Windshield Cleaning - Inside Job?

[GregGleason]

The inside on my windshield has a layer of something (dirt, grease, etc.) and Windex seems to not clean it that well.

Is there something better that someone can recommend (either store-bought or "home brew" if fine) that can get it clean?

Greg

[Ford Prefect]

I try to stay away from house cleaners. Try any of the Foam Glass Cleaners in the Automotive section (or Parts Store). The Foam is easier to work with inside the car and IMHO cleans much better.

Just as an Example
Aquapel

but most foam cleaners will do a good job

hope that helps
Cj

[troj]

I know exactly what you're talking about -- every car seems to get it. No idea what it is, but it's a pain to remove.

That said, what I've found works best (for me, at least) is to first use Armor All Glass Cleaning Wipes, then go back afterwards and get rid of the resulting streaks with a clean microfiber cleaning cloth. Both are readily available at auto parts stores.

-Kevin

[El Phantasmo]

3% amonia, like the kind you buy at the grocery store or 99% isopropal alcohol or denatured alcohol

You can use these fluids for lots of other stuff too. Just don't don't spend too much time in the car with the door closed.

[jd2cylman]

Another old trick is to use newspaper to wipe off the cleaning solution of your choice. Seems to leave less streaks. Worked better 20 years ago, before the changes to newsprint, but still works decent enough.

My dad uses a mixture of water and white vinegar on the tractor windows. Doesn't collect as much dust. On dry days doing fieldwork the dust really settles on everything. I remember one time doing fieldwork ahead of the planter, I had to bang on the windows every other round to knock the dust off the windows. I was just glad I had a cabbed tractor!
Adrian

[H_Rocket]

I know exactly what you're talking about -- every car seems to get it. No idea what it is, but it's a pain to remove.

It is actuallY outgas products from the plastics inside the car. Basically as the plastics heat up they begin to break down. That is the haze on the window that nobody can clean off. a little alcohol in water will help clean it off.

[T-Rex]

I use a splash of white vinegar in water. You have to use paper towels, or better is "flour sack cloth", or any soft cloth that has not had fabric softener used on it. Once over with vinegar & water, then wipe it dry with a clean towel.

[Barracuda]

vinegar and water use newspaper to clean it with something about the ink(black and white)..my wife and mom both use to clean houses for a living

[tonka]

The detailers we hire at work to prep vehicles for special events (nothing funnier than watching them detail a garbage truck ) use either Stoner's Invisible Glass or Sprayway Glass Cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Stoner's seems to work a bit better but Sprayway is much easier to find (Big Orange carries it) and is cheaper as well.

[JPVegh]

Glass cleaners will work but you may need to go at it several times and use a new cloth for every application, a final buffing out with a clean dry cloth should take out the streaks. I keep old tee-shirts as rags specifically for cleaning glass. I typically go through four or five clean rags to clean one inside winshield. It's a pain in the butt as well as the shoulders and elbows.

[Stymye]

I use water with a bit of dish soap and a sponge.
than hit it with a clean damp towel and final polish with a clean dry towel.
It makes the dirtiest window(even in a smokers car) squeaky clean with the minimal amount of effort

I've learned that windex is great for fingerprints, touchup and very mild cleaning tasks .
anything more than that and it just smears it around till my arms are wore to a frazzle.
I hardly use it any more

[plano-doug]

Glass cleaners will work but you may need to go at it several times and use a new cloth for every application...

That's been my experience, too. A heavy soaking to get the dirt off, then a second, lighter spraying (using fresh towels) to get it streak-free. In the second go-round, I just work the middle and stay away from the edges. It's there's a streak on the edge, it won't bother me, but if it's in my sight line, it'll drive me nuts.

Also, it helps to pick a time of day such that it's not too hot, not too cold, and not in direct sunlight, or the chance for streaks goes way up.

Doug

.

[powderburner]

Another old trick is to use newspaper....

I use newspaper and water.

I don't know what makes it work, whether there is some sort of chemical left in the paper as a result of the printing process or if the paper itself is just the right amount of 'rough' or whatever, it just works for me.

You have to use the actual newspaper though, the glossy advertising inserts don't work.

[jadebox]

If nothing works to clean the window, try glass polish. I use a product called Zaino Z-12 Clear-View Glass Polish. It removed a film off the outside of my van's window that nothing else would remove.

We use it once a year on our Mustang's windshield to help keep it looking new.

Unless your windshield has small scratches, just use it like a cleaner, don't rub it like a polish. Just spread it on and wipe it off with rags or newspaper.

It's not recommended for coated glass or plastic, so you probably should test it in a small, out of the way, area of the windshield first.

-- Roger

[JStitz]

I think El Phantasmo said it first.90% rubbing alcohol or denatured will clean the grimiest 1970's nicotine grunge off of your Camaro windshield.Alcohol desolves most tar and petroleum based grunge..just sayin'.
You can always go back with windex or something water/ammonia based.

[GregGleason]

Thanks for the tips everyone!

What I did is get a 50/50 mix of distilled water and denatured alcohol. Then added about a tea spoon of vinegar.

For the towels, I used Scott shop towels.

It worked pretty well, and it was a bonus that I had all the material on hand. For me it took one towel to clean and another to dry. The window got "draggy" when it was approaching the clean state.

Greg

[Pantherjon]

I know exactly what you're talking about -- every car seems to get it. No idea what it is, but it's a pain to remove.

The bane of newer vehicles(1998 and newer)..The materials used in the interior degas and accumulates on the interior surface of the glass..Most of it comes from the dashboard materials and if you have a vinyl upholstery..I have been dealing with a new(I guess as the car is 7 years old) degassing from my dash and have a film on the inside of my windshield that needs to be taken care of I too, have found the below works well

That said, what I've found works best (for me, at least) is to first use Armor All Glass Cleaning Wipes, then go back afterward and get rid of the resulting streaks with a clean microfiber cleaning cloth. Both are readily available at auto parts stores.

-Kevin

[GDJ]

vinegar and water use newspaper to clean it with something about the ink(black and white)..my wife and mom both use to clean houses for a living

Same here, but I use a microfibre cloth. Works great!