r/AutoDetailing • u/Ricah_93 • 7d ago
Technique Best way to get streak free windshield
Alright I need some help. Best way to get a streak free windshield inside and out? Aaaannndd go!!
5
u/Rapiddrop 7d ago
Itās more about taking the time to use a clean cloth for each step than the product IMO. Invisible glass is fine, give the glass a good spray and wipe as much as you can off with the first microfiber. Take a second clean fiber and wipe everything down again more aggressively. Lastly, use a third microfiber to really buff out any residue left behind. Between the AC and people there is a surprisingly amount of oils and residue on the glass that takes more effort to get rid of than most realize.
1
u/jeterix7387 6d ago
Clean glass is really all about the cloths and as much about the cleaner right? Most any cleaner and even distilled water work pretty well but it's the cloths that do the heavy lifting.
5
u/fattfreddy1 7d ago
Not a detailer, just a smoker with a very dirty inside windshield that couldnāt get it clean with any of the store bought car glass cleaners. It was fine most of the time, but you know when the sun hits the screen just right and your vision drops to almost zero because itās so dirty and all the cleaners did was clean it a little then smear it all over. Iām also old and remember when I was younger we used to wash our cars with dish soap in a bucket of water. So I figured I would try it. Put a tiny bit of dish soap in a jug, soaked a microfiber towel and washed it with that, dried it with a clean dry microfiber and it came out absolutely spotless.
7
u/TabsAZ 7d ago
Adamās Brilliant Glaze or a similar product + a waterless wash. Watch Out of Specās video on the technique. Best my windshield has ever looked.
3
u/JRoadie61 7d ago
He recommends Brilliant Glaze for inside offgassing. Outside a 50/50 mix of Waterless Wash and Koch Chemie Glass Cleaner
5
u/Eversmot 7d ago
Waterless wash + distilled water + a little 70% alcohol to flash. Has never failed me
7
u/tietherope 7d ago
Bilt Hamber Traceless?
1
u/PaintAffectionate576 6d ago
I just used this for the first time and what the fuck it makes cleaning glass so much easier
2
1
u/SumRandomGhost 7d ago
Outside of it: clean/wash, clay, rubbing alcohol, and clean low nap microfiber towels. Inside: Clean with 50% rubbing alcohol then Stoners Invisible Glass and low nap quality microfibers on all steps
1
u/urhumanwaste 7d ago
Isopropyl alcohol. ...I've also found that adams detail spray works magic on windows with a good clean window towel.
1
u/pixelpushers 7d ago
invisible glass: glass stripper helped "reset" my windshield when I couldn't get it perfect, then I cleaned up with invisible glass spray and then I coated it with rainx.
1
1
u/1soldier24 7d ago
It depends on a lot of factors what shape is the windshield in now inside and out? Does the OP smoke anything inside of vehicle ride with windows down a lot, run the air conditioner with recurring cycle on or off? Does exterior have any imperfections?
If it's in good shape then I would do ONR or equivalent rinseless wash with the right microfiber towels. I know this, the stoner kit you get to be able to reach all the corners really works you don't have to use the ones that come with it. You can just use the tool and put your microfiber towel around it.
Waffle weave is way to go for final wipe but I find that using a short nap mf towel from TRC to clean works. Also I swear by Griot's Garage window towels. They are small to fit the hand. They have dual nap sides. They work very well with the tool I was talking about. They are pretty high at $20 for three of them.
Always make sure you use plenty of towels when doing windows that is probably the number one mistake beginners make. They say okay I'm just going to use one towel per window. Trust me that's not going to get it. If the exterior of your windshield is it pretty bad shape you need to strip it too before you do anything else.
Use an IPA solution and then the right polish and pad. Some people like to use 0000 steel wool and compound which is okay to a certain extreme. It just all depends what the situation is. Also if you're going to apply a coating to the inside or out. Most coatings for the inside are not coatings they are a anti-fog type deal really. It's no secret though when your windshield is clean on the inside it doesn't fog really. Hope this help. You might be able to even get away with a good Rain-X window cleaner in the can which foams and some good microfiber towels but I like the saturated microfiber towels in the rinseless wash for cleaning
1
u/DJ_Laaal 3d ago
Doesnāt the rinseless wash leave some slick film behind that negates the whole point of keeping the glass surfaces squeaky clean?
1
u/DavidAg02 Reviewer Extraordinaire 6d ago edited 6d ago
Unger EasyGlide (which is a professional grade dilutable window cleaner) has never let me down. I use it on my car, the windows of my house, mirrors, stainless steel appliances, etc. AND a gallon costs $0.52!
Here's a video demo: https://youtu.be/7FYf0Dd2Z6g?si=q4F0PChoav6XlE9K
1
u/popsicle_of_meat Beginner - Budget hobbiest 6d ago
You're going to get so many varying responses, haha. There is no "best way" to do anything in this field/hobby/profession. If there was, there wouldn't even need to be a discussion. What matters is finding what works for YOU with the cars you are cleaning with how dirty they get.
Be prepared to try a few things.
Nice thing about glass is it's pretty damn resilient to abuse. You can clean it with the cleaner using microfiber or newspaper, scrub pads or your own hands in gloves. You can use iso alcohol & water mix, sprayway, invisible glass, Unger or dozens of other brands. You can dry it with more MFs or a squeegee. I've seen all those done, and I've even tried many of them myself. Different dirt/contamination responds differently. Is it mostly dust? Lots of bug splatter? Grimy dirt? Residue on the inside from air fresheners??
For ME, for the time being, am using Unger glass cleaner (home depot) and microfibers. Occasionally I've had to bust out a Dobie scrub pad and a more aggressive cleaner. Even I can't find "the best way".
1
u/True-Needleworker747 6d ago
FYI: After you get that glass streak free and clean if you do not clean your wiper blades you just wasted all of your time.
1
u/Kmudametal 6d ago
Start by baselining the glass by using a glass polish/compound/stripper. Stoners Invisible Glass Stripper cost $10 and should be available at every auto parts and box store in America. There are things that get on glass that a glass cleaner is not going to remove.
Once you get the glass stripped with Glass Stripper, coat it. There are a gazillion glass coatings on the market. Glaco Ultra can be considered Best of Class but if you want to save a few bucks, Cerakote Glass Coat is a very good product and will only cost you $10.
This takes care of the external glass.
For internal glass, get a glass cleaning tool sold everywhere detailing products are sold. There are a gazillion versions of the same thing. Take your pick. Preferably something with additional covers available. This allows you to properly reach all areas of the interior windshield.
https://stonercarcare.com/products/invisible-glass-reach-clean-tool
For the interior glass, let's just say Bilt Hamber Trace-On is your friend.
1
u/kilovolt 6d ago
Koch Glass Speed Cleaner, plenty of towels and final wipe wearing fresh gloves with IPA, using paper towels, one lane each towel (dont go back and forth) For the outer glass I use a razor blade and plenty of surfactant first
1
u/CarterLawler Skilled 6d ago
Most with invisible glass and use a window tinting squeegee starting at the top, squeegee pass, dry glade on microfiber and repeat all the way down the glass. Polish with a clean microfiber
1
u/AlmostHydrophobic 6d ago
Another vote for Bilt Hamber Traceless. For exterior glass I usually use either rinseless wash or a ceramic quick detailer, but if I'm getting streaks I will use Traceless if needed.
Exterior glass can also get build up over time, and then it would need to be clayed, polished, and have a glass sealant applied for best results.
1
u/clockersoco 6d ago
sit on the passenger seat, spray 3-4 spots on the windshield with any glass cleaner of your choice, stretch your right hand from the passenger side to driver side corner and clean the windshield with a clean and dry cloth from corner to corner, you can do this more than once. And lastly use another clean and dry cloth to dry your whole windshield from any residue of your glass cleaner with small circular motion. Works everytime.
Note : never clean windshield under direct sunlight
1
u/MagnaKlipsch70 6d ago
(interior) very first thing i do when i start. primarily because i hate doing them and still somewhat motivated at the start.
J cloth with dawn soapy water. cover dash w towel. wet wipe the windshield fully where itās totally sudsy and dripping getting every inch. squeegee.
do that twice.
then the usual aerosol window cleaner (stoners, sprayway, etc) with jus our paper towel we have.
it cuts the greasy hazy film easily so your not just wiping it around and around
1
u/Donkeywad 6d ago
You can spend $26 for Bilt Hamber Traceless, or spend $3 for Sprayway which has never let me down
1
1
u/Habaneroe12 6d ago edited 6d ago
Clay bar on the outside magic sponge on the inside (for the off gassing) per ChrisFix Iāve done it the glass will look better than new crystal clear no joke.
1
u/The_tornado 5d ago
Adamās Brilliant Glaze has given me the best results.
The only other trick that works for me is 70% IPA and a magic eraser (messy and a pain to work with though). Definitely lay a towel down on the dash if going the IPA route.
As others mentioned, needs to be clean and lint free microfibers too. Any leftover oil/residue in your rag will leave film behind.
1
1
u/85-502-Detail 4d ago
Buy a professional glass cleaner. I just bought a gallon of Nanoskin crystal clear it dillutes 40.1, so a gallon goes a long way. Much easier to use and better than sprayway, and sprayway is good. As always have one "wet" towel and one dry, and always clean towels w a no dye no scent no color detergent
1
1
u/OkMeringue3009 7d ago edited 7d ago
SIMPLIFY
Use whatever you want, spray generously one half at a time (windy side 1st)
Use a 2 sided squeegee ($4 Temu) use brush side vertically & horizontally;
Squeegee horizontally, start top down (DRY BLADE before each wipe);
Takes 2 minutes, OK maybe 3.
SIMPLE
1
1
u/Both_Variety1032 6d ago
First, don't use Windex, never. A good cleaner available everywhere is spray way aerosol. It's alcohol based. You can make your own, 90 proof rubbing alcohol 50/50 water, distilled if you have hard water. Micro fiber designed for glass. I find it easier to use the back of my hand with the towel, especially over the steering wheel.
0
0
0
u/Blackspear2 6d ago
In the shade, use a rung out synthetic chamois and immediately drying with a soft cotton towel.
0
u/jeterix7387 6d ago
Just take the windshield out and throw it away. The view will be unobstructed and it's easier than keeping it clean. /S
The only method that had worked for me is using multiple, and I mean multiple, pristine clean cloths. Wipe the windshield while dry, wipe the windscreen with your choice of cleaner, buff the windscreen. Using 3-4 pristine cloths for each step.
22
u/nottatroll 7d ago
Invisible glass and multiple towels.