Glass Cleaning Poll

How do you clean glass?

  • Spray glass first with glass cleaner, then wipe dry

    Votes: 79 70.5%

  • Spray towel first with glass cleaner, then wipe dry

    Votes: 25 22.3%

  • Other --- specify

    Votes: 8 7.1%
  • Total voters
    112
Spray the towel first, then wipe the window in cross hatch pattern. Grab a dry towel and repeat.

I find spraying the towel creates less product waste and no overspray issues.
 
Jack K said:
I spray on the window first... then wipe.

Window cleaning is where my detailing "bug" started. I tried RainX, then Aquapel and now use Pinnacle. When the window was cleaner I then saw very clearly how dull the hood looked.. so I cleaned and waxed the hood... and so it went...

I actually appreciate window cleaning the most! Because later as I drive I think... wow, that window is really clean... :inspector:
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Come do mine..I absolutely hate doing interior glass.
 
Rsurfer said:
Aren't these towels used with water for cleaning, thus eliminating the need for a glass cleaner or am I all wet?
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Correct Ron. But using the Meg's will make even the heaviest smokers windows a breeze.

They do work great with just water alone but the glass cleaner is kinda a turbo charger.
 
I use CarPro Fast Glass cloth only. Just wet the cloth, wring out very very well then wipe windows.
 
I tend to spray the outside of the glass only because it seems to require a little more product. While the inside, I like to spray the towel to avoid over spray hitting other parts of my car. The mirrors I like to spray the towel first as well becasue they are small.
 
ca.detailchick said:
I use distilled water and always spray the glass and use a MF underneath to catch any stray droplets .
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Detail Chick touches on what I feel is an important point..

Many of us use Meguiar's Detailer's line. This line is only available in gallons and most require reduction to one degree or another. Because tap water contains chemicals, minerals, and sediment, I chose to dilute with distilled water years ago Distilled water is void of chemicals, minerals, and sediment making it ideal for diluting cleaning products.

It started with me years ago when I noticed cleaning glass became an issue to really get the glass streak free without a lot of work. If I didn't dry it immediately I discovered streaks. After reading an article on glass cleaning I surmised that what I was dealing with was not only some of the cleaning residue but also dissolved minerals and the like depositing themselves on the glass.

Once I began using distilled water to dilute the glass concentrate I found it very easy to obtain that streak free clarity I was looking for. Because distilled water is only about $1.00 per gallon, I use it to dilute all my products. :bigups

Now back to your regularly scheduled programing....
 
I know I have a vested interest in people using glass cleaners but I strongly advise against any contact with a soiled surface with a wash medium without the use of an appropriate cleaner. In this instance, a wash cloth and only water, in my professional view, will of course clean, but presents a significantly elevated risk of inducing surface damage.

Consider it this way, would you do this same process on paint work? No respectable detailer or valeter I have encountered would do so because of the risk for damage. Even the use of waterless washes is debated in some circles and this adds numerous lubricating polymers/surfactants to aid in the cleaning process and ensure damage does not occur. So why should glass be treated differently?

In my view, glass cleaning should be done with a combination of good cloth and good cleaner. The cleaner loosens dirt and dissolves oils meaning that less pressure and fewer wipes are required with the cloth - in turn this minimises the risk of damage. If you get streaks, you are either using too much product, the product could be better or your cloth isn't up to scratch.
 
PiPUK said:
In my view, glass cleaning should be done with a combination of good cloth and good cleaner. The cleaner loosens dirt and dissolves oils meaning that less pressure and fewer wipes are required with the cloth - in turn this minimises the risk of damage. If you get streaks, you are either using too much product, the product could be better or your cloth isn't up to scratch.
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I agree with using a glass cleaner from an efficiency aspect but do you really think there is a significant risk of damage of just using water since water is a solvent. The wipers alone on the car are already a factor (rubbing with reduced lubrication).
 
PiPUK said:
I know I have a vested interest in people using glass cleaners but I strongly advise against any contact with a soiled surface with a wash medium without the use of an appropriate cleaner. In this instance, a wash cloth and only water, in my professional view, will of course clean, but presents a significantly elevated risk of inducing surface damage.

Consider it this way, would you do this same process on paint work? No respectable detailer or valeter I have encountered would do so because of the risk for damage. Even the use of waterless washes is debated in some circles and this adds numerous lubricating polymers/surfactants to aid in the cleaning process and ensure damage does not occur. So why should glass be treated differently?

In my view, glass cleaning should be done with a combination of good cloth and good cleaner. The cleaner loosens dirt and dissolves oils meaning that less pressure and fewer wipes are required with the cloth - in turn this minimises the risk of damage. If you get streaks, you are either using too much product, the product could be better or your cloth isn't up to scratch.
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Paint and glass are much different surfaces,glass being much harder.

Ive never damaged any glass using just distilled water over many years of detailing.The outside glass is clean already from washing the vehicle first anyway.
 
I recently replaced my MF window towels with these surgical Huck towels and really love them!!

I bought a dozen for under a dollar each and just ordered another dozen.Mine are brand new but I see you can buy them used for even less.

Thanks to everyone who has ever mentioned them !:bigups

My windows are so much cleaner looking now. And I thought my windows looked fine already using MF towels.

My window MF towels are getting demoted to wheels !
 
Exterior: Spray window with ZEP glass cleaner concentrate 10:1 and wipe with MF left to right. Then buff out streaks with a seperate MF in a circular motion. For windows with overly dirty windows or windows with water spots, I spray window with same solution and scrub with 0000 steal wool. Then buff out streaks.

Interior: I spray MF with ZEP glass cleaner contentrate 10:1 and wipe top to bottom. Then buff out with seperate MF in circular motion.
 
ca.detailchick said:
I recently replaced my MF window towels with these surgical Huck towels and really love them!!

I bought a dozen for under a dollar each and just ordered another dozen.Mine are brand new but I see you can buy them used for even less.

Thanks to everyone who has ever mentioned them !:bigups

My windows are so much cleaner looking now. And I thought my windows looked fine already using MF towels.

My window MF towels are getting demoted to wheels !
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Where do you grab them cheap?
 
Dr Oldz said:
I have been using the window towels Corey is selling for the last few weeks. I spray Megs glass cleaner on them then wipe. Those towels really work well and leave zero streaks.
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I finally had the chance to try one of these a week ago. I don't totally understand how and why they work the way they do. But WOW!!! Is all I can say. I think I have found my new glass towels.

I am seriously considering picking up a dozen or more and using them for windows in my house as well.




 
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