Glass Cleaning Process

[togwt]

Of the questions I get asked about vehicle detailing the one that is asked most often is on glass cleaning (followed closely by how to care for leather upholstery)15 to 20% of a car’s surface is glass.



Windshield Haze or ‘Fog’



The vinyl used on vehicle dashboards contain diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) plasticizers, these low molecular weight compounds maintain semi-rigid vinyl’s flexibility. The vinyl used in modern vehicle interiors vent (out-gassing) these are the plasticizers evaporating (more prevalent on newer vehicles or a dash with freshly applied vinyl dressing) Crack open vehicle windows when parked to allow the gasses to vent and do not use any vinyl protection product for fifteen days or so on a new vehicle.



Ultra violet (UV-A) heat radiation will also cause the plasticizers to dry out, resulting in a chemical film that when combined with road oils, dirt and grease introduced via by the vehicles AC system or smoker`s residue, which results in a stubborn haze or fog that forms a cohesive bond with the interior glass surfaces.



For severe out gassing or the removal of stubborn grime; spray the glass surface (otherwise you are diluting the product strength) with 1:10 solution distilled water /Isopropyl alcohol and wipe with a clean cloth and the result is a crystal clear finish. You may need to repeat this process



Ensure that all cabin fabrics (seats, carpets and mats) are thoroughly dry; otherwise their moisture evaporation will exacerbate the problem



Glass Cleaning



Dirty windscreens add to the danger when the sun is low. If you can`t see, slow down accordingly, keeping an eye on the traffic behind, in case the following vehicle doesn`t see you against the sun. As it makes driving safer allowing you to see the road ahead clearly, it enables the glass to defrost even quicker and removes the contaminants that contribute to the oily film on the glass, driving, especially on a dark and rainy night without being able to see through the windshield is to say the least, impairment.



Exposure to bugs, road oil and tar, and catalytic converter emissions makes automotive exterior glass cleaning a challenge. The film on the inside of your windows is caused by "out gassing" of the plastic and vinyl components of your interior. Ammonia is harmful to many car surfaces including vinyl, rubber, and leather; there is also a potential danger of becoming asphyxiated without adequate ventilation.



A newly detailed vehicles appearance would be ruined with soiled glass surfaces. All it takes to rectify is a little time, the correct method and cleaning products for crystal clear clean glass and plastic.



The difference clean glass surfaces make to a detailed vehicle is night and day. Put your hand in a plastic sandwich bag and lightly run your fingertips over the windshield`s surface. Chances are, it will have a rough, gritty feel, and glass cleaners will not remove this grit.



Window cleaning has always presented a challenge for professional and enthusiast detailers, both demand perfection with streak-free, crystal-clear glass. But without using the correct methodology and quality products required to produce perfectly clear glass surfaces every time



Application Technique



Water in whatever form of filtration / purification is a very good solvent; however on its own it will not dissolve grease, oil, road dirt or the plasticizers that outgas from vinyl.



I usually advocate spraying car care products on to a towel and not directly onto the surface being detailed. The exception to this is when cleaning glass, rather than letting the cleaner soak into the towel, which results in insufficient product as a large majority is absorbed by the towel, better results will be achieved by soaking the dirt / grease residue on the glass surface.



Glass cleaning products contain a combination of ingredients including alcohol, ammonia, and detergents that will clean, but may also cause steaks. Depending on how fast or slow these ingredients evaporate, and their concentration, streaking problems may occur.



The residue from these ingredients sometimes dries and evaporates on the glass before they are removed .As with all chemicals they need a certain amount of time to work, so allow area to soak for a few minutes, dry the glass with a clean, dry towel. For each area of glass use the clean side of a folded towel



If there is condensation on the glass, use the vehicles heating and / or air conditioning to remove the moisture. Moist cold air and damp towels will exacerbate the moisture making it pretty much impossible to clean glass surfaces.



Use Dr Joe dedicated Lint-Free 100% Cotton Surgical Towels, that have a tight cotton herringbone weave and a thread count of 170 per square inch, which is ideal for hard surfaces like glass as they have more ‘grip’ than micro fibre towels and helps to break up the surface debris.



Fold the towel in half and then half again. Mist the glass surface with 1:1 ratio of distilled white vinegar and water solution in a spray bottle or Stoners Invisible Glassâ„¢ Trigger Spray Bottle. Use one towel for product application and one for removal / buffing. Once glass surfaces are clean and dry protect it with a sealant or wax.



Note: In hot, humid weather conditions spray and clean one window at a time



Drying Pattern



Use a different drying pattern for interior / exterior glass surfaces (i.e. horizontal for interior and vertical for exterior) utilizing this technique you can easily determine the location of any streaking.



Alternative Product –



Use two micro fibre towels; apply product with one towel and remove with the other.

a) Optimum Glass Towel- that is also lint free and cleans glass without chemicals, making glass cleaner chemicals virtually obsolete, slightly dampen the towel with distilled water and the results will be crystal clear



b) Ultra-51 Glass Towel- It has no nap, making it very similar to a huck towel but with the added benefit o micro fibre technology – Towels by Dr Joe



Washing/ Care - rinse cloth thoroughly or wash prior to first use, always use cloth damp. Simply wet it with water and wring it out well.



If you`re getting water spots that stay on your surface; you have too much moisture in your cloth. Wash with liquid soap, but do not use fabric softeners, hand or machine wash cloths alone or with lint-free clothing. Bleaching is great for disinfecting the cloth (DO NOT use bleach on Microfiber).



Fabric softeners coat the cloth which can cause streaking and can also keep the patented fibres from being able to pull the dirt from your surfaces. Allow to air dry, without any dryer sheets



Kitchen paper towels have lanolin in the fibres and will leave streaks. Newspaper are currently recycled, and most are formulated with adhesives, which class cleaners will break down leaving a tacky reside and paper ‘lint’ on the glass surface. The inks used and some chemicals can allow ink transfer to the glass. Newspaper inks are now water-based (unlike the older oil-based they will not shine glass) But they will stain your hand black (they dissolve with body heat) so be careful what surfaces you touch after handling newspaper (fabric, leather, plastic, etc) as they may stain.



Caution - Do not use products that contain ammonia, as it is very harmful to vinyl, plastic and rubber. It will cause plastic to ‘yellow’ and become clouded and it will also turn Mylar (plastic) window tint purple and may have a negative effect on the adhesive. Some people prefer to use plain water to clean their windows. While this is a very safe method, but water is sometimes not enough of a solvent to cut the protein base of stubborn grease / grime spots (use a 1:10 solution distilled water /Isopropyl alcohol)



Aerosol vs. Trigger Spray



An aerosol contains two different substances: the liquid product you`re interested in releasing and a pressurized gas called a propellant (usually propane and butane), which dries out the micro-pores of urethane. Some aerosols use isobutene (methyl propane) as a propellant, or petroleum distillates solvents that helps to push the liquid product into the air and turn it into an aerosol cloud. The propellant gas usually turns into a liquid when it`s forced inside the container at high pressure during manufacturing. That makes the propellant and the product mix together (and you can help to ensure they do so by shaking the can before you use it).



The propellant turns back to a gas when you push the nozzle and the pressure is released. An aerosol due to its light foaming nature has a clinging ability. A trigger spray doesn’t contain any other added chemicals other than the product itself.



Drying / buffing glass



Once the glass surface has been cleaned use a waffle weave micro fibre towel to final clean and polish the glass, when they are wet they’re very soft and super absorbent, and glide easily over the surface, the ‘pockets’ in the weave ‘hold’ any dirt or surface debris unlike some other super absorbing products that trap dirt between the towel and paint surface with the potential to cause serious scratches (never use it when it’s dry as it can potentially scratch) That goes for whatever you use for drying, including cotton towels. To use ensure that the towel is really wet and then wring it out thoroughly before using.



Non-Lint Surgical Glass Cleaning Towels



Although the name suggests that these towels be used inside operating rooms, surgical huck towels are great for a lot of other detailing uses. Surgical huck towels are made from 100%cotton; they are lint free and have excellent absorption.



For cleaning and drying windows, soft enough to polish and finish plated metals; these surgical towels are terrific for removing the cloudy film on windows. Use with a glass microfiber towel for perfect glass. Large sized (16 x 24")



Towel care



Always wash Lint-Free Surgical Towels and any glass cleaning micro fibre towels separately do not use fabric softeners but add a teaspoon per towel distilled white vinegar in place of a softener, the vinegar doesn`t coat the fibres but instead works to eliminate detergent residue and the acid counteracts any alkaline minerals in the water supply. Vinegar (Acetic acid, pH 2) works well in the rinse cycle to make your towels softer. Detergent is an alkaline (pH 12, the opposite of acidic on the pH scale).



External Glass



Use detailer’s clay to remove road debris, brake dust, tar, etc. I would not advocate the use of synthetic steel or brass wool on glass surfaces; the reasons being are that no matter how fine of a grit (even #00000) you use you are actually micro scratching the surface of the glass allowing more spaces for dirt to build and settle where normal washing will not remove it, even though the glass looks super smooth to the naked eye. Grades of steel wool are similar to grit in finishing papers; the finest steel wool is grade #0000 steel wool or 1000 grit



A better way to clean glass would be to use a Hi-Tech Body Spongeâ„¢ this innovative rubber polymer product safely and easily removes water spots, tree sap, rail dust, bugs and other bonded surface contaminants from the surface of automotive glass, mouldings and, may be used with any kind of lubricant and being an abrasive it will also produce a shine. With rubber side down, gently rub Body Sponge on glass using a diluted car wash soap as a lubricant



Once external glass surfaces have been cleaned apply an acrylic polymer as a rain repellent / protectant (Klasse All-In-One) or a Silane nano-technology polymers coating (G|Techniq G1 Clear Vision Smart Glass) to help keep glass clear and cleaner for longer



[Edit: Aerosol vs. Trigger Spray added 01/08/11 ]

[Bill D]

Allow me to append this thread with a link discussing a technique of using glass cleaner ( Megs D120) and a silicone bladed squeegee to cut through stubborn interior film and exterior film/haze/salt air residue. I find it to be one of less frustrating strategies for cleaning glass:



http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-det...ter-blade.html

[JohnMartyn]

First a quick cleaning with Windex and a terry cloth towel.Second is going over the outside glass with a clay bar.Water whole car.Two separate buckets of water one with soap one without. Water down car.Use crappy towels to dry.