Okay, so not really... but I am frustrated. I love detailing the car, and keeping it clean all the time. But I jus't can't seem to get my windows clean!!!

I bought stoner's invisible glass and special 'glass cleaning' microfiber towels. I've tried diapers, regular microfiber towels and even windex.

The windows will look fine, but once the sun shines through them, you can see all the streaks!

One time I spent 45 minutes cleaning the windows, looking from every angle, cleaning the streaked spot again, only to create some other streak...

What's a girl to do!?

 

dont look at it and learn to live with it.
don't sweat the little things.

 

Something I learned from a window cleaner: use newspaper instead of towels. Also use a solution of vinegar, dish soap, and water mixed in a spray bottle. I've been using that for years to clean windows to a streak-free clean.

 

The vinegar solution IS the solution!

 

Vinegar, eh? *rubs chin* I will have to try it!

*wipes off sweat* Isn't this whole detailing forum about "sweating the little things"?? It's kinda hard not to look at the windows, too.... unless I want to stick my head out the window to see ahead... hehe

Rach

 

Windows are the worse! I going to try the vinger trick too.

 

My Mini windows are the worst. Do they put some special British coating that transforms into streaks when it reaches North America just to irritate us Americanos . Seriously I am on my 3rd windshield & they have all streaked I bought some glass polish but haven't tried it yet, will have to try the vinegar thing

 

I wish I could give you an exact mixture for the solution, but I generally just go by eye. If I were to guess, I'd say fill the bottle 3/4 of the way with water. Put in about 1/4 cup of vinegar, and just a dab of dish soap. Shake 'er up, and enjoy clean windows.

 

Tried the newspaper thing for kicks once, eehh, but I didn't know about the vinager thing.hmmm.

I usually use the invisible glass (much prefer the aresol can cleaners witht he foaming) I'll wipe it til it goes away, grab a second paper towel and pick up all the residue, streak free

 

Microfiber cloth for glass... I use the Maguier brand. For the whole car!

 

I use Prima Clarity and DP's glass cloth and never have streaks, ever.

 

I just stick my head out the window. No streaks. But my eyeballs do get dry at speed...

 

DP's glass cloth used with Clarity cleaner is a good alternative, but even still I occasionally see minor streaking. Honestly, the way to go (IMHO) is the DP cloth/Clarity for the major dirt followed by plain old Windex wiped WITH NEWSPRINT (I have a roll of unprinted stuff I got for free from a newspaper years ago - they just toss the last few hundred feet on their gigantic rolls and will give them away if you ask them). You can certainly use printed newspaper though - just try to avoid anything with colored ink on it - black is fine. Cleaning with Windex and newsprint is VERY streak-free in my experience.

 

hi rachel

The newsprint ink actually cleans when wet.

Are you talking about those lines of unknown origin that look like drips when you get them wet? I have them on my car windows, I cannot see them always. I clean my car spotless every week. I shouldnt have any streaking at all. I do the windows sometimes 2x a week as they are quick to do. It looks like they were chemically etched but I do not know if that is a valid idea.

I know that some companies like www.griots.com makes a mild glass polish. I think that this is the only way to start off truly clean without those odd lines I have. I noticed that RainX liquid solution stuff found just about anywhere, if applied to a super clean window takes off those lines either by filling them in or who knows why.

 

i use the Griots windowcleaner and have been happy with it.
I also use the lint-free MF towels made for glass...i got a large one
from DP and the smaller 4pack one from Griots. both perform well.

absolutely no streaks or clouding even in the sun.

 

Don't forget that you can save your grimy detailing clay for use on the windows! Clay that's too impregnated with grime to safely use on paint won't hurt your glass. Using clay on the windows will remove lots of the stuff that regular cleaning won't touch, and leaves the glass so clean that water beads up (similar to when you use Rain-X) on the surface. What many do is toss clay that's dirty or that was accidentally dropped on the garae floor in a zip-lock baggie clearly labeled "For Glass/Rim Use ONLY".

 

It's true...you've gotta track down that glass problem.

Best product I ever used was 1Z Windscreen Clear...that stuff was awesome (smelled bad but really worked)!!! It became hard to get for awhile so I switched to Invisible Glass. I do think I'll try the water/vinegar/detergent brew.

 

I have to agree with MLWagner.

I hate cleaning glass. I want a product that cleans just once, without streaks, and doesn't require buffing after it's been applied. I've tried Stoners and a copy of that product, Meguiar's NXT Glass Cleaner and their Pro Detailer line glass cleaner, and of course Windex, etc...

DP's Clarity is the best. I use it on my windshield and my customers cars because when used properly it is crystal clear. Best way to find out is drive the car when the sun is low and directly into the windshield--that's when you know whether the glass is clean or not.

Richard

 

Dang tried this wonderful Balsamic Vinegar and got a lot of dark streaking. With the cider vinegar, the car smelled like a BBQ and every time I tried the Red Wine variety, wanted to add olive oil. I will have to try champagne vinegar next…

 

For inside streaking, whatever cleaner I've used, I've found that using the cleaner and a window microfiber, followed up with a clean & dry window microfiber (no cleaner) will get rid of the streaks. The first cleaning gets the majority of the junk off of the window and the second dry buff cleans up any streaks.

On the outside, the junk stuck to the window is much tougher to remove. As mentioned above, I save my old clay and use it on the windshield. At least once a year I'll use glass polish and my PCDA (orange foam Sonus pad - the most agressive I have) to get anything else off of it and I apply Zaino to the outside of the glass to help it come clean with regular car wash water and a wash mit.

 

I find the biggest problem with window streaking occurs due to outgassing, usually from cleaners applied to the dash. My suggestion (and it works for me) is after wiping down the windows following application of Stoners, wait about an hour and wipe the windows down a second time without any solvent. It leaves a very clean, streak-free window.

 

Sometimes when I think "Gosh my windows are dirty" I simply look at my brake dust covered wheels and suddenly they seem really clean!

Prima Clarity + DP Glass Cloth then on the outside a coat of Prima Epic.

 

I'm still on my bottle of Einzett 1Z, and it is the best. But I wonder what I will replace it with. Do you find the stoner's to work as well?
And I definitely suggest using black&white newspaper for application.
That reminds me, I'm way overdue for cleaning my glass...

 

As some have said, the key to no streaks is to wipe the windows until they are dry.

I use Sonus Crystal Clear Vision and a glass-specific MF. Lots of spray, a quick wipe, and then a final wipe, all with the same MF, rotating it often. If the MF gets too moist to fully dry the glass, its time to break out another one.

 

Thanks for all the info guys and gals. I will have to try some of the ideas for myself. Sometimes it seems like if I don't dry the glass enough, there are streaks. And if I dry it just a tad too much, even worse streaks... but if I stop just before it's dry, and let the stuff evaporate, then it's really clean...