sick of windex

Because it contains ammonia and isn't suitable for cars. Use distilled water and a microcloth after washing the car.

See this detailing video:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4959828_car-detailing-windows.html
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Invisible Glass......great stuff!

 

Stoner's Invisible Glass. You wont use anything else.

 

I use Griots, it is better but your problem may be the brand of paper towels if that's what you are using. Some leave a residue. I finish up with a clean microfiber.

Dave

 

+1 for Stoner. Best glass cleaner on cars I've used. If that doesn't take care of it, I use a paper towel slightly dampened with a mix of water and rubbing alcohol.

- T

 

You're not using enough of it.

Windscreens in cities build up a uniform coating of pollutants. Once you start cleaning the window, you start making streaks in that coating, and have to wash it *all* away, or it winds up looking terrible.

I notice the same thing on CRTs (TVs and computer monitors) -- once you start cleaning a little, you pretty much have to do the whole thing fully. (CRTs are worse, because they electrostatically attract coatings.)

I've had moderate luck on car windows with the foaming glass cleaners, but just a lot of water and a chamois works just as well.
(Give or take some elbow grease.)

My father swore by water and newsprint. But newspapers aren't what they used to be -- either in materials or content.

 

The guy at Mother's said wash your hands first so you don't get oils on the MF cloth. They've got a great glass cleaner.

 

Hahahah

I also +1 to Stoner's Invisible Glass.

 

Using newspaper also helps with the streaks.....

 

Newspaper is an old wives tale. The best glass cleaner made is Sprayway, sold at most Costco stores. Its the same stuff used by commercial glass washing equipment for insulated glass. The best towels are Job Squad paper towels. As I understand it, they actually contain recycled cloth fibers, we used them for washing oversize IG units where a perfectly clean surface is required.

 

You can also get it at Target. I'm on the fence whether Sprayway is the very best... because I also find the WURTH glass cleaner to be insanely good, but it's not a retail product.
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I tried Adams Glass Cleaner from www.detailersdomain.com . It seems to work quite well. However I also bought from them some micro fiber towels. One set of them required washing first. I used them without washing and it left a mess of tiny fibers all over the windshield that really sparkle in the sun. I was able to wipe them off with a more expensive micro fiber towel from Detailers. I have saved the cheap ones for my leather interior (after washing them). The Uber All Purpose towels left the mess. The Uber Classic seem OK without washing first.

 

I use water (lightly damp rag) and elbow grease.

 

Pretty hard sell there.... Garage streaks on the screen getting to you?

Here's another wives tale.... Tranny fluid works 10 times better and lasts 10 times longer on your tires than Armor All....

 

The older ink print in newspapers used to act to polish the glass lightly (very fine abrasive). I am not even sure if that is applicable anymore.

Windex (and amonia based cleaners) are fine for automotive glass but can damage the film of tinted windows.

I have used just about every glass cleaner known to man, and have always found that technique is more important than the actual product.

Use plenty of solution to lift the contamination off of the glass. Agitate over the area with a firm motion, then switch to cleaner towel to remove the oils and dirt before the solvents flash and it is redeposited. Finally switch to a lint free microfiber and buff until all product has been removed evenly.

If you are just removing a bird bomb or some bugs from an isolated spot, it is often easier to use a quick detailer spray.

If you want a good window cleaner that works extremely good in bulk, you buy 1 gallon of Meguiar's Detailer Line Glass Cleaner for under twenty dollars. It is meant to be dilluted 10:1, so you get 11 gallons of Glass cleaner. It works as well as just about any glass cleaner on the market.

I personally like using Optimum No Rinse and a sponge, followed by a squeegee.

Cleaning the inside of windows, particularly the front window, is always the hardest for me. The oils have no were to float too, and remain stuck on the glass, so as you wipe, you smear them away. The solvents in the window clean have no where to out-gas, and you get a wet, streaky mess, that can require several applications to get perfect.

 

yes sir!

 

Aftre watching an episode of that show Dirty Jobs where he washed the windows on a skyscraper I have used a very dilute solution of Dawn dishwashing liquid and water. It has worked great.

 

You have a 4 year old boy too? My god, I'm getting sick of watching that show with Luca.

 

Invisible Glass and a micro-fiber cloth is the best combination I have found, bar none. Don't use paper towels as they contain water-absorbing chemicals that cause streaks.

 

It wll ruin your interior, the ammonia!!!

Go with the two RainX products, the outside water repellent, and the interior anti fog.....and use two different applicators and buffers! LOL!

 

Great post.

I have used dozens of diffent brands, yet never did a line 'em up and test comparison.

I can say in my experience that dedicated automobile glass cleaner make a difference over Windex and general glass cleaners. Perhaps because auto glass cleaners design for plastic and leather fume buildup. I'd also say foaming cleaners work better than spray cleaners.

Personally, I was not impressed by Stoners yet if that is what is on the shelf I'd buy it again although I would price shop it against any auto brand glass cleaner (Mothers, Rain Ex, Turtle Wax etc).

My favorite is GM (General Motors) foaming glass cleaner, which one can buy at most GM dealerships.

I also follow glass cleaner with a Rain Ex application.

 

Actually, I've heard that conceals scratches on mirrors.

 

I have in fact washed the glass in my 308 at least three times in the last 25 years. On the other hand in my over forty years in the glass business I have washed liturally miles of glass. Never used old newspaper since I was about 10 years old.

 

+++1
Alcohol based, no Ammonia, safe for window tint.
Also highly recommended by my local leather upholsterers for basic cleaning of your leather interior.

When washing and drying your favorite window washing rags DO NOT use fabric softener or drier sheets when drying. It leaves a residue in the cloth that comes out when you do your windows. This causes streaks and cloudiness.

Half the cost of the fancy stuff too.
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As far as newspaper goes, it's the abrasiveness of the newsprint itself that helps lift water spots etc...I have used it on occasion just to see if it still works and it does to a point.
If you read instructions for the care and cleaning of eye glasses with plastic lenses it will state NOT to use wood fiber based wipers like Kleenex and paper towels just for this reason. It's abrasive.




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