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After cleaning my windows and looking at the job I did, I find myself wondering how to clean car windows without streaks. Nothing frustrates me more than the ugly streaks left on the glass window after cleaning. These streaks block your view as well and also make driving unsafe. To ensure safe driving, you need to keep the windows of your car clean. The best way to do this is to use the proper tools for the job
You can get streak-free car windows and clean windshields by using a few simple cleaning techniques. There are several reasons for streaks to form on your car’s windows. Take care of these things and avoid streak and spot formation. Let’s take a look to see how to clean your car windows without streaks.
Prep your Car
The first thing you need to do before starting is to ensure you prep the vehicle correctly. Here are a few simple things you should do before cleaning the windshield and other glass windows of your car.
Park in the Shade
Before cleaning the glass windows, you should park your car in the shade. Away from any direct sunlight. This step is really important as the sun quickly dries out the cleaning agent on the surface, which leads to window streaks. Find a shady area to clean your vehicle. If you cannot do this at home, a self serve car wash works well. They generally have roofed areas that you can park your vehicle in after or during washing.
Wash your vehicle well
Before you start the job of cleaning the windows, wash your vehicle. One of the causes of window streaks during cleaning can be due to excessive dirt build up on the vehicle. You can prevent this by washing the car before cleaning the windows.
Use a Quality Microfiber Cloth
Microfiber cloths are made of a synthetic type material. A high-quality microfiber cloth is made of tightly woven synthetic fibers of nylon and polyester. This cloth picks up 95% fewer chemicals and water than cloths of different types of materials. Microfiber cloths also pick up more dirt residue and hold them deep inside of the weaving. You can use it with a variety of chemicals, cleaners, and disinfectants.
Supplies You Will Need To Clean Your Car Windows
Here is what you will need:
For homemade cleaner, you should have:
- Dishwasher liquid
- White vinegar
- Distilled water
- Lemon
How to Prepare a Window Cleaner at Home?
Preparing homemade glass cleaner is the best way to clean car windows if you do not have a window cleaner at home. You can also ensure that there are no harmful chemicals that would damage the glass windows if you substituted the wrong window cleaner. Let’s see the two easiest ways of preparing window cleaner at home.
Vinegar Glass Cleaner
This recipe for glass window cleaner requires a few household products. You will need two cups of distilled water along with vinegar and essential oil. Distilled water is pure and it doesn’t leave marks on any surface, it is preferred over regular tap water. Here is how you can make a cleaning solution using the above-mentioned ingredients.
Add two cups of distilled water, half a cup of white vinegar, and about 8 to 9 drops of any essential oil of your choice. You can also add a few drops of lemon, but this step is completely optional. Mix all the ingredients in an empty spray bottle and then shake well to combine.
Dish Soap Glass Cleaner
This window cleaner is the easiest to make, yet it is very effective to get streak-free windows. Take two cups of distilled water and combine it with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. You can also use warm water here, but distilled water is the best for a streak-free shine. Combine the ingredients in an empty spray bottle and shake well to combine.
Clean the Inside and Outside of Windows and Windshield
You have to work both on the inside and outside of your vehicle to clean your car’s windshield. When you clean the inside of the windshield, you should work through the passenger seat; otherwise, the car’s steering wheel can be hard to work around when cleaning.
There is also a need to clean the top of the windows of both driver and passenger sides. For that, the easiest way is to roll down the windows slightly, clean the tops and then roll the windows back up. This way, it becomes easier to get access to the top of windows.
How to Clean Your Car Windows Without Streaks
- Spray the Cleaner on a Soft Cloth
Before you start make sure you remove any sticker residue that may be present. Pick up the cleaner you prepared earlier and spray it on a microfiber cloth or directly on the window. Using this cloth, start wiping the inside of the windows first. You can make it easier by sitting on the car’s seat to clean the windows. You should avoid rubbing in a circular motion as it can leave streak marks on the surface of the glass. Leave the cleaner on the surface for a while, and then rub it carefully with the cloth. For a vehicle that was not washed before hand. Apply more cleaner to allow the dirt to float off the glass.
- Wipe the Windows
This step should be done very fast. Right after applying the cleaner to the window, take another piece of clean cloth and wipe off the cleaner. You should not let the glass cleaner dry on its own; otherwise, it will leave spots and streaks on the surface of the glass window.
- Dry the Glass Window
Pick another clean microfiber cloth and use it to clean the leftover cleaner from the window. You have to dry the window completely with this. Avoid picking paper towels or any other cloth as it will scratch the glass surface.
The main key to keeping your car windows clean is by using multiple cloths when cleaning. Use a dirty cloth to scrub the windows, and use a clean cloth to do the final drying of the glass. This will make sure that you are not rubbing dirt back onto the windows with your cleaning cloth.
Repeat the Same Steps for the Outside Glass Windows
Once you have cleaned the interior of the windows, you need to repeat the same steps for the outside of the glass windows. Once you have cleaned both the inside and outside of the glass you need to make sure they are clean.
This is the best time to do so as a simple glance through the window will show you right away if there is any dirt left. Touch up any spots that are left.
Remember to Clean Your Windshield
Repeat the same steps for the car’s windshield. However, for cleaning the outside of the windshield, you need to take care of the wipers. Hold them in an upward position and then clean the glass surface underneath. Never leave the wipers in the raised position. The wipers can snap back, causing damage to your windshield.
Once you are done with all of these steps, I also recommend cleaning your wipers as well. The steps for cleaning the wipers will be different.
How to Clean your Tinted Windows without Streaks?
First thing’s first, avoid ammonia-based cleaners for tinted glass windows. It is better to use homemade cleaners as they include safer ingredients.
To begin with, test the cleaner on a small portion of your car’s windows. Pick ammonia-free glass cleaners from a store if the homemade ones don’t work. Spray the glass cleaner on a paper towel and wipe it down both inside and outside the windows. A microfiber cloth will work best in wiping down the window after the cleaner is applied. Now use another clean microfiber towel and dry the windows.
It is recommended to avoid paper towels for drying as they can scratch the windows due to their rough surface.
How to Remove Hard Water Spots?
Our tap water contains a number of chemicals and minerals that get deposited on the glass surface when it is used for cleaning. These hard water spots are difficult to remove and make you frustrated when driving.
Instead of using warm tap water for cleaning your car windshield or windows, you can use distilled water. Since distilled water is free from minerals and chemicals, it will not form any spots and streaks on the glass surface. Whether you want to prepare a cleaning solution at home or want to dilute the store-bought cleaning solution, it is best to use distilled water.
How to Clean Your Wipers to Ensure They Clear Your Clean Windows
There is nothing worse than having a clean windshield and turning on your wipers and seeing them streak. Dirt can build up on the wiper blades and they need to be maintained correctly.
It is crucial to clean the wipers to maintain a clear view through your car’s windshield. You should use clean tools to remove the dirt from the wipers. You can use paper towels, hot soapy water, and rubbing alcohol to clean the windshield wipers to perfection.
Start by lifting the wipers to make it easier to clean them. Then apply hot soapy water on the paper towel and gently rub it on the wiper blades to wipe the dirt. Hold the wiper blades carefully during wiping. Continue to wipe the wiper until there is no dirt left. Remember to use a new paper towel every time. Make sure to clean dirt from wiper-hinged areas as well by using the same soapy water.
For the residues of dirt left on the rubber, you can use rubbing alcohol to wipe them away. Once you are done, check if the wipers can freely move in any direction. Cleaning the wipers this way will ensure the best results in windshield cleaning.
Final Verdict
The answer to your question “how to clean car windows without streaks?” is explained in this article. To get the streak-free windows of your car, the main step is to use a soft cloth such as a microfiber cloth. Using distilled water will ensure there will be no hard water spots on the surface of the glass. Follow all the tips carefully to get the windows of your car shining.
