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2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Windshield Cleaning - What do you use?
I have the worst time keeping the OUTSIDE of my windshield clean. Even after I think I have it done, as soon as the sun hits it at the right angle, I can see smears that appear to be caused by road film/grime etc.
Lots of smears, smudges, haze can be due to wax or detailer on the windshield. I wash the windshield with a blue dawn solution first, then dry it. Then I use the GM Glass cleaner. It works great and never a problem with streaking or smudging. It only 5 bucks at the dealership.
Invisible Glass is ammonia free and works pretty good. Also, an old trick is old newspapers where you wipe off with dry balled up newspaper. Below is what was discussed on different thread.
Quote:
"I use a griots garage window cleaning cloth. It's double sided, one side cleans, the other polishes. Another tip, wipe interior horizontally, exterior vertically (or vice versa). That way you can tell which side of the glass the streak is on".
Owners Manual:
To clean, use a terry cloth fabric dampened with water. Wipe droplets left behind with a clean dry cloth.
If necessary, use a commercial glass cleaner after cleaning with plain water. To prevent scratching, never use abrasive cleaners on automotive glass. Abrasive cleaners or aggressive cleaning may damage the rear window defogger.
Cleaning the windshield with water during the first three to six months of ownership will reduce tendency to fog.
Quote:
For me, this is the absolute best window cleaner, hands down...Asked my Toyota dealer what they use for new car prep.
By the way, add me to the list of people who say that the Ultimate Cloth works. I used it for the first time this weekend. I like it. I am impressed.
I use Invisible Glass, and it cleans the glass, but when I use a paper towel instead of cloth towel, I think it must dissolve some of the binders in the paper towel because it leaves streaks that can still be seen if the sun is shining directly through the glass.
From outside, the glass looks perfectly clean.
So I think getting rid of the streaks has more to do with the towel used than the cleaner being used.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; Oct 11, 2017 at 10:46 AM.
I use Invisible Glass, and it cleans the glass, but when I use a paper towel instead of cloth towel, I think it must dissolve some of the binders in the paper towel because it leaves streaks that can still be seen if the sun is shining directly through the glass.
From outside, the glass looks perfectly clean.
So I think getting rid of the streaks has more to do with the towel used than the cleaner being used.
The instructions on Invisible Glass say not to use paper towels. It works great with micro towels.
This has been, by a far margin, the best thing I have ever used. Spray on then wipe with a cotton shop rag and buff off with the opposite side of the rag. Results will leave Zero residue/smudges.
Another vote for Invisible Glass. It's amazing how much better of a job it does than Windex.
I use this for the inside. Lay a towel on the dash to keep the cleaner off of the leather, half a squirt, and go. Much easier than contorting your body to get all the angles, and avoids rubbing a dirty rag on the A-pillar, dash and windshield header...
On the outside it seems everything works for me. Adams, McGuires, etc. Most of the time I use Adams since I like the bottle. On the inside, however, the only thing that I have seen that works great is Invisible Glass (thanks to the forum for the recommendation). My favorite towels is one of those that has a fine weave on one side and a coarse weave on the other (Adams has one.) I use the coarse side for the initial cleaning and the smooth side for the finishing touch.
Forget everything anyone has ever told you about streak-free windows and glass. I have tried everything including the "wonder" towels a vendor here sells as a "miracle"...forget them! Newspaper...no! Microfiber...no!
I have tried everything including the "wonder" towels. Nothing works but what I am going to share here. Use the below and forget it. I guarantee you will get perfect, streak free windows, both inside and out.
One very, very, very important key is NOT to wash your towels using fabric softener or Bounce Dryer sheets. These both contain oils which will get on your towels and smear the glass no matter what you do. You cannot have either of these products on your towels when you clean your windows.
Also, DO NOT use any of your glass cleaning Husk towels when you are cleaning house. Any furniture spray, Pledge, etc., will not completely wash out of the towel leaving smears on your glass when you go to clean them. These tips are both MANDATORY or you will not have streak free windows!
SURGICAL BLUE HUSK TOWELS. These are incredible! You can get them for next to nothing on EBay. Used are fine. The older they get the better they work. I have some that are 20 years old and still work perfectly! Use them ONLY for your glass. If you use them with Armor All, Aerospace 303, Furniture polish, Pledge, etc., to clean your interior, all of the product will not wash out leaving you with smudges and streaks on your glass!
STONER 95161 INVISIBLE GLASS REACH AND CLEAN TOOL. There are other brands out there. Griot's sells one as well. They are available on EBay. ONLY BUY ONE THAT HAS A TRIANGLE HEAD! Other companies make one with a square head. They use a blue microfiber bonnet. Do not use these...period!
This is it folks! The big secret is not to wash any windshield/glass washing towel in the washing machine with fabric softener. Don't ever use a Bounce Dryer Sheet in the dryer when you dry your Husk towels. Both of these contain oil which will smudge your windows! Don't believe me....go rub one of the dryer sheets between your fingers and feel the oil left behind.
Definitely forget buying one of those "miracle" cloths. WASTE!
The absolute best process is to use 0000 Steel Wool stroking in both directions making sure to protect your trims, then wipe down and apply 2 coats of Rain X. ClearShield Technologies is even better than Rain X but it's a longer process and far more work and much more expensive. ClearShield is currently the premier nano-technology glass treatment system in the world. ClearShield is so slick a glass suction cup will slide off the glass surface. It truly is an amazing product. It was originally developed for high rise glass skyscrapers to reduce or eliminate glass cleaning. Nothing sticks to it.
I picked up one of my clear spray liquids and started cleaning the windshield. Seemed kind of streaky . . . turned out I was using Mcguires Hot Shine Tire Spray . . .
Gained a new appreciation for companies that color their products just enough so you can see what you are using if you forget to look at the label!
I have the worst time keeping the OUTSIDE of my windshield clean. Even after I think I have it done, as soon as the sun hits it at the right angle, I can see smears that appear to be caused by road film/grime etc.
Interested in learning what everyone uses.
California Car Cover windshield cleaner. No streaking but don't clean the windshield in the sun.
Windshield Cleaning - What do you use?
