Does anyone have the magic formula for truly clean windows? I've tried every product I can find, soft towels, harsh towels, newspaper, paper towels, direct sunlight, shade, vinegar - even paint thinner and all I ever end up with is a smear job. I know it's me too as the same thing happens no matter what vehicle I'm cleaning. Can someone please help? Thanks everybody.

The problem you are having is with plasticizers. These are fumes that are given off by the plastics in the dash. They cause a hazy film on the interior of the windshield, and are compounded when you use stuff like armor all, or other types of protectants.

I use Stoner Invisible Glass in an aeresol can. You can get it at almost any auto store. Spray it on, let it sit for about 45 seconds to a minute and wipe off with a newspaper. Keep wiping until completely dry. You may have to use 3, 4 or even 5 sheets of newspaper, but keep using dry paper. Once it starts to get wet, switch to a new piece and you won't have any smears. Work on one section of glass at a time. Don't try to do the whole windshield at once. I usually do half and half. Just keep in mind, the only part of the newspaper that really works well is the black and white pages, and not paper pages with color ink. Good Luck!


There is one other product that works well. It is called Clear Vue. You can get it in many grocery stores, but I have never seen it in any auto stores.

windex...?

Stoners!!!

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/stn-91164.html

windex...?


no never use anyhing amonia based on car windows it turns the tint to poo

Does anyone have the magic formula for truly clean windows? I've tried every product I can find, soft towels, harsh towels, newspaper, paper towels, direct sunlight, shade, vinegar - even paint thinner and all I ever end up with is a smear job. I know it's me too as the same thing happens no matter what vehicle I'm cleaning. Can someone please help? Thanks everybody.
Im with you on this one. I keep my truck polished/waxed clean like a pro but cannot handle windows. everytime i think i got em clean i find out later at about dusk that i smeared em to hell!

edit: decided im just gunna take my windows out. problem solved....just need a good pair of goggles now....

no never use anyhing amonia based on car windows it turns the tint to poo
Window tint is on the inside..I'm talking about the outside...where it gets dirty.

I use an old claybar on the outside while I'm washing. I just use what's in my soap bucket to lube it. Then I follow up with Glass Plus (non-amonia) after it's dry. Cycle the wipers once before you do. They both leave a little stripe on the windshield.

The inside is what I'm still trying to perfect. I use Glass Plus in there too. No special reason, it's just what I had around the house. The sides and back windows look good but the windshield is a booger. I've started just cleaning the inside windshield twice. You have to be a contortionist to do it anyway. I try to keep my hand off the windshield while cleaning it too. Doing it twice was a reaction to seeing it looking smudged after it gets dark.

BTW i never spray glass cleaner on the glass, I always spray my paper towels or newspaper until it's saturated. Then I use a dry one to wipe it off. You can reuse the wet one on a couple of windows before you toss it. I don't want glass cleaner all ever my dash and stuff.


While I'm at it I wipe down the door jamb areas and rubber with 409/Fantastic.


Oh yea, you can make your own glass "baby wipes" to save a little time spraying. Just get a Tupperware-like container and fill it with folded paper towels. Then pour your cleaner in there and put the lid on it. They'll stay saturated and will be ready to use. You can even make your own cleaner using water and sudsy amonia (google glass cleaner). Never use cleaners with amonia if you have window tint film. It won't hurt factory tinted glass though.

Sorry so long. I'm done now. :)

Bought some Stoner's aerosal today and will try it out tomorrow. Thanks everybody.

Window tint is on the inside..I'm talking about the outside...where it gets dirty.If you have kids the inside will normally be worse than the outside.

If you have kids the inside will normally be worse than the outside.

I'll 2nd that one ALL DAY LONG!!!!!!!!

another thumbs up for Stoners Invisible Glass

Stoners baby!

It Works Great!!!!

I just use a microfiber cloth.

Stoners makes a great product but if what you're talking about is hard water stains on the outside of windows your best bet is a clay bar.

Stoners makes a great product but if what you're talking about is hard water stains on the outside of windows your best bet is a clay bar.

What he said but I found that the rag I used to take off chrome polish (mothers) works great to polish the water etching etc off of the outside of glass.

Stoners makes a great product but if what you're talking about is hard water stains on the outside of windows your best bet is a clay bar.
I second that... hard water spots are tough to remove, but the clay bar takes them away. I use the Stoner's as well.

I found that vinegar & water works well. it will get rid of the haze. and its cheap. which leaves extra $$ for mods.

Hard water spots on the outside of the windows. Bar keepers friend!! You can find it at any major grocery store in the cleaning supply area. I used it on my classic cars and it safe and absolutely works wonders on EXTERIOR windows.

Bar keepers friend does work very well.

Also, Mr. Clean magic eraser is great, and they are pretty cheap. Don't use it on your paint, though.

I'm going with "Nope, never clean".

I found that vinegar & water works well. it will get rid of the haze. and its cheap. which leaves extra $$ for mods.

I thought we were talking about cleaning windows not........

In all seriousness I use window cleaner in a can that I get from Sam's Club (I can get the name of it later if you're interested). It works great. I also use a microfiber cloth. It even gets dog slobber & little hand prints off the windows.

jguns2002, Keep it "G" now. :) Vinegar is an excellent all around cleaning product and is environmentally safe. It was used on windows eons before any windex came along or other commercial cleaner. Newspaper is also hard to beat as it doesn't leave lint behind.

Red

jguns2002, Keep it "G" now. :) Vinegar is an excellent all around cleaning product and is environmentally safe. It was used on windows eons before any windex came along or other commercial cleaner. Newspaper is also hard to beat as it doesn't leave lint behind.

Red

"G" as in Gross???

Try washing your windows with a wet solution. Just water and soap.........rinse off and do not wipe it. Use a squeegie ..............garuantee you will not get any marks and it will be clear as crystal. I started doing this after we paid some guy to come clean the windows at the house. It works great.

ive used windex for years on tintd glass...never messed up my tint at all

Try washing your windows with a wet solution. Just water and soap.........rinse off and do not wipe it. Use a squeegie ..............garuantee you will not get any marks and it will be clear as crystal. I started doing this after we paid some guy to come clean the windows at the house. It works great.

im going along with this the squeegie gets everything if you would start with stoners and then use a good squeegie to take it off u will be in business.

I had waterspots so bad on mine I was really close to taking a grinder to the dang thing lol,Tried a buffer,all window cleaners they make and the only thing that worked for me was the turtlewax hard compound, Even with that, I was pushing about as hard as I can just to get it off. Took about 45 minutes to do 1 dang window.

I wax my windows(outsides) when I wax my truck with Turtle Wax. When I wash my truck, I use water and a chamois on the outside of windows. I just bought a new chamois like I do every 6 months or so, a good chamois works good on windows. I use windex on the inside of the windows, tinted or otherwise. I too have a hard time keeping the inside of my windshield streak free.

In the state I live in glass coverage is free and there is no surcharge from the ins company. My point being it is easier to break and have replaced than it is to clean. HAHAHAHA

ive used windex for years on tintd glass...never messed up my tint at all

Same here, but my friend who prepares cars for shows and spends 16hours cleaning his vehicles with zaino just recommended invisible glass to me and I think I tommorow I will try it and see what the difference is !!

i use alot of glass cleaner since i own a autoglass company ,,i use sprayaway it works awsome with a microfiber towel....stoners is good to....

Has anyone ever tried the glass polish from Griots garage? I never have myself but i've used a whole lot of their stuff before and all i've used has been superb. Everything is a little pricey there but everything i've gotten so far lasts a long time i guess because it's not watered down. Anyway it is a good reference web site.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+care/car+polishing/car+polishes/fine+glass+polish%2C+16+ounces.do?search=basic&keyword=glass+polish&sortby=newArrivals&page=1

I have used the Griot's Garage glass polish. But only on the outside. The windshield seemed a bit smoother but I don't know that I noticed any difference in clarity when looking through the windshield.

Based on the recommendations from this thread I started using Stoners on the inside.

ill consider myself lucky, ive always just used windex and paper towels, but ill also wipe them down once or twice a week

My T makes my 5th Nissan(1 was a Datsun LOL), All have had windows hard to clean. They always look like the dog did em with his tail...

I keep my windows crystal clear with Meguiar's NXT window cleaner. The trick is to use two microfibers --spray on the window cleaner, and clean with one clean microfiber. Then wipe it dry with a second clean microfiber. If there are any streaks, use a third clean microfiber and it will remove them. You can use one large microfiber, fold it into eights and use one eight in place of each clean microfiber above. Use a Meguiar's ultimate wipe (made in S. Korea) as the chinese microfibers leave a trace of lint -- the ultimate wipe microfiber does not. I have five cars, three of which are show cars and this is the only way to keep the windows clean. I have tried every other product out there, including Stoner and the Meguiar's works the best, provided you use clean microfibers.

I clean mine with paper towels and windex, works for me.

Stoners and a Microfiber towel can't be beat!

If you have kids the inside will normally be worse than the outside.

or a dog that rides shotgun.

Hey im mike owner On the spot detailing in naples fl we detail for 10 new car lines including nissan,porsche bentley. U need microfiber towels to truly get those windows streak free. You can find them at sams club or sometimes costco for a really good deal.wash them once to break them in ,then use them to clean windows perfectly.. with glass cleaner!( can also get that at either store). i have never had luck with windex in a car save it for the house.

must buy microfiber towels to get streak free windows. especially if your doing them in the sun. must be newer towels but washed at least once.

Hi everyone to get hard water spots off your windows use gojo hand cleaner works good makes the windows like new. You can use it on your mirrows to, just becafuly because you can scatch them. I do my every other mouth or so. Let me know and good luck.

I use Eimann Fabrik Clear Vision II Glass cleaner. You can read more about it here (http://www.properautocare.com/eifaclviiigl.html). It cost $9.95 but I have never used a glass cleaner that works so well. I don't have to clean my windows as often with it as other stuff I used either. I also have a waterless autowash by them that works really well.

Adams Glass Cleaner..

Glass CLeaner (http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-54-glass-cleaner-16oz.aspx)