Cleaning car windows is undoubtedly an essential thing for proper car care and maintenance. It’s important not only for the aesthetics but also for keeping the service life of your vehicle and maintaining a high level of safety.
On the other hand, asking for professional help can be costly and even time-consuming, especially if your detailer is far away from your place. Furthermore, achieving a streak-free glass is a lot simpler than you may think.
All you have to do is follow our advice on how to clean car windows without streaks, and you’ll have sparkling car glass in no time!
What You Should Know
The maintenance of your car windows is the final touch of taking care of your vehicle. It’s normal to get residues from other products on your mirrors and windows while cleaning and repairing the car surfaces. That’s why you need the right technique for removing the debris from your car glass.
Smudges and streaks can appear on your glass windows as a result of any of the following reasons:
- You’re using the wrong type of cleaner
- You’re using the wrong type of microfiber cloth
- You don’t use enough cleaning product to wipe down the glass surface
You’re still wondering how to get streak-free car windows? Just follow our steps!
Get the Right Tools
Before following our guidelines on how to clean car windows without streaks, you should first get some materials:
An auto glass cleaner
When it comes to car window maintenance, you must invest in a quality auto glass cleaner. These days, the market is saturated with many cleaning products, so you should be careful while you’re choosing one.
It can be a fragrance solution, but it’s not necessary. The most important thing is to contain an effective and safe formula. You should be aware that fragranced solutions contain harsh chemicals.
On the other hand, you should avoid ammonia-based products. Ammonia is a chemical that releases toxic and pungent fumes. Besides that, it can damage other car parts such as rubber, leather, or vinyl. To put it simply, it’s a dangerous ingredient that you don’t want in your car.
If you just don’t want to shell out, you can make your auto glass cleaner by using ingredients that you will easily find in your kitchen. You will need white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, distilled water, and a spray bottle.
Mix the distilled water with the rubbing alcohol in the bottle with a 1:1 ratio. Add a tablespoon of white vinegar, shake it to blend all the ingredients well, and voilà! You’re ready to go!
A set of microfiber towels or cloths
You may probably be tempted to use any rags, but here’s a thing that you should know. When it comes to streak-free car window cleaning, the best option is to use a microfiber towel. It’s more absorbent than a traditional cleaning cloth and makes cleaning more effective and easy.
Besides that, these kinds of towels are lint-free, which means minimal to no streaks and debris. Furthermore, they’re soft and won’t cause scratches.
How to Clean Car Windows Without Streaks: 8 Steps
Keep your car away from direct sunlight
One of the common situations that lead to white streaks on your car windows is if you leave your vehicle in direct sunlight after cleaning. Before you start cleaning your vehicle, it’s highly recommended to find a spacious and uncluttered place. It should work as a shade from direct sunlight and strong winds.
Brush off any dust, sand, or dirt
Before spraying the solution directly on the glass surface, brush off any sand, dust, or dirt. This is how you will ensure that you won’t cause any scratches or abrasion later.
Stay consistent with the order that you’ll choose
You should be consistent and stick to the order that you’ll choose while cleaning your car. For example, you can start with the exterior windows and continue to the vehicle’s interior or vice versa.
Spray the solution and wipe with the towel
Apply enough solutions because it may drop down quickly and leave streaks. Afterward, just wipe with a cloth or a towel. Make sure that the applications are even.
Here’s a small tip for a spraying solution: instead of spraying all the windows at once, it’s best to spray in sections. This way, you will avoid the drying solution that leaves unsightly spots.
Rather than circular scrubbing, use back-and-forth or up-and-down motions. Wipe until all the contaminants and grime are removed. You will have to put enough force as well, but be careful not to damage the integrity of your car’s windows.
Dedicate more time to removing all the stubborn stains
Getting streak-free windows that won’t hamper your visibility while you’re driving consists of a slow, steady process. So, it’s not as simple as you may think.
Don’t be afraid of applying tighter pressure when removing more persistent stains, like those from splattered bugs, mud, or bird droppings. You may spray the solution directly over the stain and wait for two to three minutes. This will make the wiping easier.
Roll down the car windows
To clean your car windows thoroughly, don’t forget to roll them down. That’s how you’ll have easy access to clean the top edge as well.
Use a fresh cloth to finish
Once you’ve done wiping over the solution, use another fresh cloth to wipe the windows once again. Your goal should be a shiny and clear glass surface!
Here is another small tip: keep the two pieces of cloth separate so you’ll avoid mistakenly using the filthy cloth for your just-cleaned windows. In this way, you’ll prevent your flawless finish from streaking or smearing.
Repeat these steps while cleaning the interior auto glass
Once you’ve done with your exterior windows, repeat the same steps on your interior windows. For this purpose, we recommend you work from the inside of your car. In addition, when you’re cleaning the inside of your windshield, work from the passenger seat. This way, you’ll have more space to clean.
Another detail to keep in mind while cleaning your vehicle’s interior is spraying the solution on the towel instead of directly onto the windows. In this way, no dripping residue will come in touch with the fabric and cushioned parts of your car.
