What's your glass cleaning regimen?

Alright. Well yesterday, in spite of 'better conditions' I tried to really clean up my fiancee's windows. I don't normally do much with her car since she works odd hours so I'm never up (or at home) when she is.

I followed everything up with a clean dry cloth and still got streaking. It's hard to see until the right light gets on it but man I just don't get it.

The glass was pretty warm/hot to the touch which can cause problem in itself with product evaporation but things just don't seem to want to go their way for me with glass.
 
Mindflux said:
...The glass was pretty warm/hot to the touch which can cause problem in itself with product evaporation ....
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As you've already noted, hot glass does not help your situation at all.

Bunky's response did make me think of one other item, I use 5% white vinegar in my rinse water which helps to remove the last bit of any soap residues, which can contribute to streaking. This might be "old news" for you, but it hadn't been mentioned in this thread.
 
Mr. Clean said:
As you've already noted, hot glass does not help your situation at all.

Bunky's response did make me think of one other item, I use 5% white vinegar in my rinse water which helps to remove the last bit of any soap residues, which can contribute to streaking. This might be "old news" for you, but it hadn't been mentioned in this thread.
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Yep. I guess I'll just have to work on my technique and try to work with cooler glass.

I can't help but feel that all I'm doing is pushing the grime around rather than lifting it off.
 
My wife uses Bounce (a fabric softener) in the dryer so I do a wipedown with APC (no idea if it really works) to minimize changes of transfer. I have used vinegar too at times.

If you have a HE washer, you have to be very careful on how much detergent you add since the washer decides how much water to add. My towel loads are rarely 50% capacitity so I use near minimum (light load) amounts.
 
Bunky said:
My wife uses Bounce (a fabric softener) in the dryer so I do a wipedown with APC (no idea if it really works) to minimize changes of transfer. I have used vinegar too at times.

If you have a HE washer, you have to be very careful on how much detergent you add since the washer decides how much water to add. My towel loads are rarely 50% capacitity so I use near minimum (light load) amounts.
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No HE washer here but I try not to overuse the soap. I know my fiancee uses those dryer sheets in the dryer, but to be honest this has been a problem of mine for years. When I lived in my own I never used fabric softener at all and I've still had this problem. It just irks me less sometimes than it has lately.
 
I use glass cleaners to initially clean the glass. Then I get two microfiber towels. I run one under the faucet until soaked, then I wring it out. Wipe the glass down, and immediately go over the wiped area with the second dry one. I've completely eliminated any streaking doing it this way.
 
joyriide1113 said:
I use glass cleaners to initially clean the glass. Then I get two microfiber towels. I run one under the faucet until soaked, then I wring it out. Wipe the glass down, and immediately go over the wiped area with the second dry one. I've completely eliminated any streaking doing it this way.
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I see. I've yet to try a damp towel as an intermediate step.

What do you use for your glass cleaner and what was your regimen before you went to a '3 step'?
 
Mindflux said:
I see. I've yet to try a damp towel as an intermediate step.

What do you use for your glass cleaner and what was your regimen before you went to a '3 step'?
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I like to use Invisible Glass since it glides over the glass unlike some glass cleaners that make my towel grabby.

Before that I would just use Invisible Glass, but like everyone else, was left with streaks.
 
joyriide1113 said:
I like to use Invisible Glass since it glides over the glass unlike some glass cleaners that make my towel grabby.

Before that I would just use Invisible Glass, but like everyone else, was left with streaks.
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Alright. I 'll try your method next time. Gotta find something that works. :)

The things we do to keep our cars nice, huh? :lmfao
 
I thought about this and I would consider trying a clean terry cloth towel to do the initial rub down. If you see streaks, I do not think you are removing whatever is on the glass but just moving it around. The terry cloth will add extra bite. I would dampen the rag too with some cleaner so it does not just evaporate away. Use a dry microfiber to buff it dry.

Is this issue on the interior or exterior? If on the exterior, try a mild chrome polish (like Mothers), this will help remove some greasy grime that maybe to tough for some glass cleaners.
 
I use stoners and scott blue shop towels and never get streaks. My problem is , I got wax on my window and nothing seems to remove it.
 
Bunky said:
I thought about this and I would consider trying a clean terry cloth towel to do the initial rub down. If you see streaks, I do not think you are removing whatever is on the glass but just moving it around. The terry cloth will add extra bite. I would dampen the rag too with some cleaner so it does not just evaporate away. Use a dry microfiber to buff it dry.

Is this issue on the interior or exterior? If on the exterior, try a mild chrome polish (like Mothers), this will help remove some greasy grime that maybe to tough for some glass cleaners.
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Probably an interior problem. The polyvinyl haze and smoke haze and whatever else ends up on the inside of a windshield/windows just seems to smear around more often than not.
 
On exterior windows, I used a product called A-MAZ (probably like DG Nu Glass) that has mild abrasives and cleaners, etc. that worked at removing water spots and crud no traditional glass cleaner would remove. I could see a concern about using on the interior due to polish in places you do not want. Steve mentioned Pro Polish as something ok for glass.

If you have time, I get a towel saturated and rub so the cleaners in the glass cleaner have a chance to breakdown whatever is on the glass. Some do not dissolve instantly with just a quick spray and wipe. Massage it while wet.
 
I just tried my sample of FK1 #228 Glass cleaner. Diluted it 10:1 with Distilled water, sprayed my windshield till it was all wet, wiped with a mainstream (from Walmart houseware section) waffle weave towel, still leaving the windshield with some solution on it. I then follow up with a glass viking towel from K mart. This worked great on all the windows of my 94 mark VIII. Better then SIG, Castle glass cleaner, Ardex and Zep areosole.
I tried it on my moms 02 Elantra that was sittin in the sun, cleaned all the windows great no streaking but I had to spray just a small section at a time instead of the entire window and the windshield I had to use a 5:1 dilution to get rid of the build up on it.
 
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