The Art of Glass Cleaning

[asap2stacks]

This topic is based on the difficulties of cleaning glass on automobiles, one of my least favorite steps in detailing a vehicle.

Whether it be water spots,streaking, or built up grime on Windows it can be a huge pain to remove.

In this topic please post the steps,products, and tools in detail that you use to clean your glass to leave a flawless view for your customers!

[Heisenberg]

Glass is one of my favorite parts of a detail. Guess I'm crazy.

The exterior glass gets cleaned during the normal wash with soap. I don't think I've ever had windows that didn't come pretty clean doing that. If there are hard water spots or something I'll clay and/or hand polish using Duragloss 501 or another chemical cleaner.

Follow that up with a dedicated towel(waffle weave, glass, fast glass cloth, etc) and some glass cleaner, then a wipe on walk away sealant. Final wipe with distilled water(if I notice any streaking)

[BillyJack]

My most significant advances came after a long talk with a veteran pro window cleaner. Obviously, they're using squeegees, which I haven't tried yet, but I made some changes in technique that have helped me greatly. First, I use two mf towels. First is a regular mf, used as a "mop" to dislodge and pick up dirt, still leaving the glass slightly damp. Second pass is with a silky, thin nap glass mf from a local janitorial supply house. Second pass is done slowly and with very light pressure. He said "What's the use of a hi-tech cloth if you don't allow it to its job. Let the microfiber fabric do the work of absorption, rather than pressing hard and going fast, relying on friction". Once I dialed in my technique, the chemical became less important. Sprayway, Stoner's, Meg's D120 or even ONR all do the job well.

Bill

[Cliffnopus]

I don't mind cleaning glass. My method seems to work very well, for me.

First I inspect the glass, any tree sap or pine tar gets taken care of with Tarminator and paper towels.

Secondly, (or firstly if there's no tar to remove) I use ONR and an Opti-Eraser to lightly pre-clean the windshield and remove any suface contaminents.

Then I clean with Invisible glass and MF towel.

Then a final go-over with Rain-X.

For interior, a wipe with a dry MF towel to get off surface dirt. Then a cleaning with a Mr Clean Magic Eraser and hot water wiped down with a MF towel (I do a two foot square area at a time)

Final pass with Invisable glass and clean MF towel. - Done! glass is always crystal clear w/no streaks.

[oneheadlite]

The biggest thing I've learned is how much Less-is-More applies to glass cleaner.

I had been using glass specific microfibers and the two towel method Bill mentioned. I've since switched to the Griot's PFM window towels and have had really good luck with a single towel. I'll switch it out for a new one if it starts to get saturated though.

[FUNX650]

Nowadays...This works for me:

•(S.) Korean, 70/30 Blend, 400gsm,
Waffle-Weave Microfiber Towels
•Meguiar's D120 Glass Cleaner
(or, I may choose another one,
out of the many, that tickles my
fancy at the moment)


-Make sure glass surfaces are not "hot"
-Clean window moldings...inside & out...
before ever tackling the glass surfaces
-One WW MF towel used "to wet";
another WW MF towel "to dry"

Note(s):
1.) Let the WW MF towel do the work:
no need to use undue pressure.
2.) If my window cleaning process
winds up not being good enough...
then "The Good Wife" can follow-up,
if she so desires. (Again: no need to
use undue pressure.)



Bob

[frankprozzoly]

I've found that the silky towel (like the little ones to clean glasses) is the only towel that doesn't leave those tiny lint trails. I get it on my paint regardless of towel i use but it's not that noticeable

[fly07sti]

I don't mind cleaning glass. My method seems to work very well, for me.

First I inspect the glass, any tree sap or pine tar gets taken care of with Tarminator and paper towels.

Secondly, (or firstly if there's no tar to remove) I use ONR and an Opti-Eraser to lightly pre-clean the windshield and remove any suface contaminents.

Then I clean with Invisible glass and MF towel.

Then a final go-over with Rain-X.

For interior, a wipe with a dry MF towel to get off surface dirt. Then a cleaning with a Mr Clean Magic Eraser and hot water wiped down with a MF towel (I do a two foot square area at a time)

Final pass with Invisable glass and clean MF towel. - Done! glass is always crystal clear w/no streaks.

The magic eraser is a great idea. I've had issues recently with vehicles that have had new windshields installed and there being a film on the inside of the glass that has been a PIA to remove.

[WillSports3]

I've found no matter what glass cleaner you use, always follow up with a dry clean one as a buffing towel. I just use regular old cg quick detailer foe my windows. For a full on thorough cleaning though, I like using Mckee 37 glass restoring polish after a quick claying. Most of the time too I'll throw on either some Gtechniq G5 glass coating or PBL Synergy just to avoid using my wipers.

[Jaretr1]

When it comes to interior glass, the most effective cleaner I have ever found is WATER! Perhaps not when the glass is really dirty. I have a small spritz bottle with water, spray it on the window, wipe with a terry cloth towel. Perfectly streak free clean EVERYTIME!

Exterior windows all depends on the condition or what I am doing to the car. On my personal cars, they are all coated in some sort of hydrophobic coating so they mostly resist water spotting. If I am polishing or compounding a car, I will usually go over the windows as well and that generally removes any hard water spots as well.