how to clean windows?

alsey_seven · Post by **alsey_seven** » Sat May 10, 2008 11:52 pm

anyone knows whats the best product?

jetas · Post by **jetas** » Sun May 11, 2008 12:03 am

Brawny and Windex. No streaks, Just be carefull you may get a bird tryin to fly in and smash into the window...

neonxrt · Post by **neonxrt** » Sun May 11, 2008 12:03 am

Windex on the outside........
Any non-amonia cleaer for the inside (assuming you have tinted windows).

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sun May 11, 2008 6:55 am

Off-topic but I found out that Bon Ami powder works great at removing the adhesive from old stickers on glass (I had to finally remove my SRT Track Experience one from the windshield and the cleanser took the remaining sticky off amazingly well).

Post by **racer12306** » Sun May 11, 2008 12:23 pm

I have been happy with Stoner products.

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Sun May 11, 2008 12:45 pm

Zaino Clear-View Glass Polish

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Sun May 11, 2008 9:10 pm

Windex with Vinegar (which is ammonia free).

http://www.windex.com/counter-cleaner/

jake_tim · Post by **jake_tim** » Mon May 12, 2008 12:00 am

racer12306 wrote:I have been happy with Stoner products.

Stoner FTW.

By the way, on the outside, I just wash the windows with my car and make sure I dry them well for a streak free finish. Then Stoner window cleaner on the inside glass.

-Jacob

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Mon May 12, 2008 10:00 am

3M Foaming Glass Cleaner and surgical towels

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Mon May 12, 2008 10:11 am

There are a lot of good products out there (I like Spray Way myself) but the thing that helps more than anything is the paper or cloth you use. For the best results...newspaper. And no, the ink doesn't get on the glass. If you don't want to use that, get the cheap brown paper towels that shops use. You can get it on a large roll or in tri-fold. Remember, the cheaper the better. Soft towels will streak, making you have to go over the same areas over again to remove said streaks.

See, Grandma was right after all

JJS66 · Post by **JJS66** » Mon May 12, 2008 12:09 pm

I'll give another thumbs up for newspaper. I had something on the inside of my windows that would only smear no matter how much I cleaned it or what I cleaned it with. I should have just used newspaper to begin with.

Jenni · Post by **Jenni** » Tue May 13, 2008 8:25 am

Hmm - you also need a how-to???

I cannot believe that you are asking a car forum for window cleaner. Ask your mother - i think she'll know what you can use to clean windows.

If you're home alone - just look in the kitchen. I think there you'll find such bottles with pictures from clean windows.
THAT'S IT! Just take it...

Post by **racer12306** » Tue May 13, 2008 9:25 am

As far as the material I use, I got a cheap microfiber cloth that said window cleaning towel on it from walmart. Maybe spent $2 for 2. It works great.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Tue May 13, 2008 1:29 pm

Jenni wrote:I cannot believe that you are asking a car forum for window cleaner. Ask your mother - i think she'll know what you can use to clean windows.

Oh, I don't know- I find threads like this helpful and interesting.

cgneon · Post by **cgneon** » Tue May 13, 2008 1:55 pm

exactly, what if he didnt ask, and just grabbed something from under the sink, and ended up ruining his tint... assuming he has tint, then they would wish they would have asked first.

no stupid questions.. just stupid people... (not calling anyone stupid, thats just how the saying goes)..

i just use warm soapy water on my inside windows.. and windex on the windshield and on the outside, then some rain-x. honestly i think i have only cleaned the inside of my windows 4 times since i had them tinted like 5 years ago.. but i never get them dirty..

hul kogan · Post by **hul kogan** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:30 pm

i strongly agree with anyone that mentioned newspaper. it works amazing when used in conjunction with some Stoner window cleaner or any sort of ammonia-free glass cleaner. that is all i use for my windows (inside and out).

masivone · Post by **masivone** » Thu May 15, 2008 12:32 am

windex and newspaper!!!!

denlevi · Post by **denlevi** » Fri May 30, 2008 3:02 am

Professional Glass cleaning 101 a Deep cleaning.

Ok heres a method guaranteed to work and can be done using common household cleaners and items. If you take the time and do this every few months, or three you will always have good clean glass to accent your saweet ride.
You can use Windex and other name brand cleaners, newspapers etc: and get semi clean glass, but if you really want to do it right, and remove the bugs, road grime and that interior mystery film build up then do the following steps and you will have a clean clear outlook on the road. These methods are also safe for tinted glass, unless you have the "El Cheapo" tint then I would avoid using scrubbies just stick with the microfiber towels. In fact avoid the scrubbies all together on any tint, unless your confident you wont scratch it.

Materials

1: White plastic non scratching dish scrubby.
2: Joy or Dawn Dish washing liquid
3: Glass cloth/towels, micro fiber or surgical huck towels
4: New single sided razor blade and or blade holder
5: Small 4-6" inexpensive glass squeegee from a hardware store or grocery, couple three to four dollars usually, and can be reused for a long time.
6: Extra towels.
7: White Vinegar
8: sponge

Take a gallon of warm water ,add a couple squirts of Joy or Dawn dish washing liquid, you dont need a lot. If you use too much detergent you will get streaking and have dirtier glass in a week. This is because too much residual soap film on your glass will actually attract dirt.

Get a white plastic scrubby, do not use the green, too abrasive and will scratch your glass! Again get a white non scratching scrubby and the warm soapy water and apply generously to your glass. Dont be shy, put towels under your windows in the interior to soak up excess, you need lots of water to "wash" the dirt off, not just push it around the glass surface. Scrub the entire surface of the glass and then squeegee off from top to bottom, repeat the steps once more and squeegee again. You will probably have slight streaks or lines of water left on your windshield unless your a professional like myself. This is no problem, just have a couple of non lint towels handy, glass towels, micro fiber or blue surgical huck towels and dry off the glass. Be careful to stay away from the rubber and trim edges so you dont drag dirt back onto your clean glass.

Always use two towels, the first step once you have squeegeed the glass is to soak up the excess cleaner and get the edges of the glass with one towel, do not drag it across your newly cleaned glass, use it around the edges only. The other will be to detail and clean the center portions to within a 1/4 to 1/ 2 an inch from the edges, do not let it touch the edges.

The Razor method

If you encounter stubborn grime, paint and bugs stuck to your exterior glass/windshield, that will not come off with the scrubby and elbow grease then here is the answer.

Wet the glass down working one side at a time with the soapy water solution. After it has set in for a minute take a NEW single sided razor, do not use an old worn blade only NEW, and holding it at a 20-30 degree angle to the surface of the glass push it down the entire glass surface, top to bottom, starting from the furthest away point working towards the edge closest to you.

DO NOT reverse the blade and go back up.
DO NOT flip the blade over

Lift the blade from the glass and start a new line going in the same direction slightly overlapping the previous one from top to bottom do not flip the blade over.

Do Not Flip the blade over, use only one side and go in one direction until you are done with the section. Use it like you would a squeegee , and overlap every pass a little to get everything cleaned. If the surface of the glass is large then do it a section at a time.

Oh, and have I said Do NOT Turn the blade over ? Ever!

If you are not sure which edge you used last trash it and use a new blade. What happens is the edge of the razor will get miniscule burr's that kick up when you are cleaning the glass and when you flip the blade those burr's will scratch your glass surface. If you do it correctly you will not scratch your glass. Also always use plenty of soapy water on the surface you are blading, do not do it dry or let the solution get dry while working, keep it flowing. In all cases do not use a blade on the inside of your glass were tint is applied. Use the soft micro fiber towels or a squeegee. If you use any type of abrasive material on your tint it will scratch. Also, do not use vinegar or amonia on the inside tinted glass. DO NOT MIX THEM EITHER, in fact just do away with the amonia all together. Its a dangerous chemical anyway.

If you have problems in your area with hard water spotting on your glass that will not come off with a standard car wash, a bit of White vinegar mixed 50-50 with distilled water is a mild acidic and will help to dissolve the mineral spots. You can dilute it down or apply it directly, then Scrubby the spots after you have applied the vinegar solution if they are tough to lift, avoid getting it on your paint or wash it off asap after you are finished cleaning the glass.

If you follow these steps and do the job right, you will be amazed on how clean your glass can get, like new!