so you’ll want to bring the glass cleaner back out for those occasions. Window cleaner will also help you see better in sunny or foggy conditions.
Car window wipers
When your windshield wipers get streaked and gunky from road grime, they don’t work as well as they should. If that happens, use a mild soap, like dishwashing liquid or baby shampoo, to clean them. Follow the instructions on your car’s wiper blade package – you may need to spray the suds directly onto the rubber and gently scrub with a sponge. Then rinse and dry thoroughly. Don’t use alcohol (or household glass cleaner), as those can break down the rubber.
Your windshield wipers will work better when they’re clean and in good shape.
If you have the time, it’s best to let your car windows completely dry before driving off. If you have to leave right away, pull over in a safe place and turn on your low-beam headlights for about 15 minutes or so. This will help the glass dry so you don’t have watermarks.
Start at the top.
As with most surface cleaners, we recommend starting at the top of your windows and working your way down so any dirt or grime slides off the car.
It’s best to start with your windshield, which you can clean by starting at the top and wiping downwards. Don’t do circles on the glass – just wipe up and down until you feel no drag against the cloth or paper towel. If you have a squeegee, use it after cleaning to get that perfectly clear windshield look. Use a cleaning solution and a microfiber towel to get any streaks off the windows. Glass cleaning solution is made specifically to not leave behind any streaks or bits of lint. Glass cleaning solution will also help make your wipers squeak less.
Check for streaks before you move on to the other windows. Use a dry paper towel or cloth, like an old t-shirt, to spread out any moisture and remove any streaks. If there are still bits of grime sitting on the surface of the glass, go ahead and grab your glass cleaner and lint-free cloth, such as a microfiber towel. Your car windows should be sparkling and streak-free.
If you have a lot of car windows to clean, it may take a little while, but that’s why you should put on your favorite podcast or tune into the news program of your choice. You could also bring along some snacks to make time fly by even faster. Just don’t get into your car with food residue on the glass – you don’t want to get crumbs in your car.
Make sure they’re clean. A lot of people neglect their side windows since it’s harder to see out of them. But leaving buildup or streaks can cause dangerous visibility problems while driving at night or during rain showers. Your car windows may fog up more than usual if the side windows aren’t clean.
Use a squeegee on your side-view and rear-view mirrors.
It may seem like overkill, but using the right cleaners and tools will make it much easier when you go for that showroom shine. Side-view and rear-view car mirrors use the same glass as your windshield. That means if you clean them with a regular towel, it can streak and leave behind bits of lint that obscure your view.
That’s why we recommend using paper towels (no printed patterns!) or a microfiber towel to wipe down your mirrors. You can use a cleaning solution on these too if they’re not streaking, but it isn’t necessary every time.
If you don’t have a squeegee, you can use your wiper blades or wipers to dry it quickly and evenly. That way you won’t leave water spots on your car’s windshield. This will allow for a streak-free appearance and clean glass.
Clean side windows next.
Next, move to your side-view mirrors. Be as delicate as possible as you wipe across and down. Again, don’t overdo it – just a few swipes should do it. You may have to clean the window a few times before you get all of the dirt and bug goo off. Window cleaner is good for cleaning mirrors too.
Finally, get your rear-view mirror. This is a little trickier because it’s up high and you have to reach over the center console or stick your head out of the window to get there. You don’t want to leave any streaks on that reflective surface, so take your time and do a good job.
Reach your back windows last.
By this point, you should have a cleaner car that looks great from the outside! Now for the hard part – getting those back windows clean. You’ll have to lean halfway out of your window to clean those rear windshields, but take care not to fall out of your car.
You can clean it in sections, but don’t forget about the final touches. Wipe around the rearview mirror, inside the doorjamb, and along the trunk, seals to get any dirt that may have fallen away from your wipers back on your vehicle.
Clean Your Rear-View Mirror
Use glass cleaner on your rear-view mirror. Clean from top to bottom slowly wiping away any streaks as you go along. Don’t wipe too hard, or you could cause damage to the interior of the mirror.
Don’t forget your headlights! It’s easy to get distracted when cleaning your car but don’t neglect the front-end parts including your headlights and tail lights. Be sure to wipe them off with some glass cleaner, too.
Specialty cleaners like like Armor All can be used to make your car’s lights look new again. Just remember not to use these on any plastic parts or inside your tail lights; they can cause damaging and irreversible damage.
Final Thoughts
Remember to take your time and clean one section at a time. This will ensure you don’t miss any spots or leave anything soapy or streaky behind. Once you’re finished, enjoy the compliments from friends and family on how beautiful your vehicle looks. Want professional help? That’s what we’re here for! Give us a call today to schedule your professional glass cleaning.