Window cleaning

[New to TB]

Apparently I suck at cleaning windows. I could get them clean and spotless, but I can't keep the horrible streaks from coming back the next day. Today was rainy and the windows fogged up, I could see every single stroke that I made with the paper towels, ON EVERY DAMN WINDOW!

It's always the same, on ever car and with every type of cleaner, with paper towels or microfiber towels. The lastest cleaner that I've tried is Windex and some type of foaming cleaner that I bought because it's same for the front windows that I recently tinted.

So what do you guys do??

[rcam81]

I use Sparkle Glass Cleaner and some old cotton diapers.

[deathbynosleep]

no matter what i always end up with some streaks. I have been using stoners and a lint free rag, or microfiber rag, or whatever else is available...nothing seems to ever work perfectly. I usually put on my defrosters when it's raining...stops the windows from fogging.

[ieatglue]

I use a leather thing. It's deer skin that's really dry, but when you soak it, it becomes so soft. When you dry your car with it, the leather dries up as you go so you don't have to squeeze it dry. It leaves my windows streak free:) It's about $60-$70 though

It looks exactly like this:
http://www.armoralleather.com/images/JuJu/Golden_Deer_Skin.jpg

[homertime]

In america we call that a chamois... :raspberry

Yeah they work great... also some companies make a non-animal skin version, Autozone sells them

Sorry I keep busting on you... it's nothing personal :worried:

[ieatglue]

Non taken, english's my second language. Arabic's my 1st, hence i understand what trailblazin' says ;) I speak some french too. I don't know if the non-animal ones work as well, I had one but I never liked it :m2:

[homertime]

I made a joke against another comment you made recently so I didn't want you to think I was picking on you or something

I think you're right about the "synthetically made" ones, they're good, but don't work the same as a real leather one

To get back onto the subject, my dad swears by Advance Auto Parts Glass Cleaner... he said it's the only thing he's ever used that doesn't streak

[jimbob4411]

an old armywives trick i learned was to crumple up newspaper spray on windex on glass then use newspaper as you would papertowel does not scratch try it on an old window see what happens first but works great for me:)

[bmm354]

an old armywives trick i learned was to crumple up newspaper spray on windex on glass then use newspaper as you would papertowel does not scratch try it on an old window see what happens first but works great for me:)

I've been using this trick for years--works great and you can't beat the price! As for the glass cleaner itself, the best I've used is 3M Glass Cleaner. Windex isn't bad either.

[OurZoo]

I use Stoners also. I see the same thing happen if I go out for the night and come back to the truck in cold weather.

[New to TB]

Stoners is the brand name of the foaming cleaner that I currently have, the one that is safe for tint.

I'm not all that worried about seeing the streaks in foggy windows (altho I don't particularly like it), I can't stand when I see streaks on the windows on a normal sunny day. Just backing out of the driveway at 3:00 in the afternoon, the sun made my back window un-see-able.

I've heard of the newspaper technique, but it seemed like it would be more work than it's worth. If you guys are having good luck with it, maybe I'll try it.

Thanks for the replies!

[greythunder]

I also use the newspaper trick on the outside. As for the inside i just use the blue shop towells. The cleaner i use is the naper spray cleaner in a can. That stuff will even take pop stains off of door panels. LOL!!

[deathbynosleep]

newspaper works pretty good...just make sure everyone in your house has finished reading it first.

[homertime]

never heard the newspaper trick... interesting...

I would have thought that all that ink would leave a residue

[Black Ice]

never heard the newspaper trick... interesting...

I would have thought that all that ink would leave a residueThats interesting that has been around for a long time, for you older folks i understand for you young people not knowing.:)

[ieatglue]

The good thing about it is that you'll have something to read while you work :D

[Envoy Fan]

I prefer using microfiber towels to do windows. I do have to do them twice or they will streak. If you use newspaper, you might consider putting rubber gloves on first, the newsprint does tend to get on your hands.

[dntnvme]

When cleaning windows, #1 make sure you have a clean towel:yes: , or old t-shirt. The t-shirt seems to work the best:yes: . If you smoke or the person smokes, whip the window with a damp towel cleaning all residue, Then spray your windows cleaning solution on the window. Make the towel or t-shirst into a fold or sqyare shape, wipe the majority of the solution on one side, then come behind on the dry side to get the bling bling, you want in the windows. I'm a detailer been cleaning cars for some years now, and that's the main thing my clients love. Clean, streak free, windows:rotfl: .

[papo020]

an old armywives trick i learned was to crumple up newspaper spray on windex on glass then use newspaper as you would papertowel does not scratch try it on an old window see what happens first but works great for me:)


That's EXACTLY what I do!!! Been doing it since my first car!! I'm only 22; but us hispanics are mostly close with our families; so I learned that from my grandfather when he was showing me all these old techniques.:D

[deathbynosleep]

not sure if anyone said this yet, but i read a tip a while a ago on some website to clean the outside going up/down and the inside left/right. That way when you see the streaks or a spot that was missed you can tell which side of the window it is on. Good stuff if you can remember to always go the same directions when you're cleaning.

[papo020]

I don't think anyone said that yet; but I do like that idea. Gonna have to try it next time I clean my baby :D

[tblazin18]

yea i use a chamois works great every time. mine is non-animal skin as well

[Blulytes]

Newspaper and Ardex Glass Cleaner....

The problem with the up/down on the outside and the left/right on the inside is that I never remember which way I did what... I just take my finger and smudge... problem solved!

[New to TB]

Newspaper and Ardex Glass Cleaner....

The problem with the up/down on the outside and the left/right on the inside is that I never remember which way I did what... I just take my finger and smudge... problem solved!
The main streaks I am worried about are on the windshield and back window, I use the wiper to see if it is on the outside or not.

[deathbynosleep]

Newspaper and Ardex Glass Cleaner....

The problem with the up/down on the outside and the left/right on the inside is that I never remember which way I did what

I have that same problem too...

[thaar]

I swear by Stoners invisible glass with two lint free rags. I use the first one to clean and absorb most of the cleaner. And I go over the entire window again with the second rag to whipe up the residue. i find this works well for eliminating streaks.

[JLous_EnVy]

i use a chammy while im drying my car and then just use a paper towel with windex on it to reclean them

[ltz03]

try not to use much cleaner, just enough half a spray on side windows. the rear window wipe with the defroster,side to side. the front window clean the outside first spray lightly wipe clean then use a new cloth to dry. you almost want to polish your windows keep wiping them, and try to clean them in the sun this way you'll see you mistakes. this has always worked for me

[BryTblzr]

I keep it simple, just a slight spray of water and micro-fiber cloth!:m2:

[NorthRainer]

I always use two different rags to clean the windows on my cars, one to get the liquid off the window and the other to get rid of the residue. I use an automotive class cleaner that is tint safe, windex can actually increase the purple effect that can occur on tint.