I am familiar with the gassing of products used in the construction of our vehicles and the products we apply for their appearance can end up on the inside surfaces of our new cars. I have owned many new Lexus all had the same stubborn windshield cleaning problems.

Any suggestions. I have used vinegar, ammonia (Windex) and product called Invisible Glass. All are leaving streets and smears see mostly at night when driving. I have tried paper towel, microfiber and regular towels.

Got to be a thread with some hints on how to accomplish this. Please point me in the right direction.

 

Perfect Glass: Glass Cleaning Tips by Ian Howard

I hate cleaning glass.... but most of the time it isn't the product, but the technique that produces less than perfect results. Ian provides some good tips here regarding towel usage and technique that is helpful.

-Zach

 

To eliminate streaks and/or cloudy haze from window glass it is absolutely necessary (a MUST) to remove ANY and ALL trace of moisture from whatever liquid is used to clean the glass (e.g. Invisible Glass, water, etc.). In other words, NO hint (ZERO) of any thin layer of dampness (moisture) must remain on the glass to finish drying (evaporate) on its own - otherwise the dampness (moisture) will leave behind streaks and/or a cloudy haze (after a while) where even the thinnest layer of dampness (moisture) remained and dried. You cannot have too many DRY micro-fiber towels or 100% cotton towels (e.g. cloth diapers) available to you to make absolutely sure the glass is POLISHED COMPLETELY DRY of any dampness (moisture). If a layer of dampness (moisture) evaporates on the glass before you are able to polish it completely dry with a towel - it will become noticeable later as a streak and/or a cloudy haze.

Test it and see for yourself - Put a drop of pure water (or whatever you wish) on a piece of glass and let it dry on its own - there will be a visible spot where it dried after a while. It's the exact same with your car's window glass and mirrors. The glass must be dried - completely...by polishing it dry with dry towels! No dampness (moisture) can be left to evaporate, or dry on its own...

A primary cause for streaks and haze is using a product that leaves behind a layer of chemicals that is used to clean the glass. A glass cleaner is rarely needed unless the glass has oil or grease on it and truly needs a dissolving agent to clean and remove the filth. In most cases, all that is really needed to clean the glass is water, which will leave the least amount of impurities behind on the glass. 'Invisible Glass' (Blue colored label without Rain Repellent in the spray bottle) is a product that many people like, which doesn't leave behind any streak/haze causing chemical.

Lastly, the best way to orient your vehicle to clean the front windshield is to preferably have the windshield facing toward either the morning or afternoon sun (or a very bright light) so you can visually detect easily any moisture you may have missed drying with your dry towels. (If you miss drying an area and it dries/evaporates before you can polish it dry it with your dry towel - use a slightly damp clean towel or re-wet the area and polish it dry with a dry towel. Again, the key is to polish the moisture dry instead of letting it dry/evaporate. You get the picture!) In the cooler weather months or periods of really high humidity the glass will require a bit more effort to completely dry it. In warmer weather months the glass will tend to dry too quickly before you can polish it dry with your dry towel, thus leaving streaks and/or haze to appear where it evaporated and wasn't dried with a dry towel.

If done correctly (as detailed above), your glass and mirrors will remain streak-free for many, many months - and likely for even a full year, even if you're very persnickety...until your yearly registration/inspection sticker needs to be replaced (if they go on your windshield).

 

I have paid more attention to the "polishing" after cleaning with fresh and dry MF cloth and the results are MUCH improved.

 

Excellent! Practice makes perfect.

Practice cleaning and polishing [dry] your bathroom mirrors...

 

I have always used a glass wax type product. Put it on let it dry and buff off

 

The secret to streak free glass is the towels you use. Invisible Glass is about the best glass cleaner you'll find, if you're getting streaks its your process.

Try and use a two towel method. Start off by spraying down the glass, and wiping it with a waffle weave MF towel, dampened with glass cleaner, like this:

http://www.autogeek.net/ww1627.html

Then follow up with a dry one. You can also use newspaper which works well.Remember to wipe the glass in long back and forth strokes. Polish it with the dry towel afterwards to make sure you've got out all the streaks.

Keep those towels cleaned. DO NOT wash them with MF towels used with other products, ever use them with any product other than glass cleaner, and use a detergent that has no fabric softener, etc.

 

Please do not use ammonia based cleaners on your tinted windows unless you want your tints to turn purple.