Window cleaning tips

[compassphoenix]

Can anyone suggest the best tools for window cleaning as we can make it a DIY job

[BudgetPlan1]

I have struggled with interior glass cleaning. The best thing I have found is using a Gyeon Silk Mitt to clean interior glass. A few spritzes on the mitt, clean with one side, final wipe with other and done. It's the easiest thing I have found to clean glass. My favorite glass cleaner that works well with this method is Polish Angel Diver; it's expensive for a glass cleaner but usage is low and it works best for me with the above Silk Mitt....almost mindless. The Silk Mitt is actually a twisted loop deal made for drying wheels and tight spaces bet, for me, it excels in cleaning glass easily.

Kinda grabbed this to see if it would help in cleaning interior glass and it has quickly proved to be one of my rare instances where it actually works better in reality that it did when it entered my mind.

Having developed an affinity for Polish Angel Diver glass cleaner, the vid for that product showed them using a smaller Gyeon Silk Dryer for cleaning interior glass. A great combo, I could still manage to struggle a bit with the narrow glass/dash areas as well as other hard to reach places. The towel could slip or bunch up on me, not allowing for a smooth application and removal, exposed knuckles dragging across the window leaving streaks and other weaknesses in my technique that led to, uh, less than desirable results.

Started thinking about how to turn a small Silk Dryer into a more efficient medium for cleaning glass...and then remembered this item. Snatched it up, rec'd it and immediately gave it a try, cleaning all interior glass in mere moments with no frustration. And no streaking or residue when the sun shines through the glass at 'just that angle' that shows the glass is not as clean as you first thought.

It's thick enough to work comfortably and thin enough that you can articulate your hand inside the mitt to easily reach all areas. A spritz or two on the mitt, clean, flip hand and do final wipe with other side...done.

While I initially got it to use with glass, I'm gonna grab another at some point to dry wheels. It's one of those things ya really don't think about too often, maybe in the "That looks kinda interesting..." realm but turns out to be a really versatile item once ya make the leap. I like it.

[suttonri]

I just use waffle weave towels and either Sprayaway or Megs Perfect Clarity. Spray the cleaner directly on the towel, wipe on, and buff off with a 2nd waffle weave. Simple, cheap, and effective.

[JCDetails]

I use an alcohol based glass cleaner, a la sprayway, invisible glass, or another company's product that works very well but the shipping cost is quite prohibitive.


I've had good luck using short pile MF towels and the two towel method.

More stubborn stuff, like interior of the front windshield, needs a little more persuasion usually in the form of 0000 steel wool and some extra wiping.


Another tip while you're still trying to dial things in, use different directions for interior and exterior glass so that you can easily determine where your streaks are. I.e. use vertical wipes for exterior and horizontal for interior. If your streaks go one way or the other, you know where to attack them from and avoid re-doing areas.

I really like BP1's suggestion for a MF mitt instead of towels...Meg's MF mitts are cheap and probably would work well for this purpose also. Have to give that a shot.

[PA DETAILER]

Made a believer out of me! Warm water and Wolfstein?s Zap Cloth

Streak free clean glass without cleaners!!

[The Guz]

McKee's 20/20 and your choice of glass cleaner works great. Glass stays cleaner longer and cleans that heavy build up that a glass cleaner does not always remove. Especially on the front glass.

[Route246]

The biggest help I've found is to use very, very clean waffle weave towels, 400gsm or higher works best. I believe most of the ammonia-free window cleaners found on AGO are quite competent. The differences in performance are going to be minuscule. In that respect, find a product you like and use it often.

I'm pretty cheap so I use Meguiar?s Glass Cleaner Concentrate, 1 Gallon, dilutes to make an excellent auto glass cleaner. Meguiars Concentrated Car Glass Cleaner is great for and it works well for me.

I also use a "glass reach tool" like this: Stoner Invisible Glass Reach & Clean Combo, glass cleaner, reach & clean tool, windshield cleaner

I don't use the bonnet. I just put a waffle weave towel under the tool and clean the inside of the windshield that way. A decent tool has a foam backing pad which is usually sticky enough to keep the towel from drifting or sliding. You can find these tools anywhere. You do get what you pay for. The more expensive ones (i.e. like the Stoner one here) is more rugged and ergonomic. YMWV.

[UncleDavy]

Made a believer out of me! Warm water and Wolfstein?s Zap Cloth

Streak free clean glass without cleaners!!

Absolutely! The Zap Cloth is a great product and it cleans glass streak free without chemicals. Just wet the cloth, wring it out, fold it in fours and wipe away. I usually follow it up with a clean waffle weave. When people get in my car they say it looks like there is no glass. I also use the Zap Cloth in the kitchen on the stainless steel appliances. They are cheap, they are washable and reusable and they sell them here on Autogeek.

[Dan Tran]

Absolutely! The Zap Cloth is a great product and it cleans glass streak free without chemicals. Just wet the cloth, wring it out, fold it in fours and wipe away. I usually follow it up with a clean waffle weave. When people get in my car they say it looks like there is no glass. I also use the Zap Cloth in the kitchen on the stainless steel appliances. They are cheap, they are washable and reusable and they sell them here on Autogeek.

Believe it when you see it!

These are amazing. Like mentioned above, I usually follow up with a dry towel just in case.


Dan Tran
Car Care Specialist
The Buffing Moose Detailing: Auto Detailing | ME and NH

[sudsmobile]

Is Zap Cloth possibly a version of KD Cloth?