How To Clean Vehicle Windows

Clean car windows do not only give your ride a classy look, but they also enhance visibility when driving. Unfortunately, how to clean car windows without leaving streaks remains a mystery to many car owners. The ugly streaks that stay after every car window cleaning session might be frustrating, but you can avert this. Dirty windows reflect poorly on your car, yet they tend to get dirty especially if you drive daily. If you smoke or when the air is filled with pollen, the chances are that your windows will build up with dirtiness.

Taking time to clean car windows leads to substantial aesthetics improvement. If you are looking to have clear windows that look good both from the inside and outside, you need to learn the best way to clean car windows.

wash car window

Several Myths and Wrong Opinions!

"My opinion is that…" You have probably heard many opinions out there, most of which fail terribly. There is a sea of endless car window cleaning opinions out here that rarely works. If you are looking to have smudge free and streak free windows for your ride, it is more about the cloth, technique and finding the best auto glass cleaner than it is about the procedure.

The Outside and Inside

Your car windows have two sides; the in and out. Although the steps are often similar, the truth is that they cover different sets of issues and thus require specific strategies for streak-free car windows.

Outside Window Problems Include:

Water spots, excessive dirt, and fall-out
Exposed to weather and elements

Not all glass is made equal, and several varieties exist, depending on the window make, age and how often you clean them.

Inside Window Problems Include:

Window tint film
Film build-up- comes from gassing of interior parts such as vinyl, rubber, and plastics. Out-gassing refers to the process through which the chemicals used to manufacture a car release gasses when exposed to UV lighting, heat and air. You will notice this by the hazy build-up that arises over time

Considering that glasses are not made equally, some variables listed above might apply to the inside part too.

Guide on How Best to Clean Your Car Windows

clean windows

Related Post: Waxing Car Windows: Is It a Good Idea?

Save Your Windows for Last

When cleaning your ride, you should always wash the windows last. That way, you will avoid doing unnecessary extra work. It will also help you to prevent contaminating your windows with grime.

Pull Your Vehicle Into the Shade

Car bodies absorb heat quickly. When you leave your vehicle in the sun for prolonged periods, it will feel hot to touch. If this is the case, try parking it under the shade and start cleaning only when it feels cool. However, you can use water to accelerate heat evaporation from the windows.

Assemble Your Cleaning Supplies

Ammonia based window cleaners, like many window cleaners in the market, might damage the tinting and could also dry out the car rubber seals. Consider visiting your automotive store or local hardware to buy a glass cleaner that is made purposely for automotive use. If you purchase the concentrated formula, make sure to dilute it using distilled water for excellent results. Besides the Best Auto Glass Cleaner, you will also require:

Sponge
Bucket
Distilled water
Cloth, the most recommended is microfiber towels

Clean the Rear and Front Windows

The size and angle of these windows make them the hardest to clean. Therefore, mix your cleaner well and spray some of it on your window or use a sponge. You can now use a clean cloth to wipe the rear and front windows clean. Here are some tips to ease the process:

Clean in several directions to make it easier to notice the missed spots or smudges. For instance, you can swipe up and down or left to right.
Do not wipe in circles. Cleaning car windows should not be like polishing paint. If you rub the window cleaner in a circular motion, you might end up leaving the streaks that you would like to avoid.
Do not use paper towels. Paper towels tend to be highly absorbent, and they are likely to remove grime or dirt from the glass. If you want to be effective at cleaning car windows, forget the paper towels and use sponges or a piece of cloth.

Work on the Stubborn Bug Spatter on the Windows

When your cleaning solution and cloth are not strong enough to eliminate the patches of dry soap on the windows, you may have to take dire measures. There are formulated products that are meant to get rid of the stubborn stains from car windows, but you can remove the splatter by using a wet rag.

Some experts recommend the use of a little baking soda on the spots to remove the spots. Once you sprinkle the baking soda on the dirt, allow the solution to stay for a few moments to set the stain. Next, you can buff it out using the microfiber cloth.

Roll Down Your Side Windows

A common area that is missed when cleaning windows is usually at the top, where the glass slides into place inside the rubber seal. To keep off these unsightly lines, roll your window down a little bit then wipe the area using the cloth. If this part is dirty, consider using some extra cleaner on the area.

Clean the Wiper Blades

The last step is cleaning the wiper blades. Use some cleaner to break the dirt buildup on the wipers then wipe them dry using a piece of cloth. The buildup on the edges can be harmful to the windshield and might make the blades to wear off quickly if you do not maintain them well. To avert this, use a wiper treatment on the vehicle after wiping the edges clean.

Keeping your car windows clean is important for aesthetics and safety reasons. Besides, dirty glass makes it hard to see at night or during temperature swings or in rainy weather. The stubborn streaks that persist after cleaning windows are annoying. Luckily, the above steps will leave you with spotless car windows.

Related Post: Replacing Windshield Wiper Blades

Sources:

How to Clean Car Windows – wikiHow
How to Clean Tinted Car Windows – wikiHow
5 Tips for Cleaning Glass Without Streaks – howstuffworks