Window-washing for dummies

Mine came tinted from the dealer and included a warning sheet in the package with all my manuals and has a small sticker on the side windows warning not to use ammonia based cleaners. I had not heard this prior to seeing this. I too had had previous vehicles with 3rd party tints and used Windex, etc. on them with no issues.

 

HI Pugsy,

What I have found is that window cleaners on the Water Repellant glass tends to smear/streak. I take a clean lint free wet cloth, and a dry paper towel or drying towel and it's perfectly clear. So, I do think the results are far better from clear plain warm water. That's been my observation on those 2 windows. (The drivers door and passenger door).

I also noted that no Ammonia product based cleaners should be used on the rear hatch due to the rear defogger. I am going to be vigilant at that this time, as I think this was the same on my last car and it seemed to discolor the warming wires..so I am sticking to a non ammonia based cleaner on the rear as well.

Thanks..

 

Anybody know how to get rid of some 2 inch numbers that show up in the lower driver windshield when light and humidity conditions are right? Under normal driving conditions I can't see them but in the morning with a little fog on the windows they show up as an inverse.

 

I've been using this formula for years. I found it somewhere on the Internet, so credit goes to the original posting person.
In a spray bottle of your choice, add in order listed, 40% distilled water, 40% denatured alcohol, and 20% clear (NOT sudsy) ammonia. I also add one or two drops of blue food coloring and a label, so as not to confuse anyone.
I also found that many brands of paper towels will streak/smear even if used by themselves, let alone with the cleaner. I just use a microfiber or cotton towel. Spray sparingly, as less is easier to remove. I use it on any surface that is not affected by ammonia based products.
You'll have to use discretion as to where you can or can't use an ammonia based cleaner. I don't have any issues with this on my vehicles, but you might.

 

Isn't that only for aftermarket tinted film? The factory tint is tinted in the glass itself.

 

Well, my window cleaning gizmo is on order because I am not a Cirque du Soleil performer and cannot fold myself up to get into the far reaches of this inside windshield. I'll let y'all know if it works. Furthermore. I've been using the Invisible Glass and have to say, I'm not terribly impressed so I'm springing for some of Grinot's glass cleaner. Hopefully, I'll be able to see out the windshield - right now, it's hopelessly streakiy and foggy. Last night I turned on the defogger thinking that would help! (It didn't )

 

Did you dry it thoroughly with a towel? I have the Invisible Glass Spray (liquid) and window cleaning doo-dad. Not overly impressed with the spray but the doo-dad seems to work ok.

6657 shows up in the lower driver side windshield and BT shows up at the top when the window is wet and light or humidity are right. I don't know if these were stickers or some sort of grease pen. Invisible Glass on the inside and out, MF with water, and 2 washings didn't help. Any other ideas to remove them?

 

The trick to using Invisible Glass (and probably any window cleaner) is to use different towels for cleaning, drying, and polishing (and use it in the shade when the glass is cool to the touch). I spray, rub with a small microfiber towel to get off anything that needs rubbing, dry with a larger more absorbent towel, and then polish with another microfiber towel to get rid of any streaking. It doesn't take as long as it sounds and I'm left with crystal clear, streak-free windows. The only thing I've seen that does a better job (not that I've compared a ton of products) was some mysterious liquid back in the late '80s that my detailer wiped on, let dry to a pink haze, then wiped off. Whatever it was, that stuff got rid of everything.

 

+1 Maggie.. we are in the same boat. At this point I have a shiny glass smooth car and polk-a-dot windows.

 

Window cleaning is really hard. The good news is as you regularly clean the windows they will become easier to get streak free. One thing you can do to speed this along is actually to clay the inside and outside of each window.

I use Stoner's Invisible Glass, the spray bottle not the aerosol foam. Eagle One's 20/20 is pretty good too. Good towels are a must, I like small waffle weave microfibers for glass over the smooth type towels Griot's sells.

These are what I use:

MICROPAK 16" x 27" Ultra-Soft Waffle Weave Micro Fiber Towel

Remember to never wash your microfibers with fabric softener, and to wash the glass ones seperately from any that have touched any polish or wax. That makes them streaky.

I've tried the gizmos and can't make them work. You just need to get up in there with some good elbow grease.

 

SW03ES - The Stoner's doesn't seem to cut the grease or whatever the buildup of haze is. But you're right cleaning regularly is probably the most important thing. What I need is a good scrubbing of the inside of the windshield - don't panic, I use "scrub" to indicate the intensity of cleaning that's required - not the abrasiveness. Probably need to do it several times in succession. That's on the list this weekend.

I have gotten religion about my cleaning towels from Paradox - no fabric softener and they don't mingle in the laundry, either. No socializing between the polishers, the washers and the glass cleaners!!

 

LOL!
I stopped by a detail shop yesterday to ask... how the heck do deal with the spots and find out if they had any products for sale that I could buy locally. I realized that I know more than he does at this point!!!!! Very scary. I'm not claiming to understand what I know mind you.. just the pc has been such a fabulous resource for information and expertise.

 

I got in a container of the Griot's Garage window cleaner wipes today, and used one on the front and rear glass, followed up with a Griot's microfiber window cloth. Very nice results.

In the future I'll use the Griot's spray cleaner on the outside, and a wipe on the inside, so I don't get spray all over the inside.

 

Denatured alcohol works great for me.

 

Yeah try it a couple times. The haze is off-gassing of plastics...the "new car smell"...

 

yay.. invisible glass works again.

I was about to say.. do it multiple times. i usually fold up a black and white newspaper ( never use colored pages) to about a 4x4 inch square... soak the windshield and let it foam up for 15 seconds or so... use that square and don't replace it when it's soaked.. keep it as your "mop" till you're done. come in with a crumpled up section to get rid of excess water (we'll call this one the squeegee) .. .. and then a separate crumpled up piece to buff away the white fog and air born oils. always use a dry piece for buffing by folding or rotating the piece you use.

set a towel down on the dash to absorb over-spray. don't touch the dash with wet newspaper.. it leaves shreds everywhere... (on my 04 anyway...)

i tend to do the outside 1st.. then scrub the inside.. since the inside is soooo much harder to clean, i like to only have to hit it once. after the inside is clean, i tend to realize the only streaks left are on the outside.... but that's easy

 

I've gotten clean glass with dry black and white wadded newspaper when I couldn't with anything else.