I mean it. I'm horrible. Have been that way for years. Unfortunately, I don't think it's the products - it's me. I noticed this when I got finished with my dad's detail, and the windows looked horrible. Streaks galore. Doesn't seem to matter what cleaner or medium I use to clean it with, I get the same results.

Paper towels, microfiber, microfiber window (a little bit smoother), diaper, finishing cloth...

Stoner's, Eagle One, QD, Windexes of various colors...

*sigh*

What's your technique for a streak and smear-free window?

 

I use stoner's invisible glass, and I never get streaks with paper towel or mf towels

Do you buff the haze off after you clean the window?

 

Yes. But for some reason I'll come back later and it will look horrible. I'll have to take pictures next time.

You know, with all the time I have down here in the 'country.'

 

I agree..the front and rear windows are pain in the ass to clean and somehow after 5mins; more smudge or streaks magically appears.

 

For me wash followed by clay followed by Klasse A-I-O with polish pad does the trick.. I do it by hand, but if you have deep watermarks etched on the glass you may want to use PC.

Again I follow the "Little is More" logic which I had to adopt after learning (hard way) that if you see wetsurface then you are using too much.

 

I was going to clay the front and rear next time, but I think a PC may be overkill. I know it can be done without even the clay.

Here's my technique - spray cleaner on surface, wipe clean with MF. Follow up with a 100% dry MF. For some reason, they always show up after I've moved on to something else.

 

It can be done without Claying or using the PC. I only clay the front windshield to remove bug splatter or other imbeded debris. The rear and side are clayed if needed. I do not have a PC, so I do it all by hand. However if the glass is severely etched with watermarks then it would save a lot of elbow grease.

I only use the glass cleaner while doing the glass from inside. I feel that a polish does a better job in cleaning and maintaining the exterior of the glass from the elements.

 

I use newspaper and hardly ever get streaks. Only use black and white print newspaper, nothing with color ink. Something in the paper/ink that helps I guess.

 

I have had the same thing happen to me sometimes.

What I like to do is wipe the glass with a clean very slightly damp MF and then follow up with my glass cleaner (Stoners) and another MF. Seemed to help with less streaks

 

Have you tried a homemade batch of vinegar and water? About 2oz per qt. Wash windows twice with paper towels and you should be streak free......
Alot of plastics outgass from chemicals used in making plastics on very warm days, resulting in a ghost films. Its not visible all the time, except when humidity is just right.

 

Hmm, good ideas people. I shall try them this afternoon and report back.

 

hmm i never liked using microfibers for glass, i have a bunch of these blue window rags from when i worked at the dealership(not sure exactly what they are called.) but they work better than any mf i have ever tried

 

i have to agree whole heartedly and let you know that you are NOT alone cochese... cleaning the inside of windows has always been challenging for me. its a struggle to just get OK results...

 

My main issue when trying to clean my windshield and back window is I have to be a contortionist to be able to get the job done right. Mine would always streak no matter what as I was not comfortable or exert enough pressure on some areas to clean very well.

I bought a Glassmaster about 6 months ago and this contraption has literally turned me into, for lack of a better description, a GLASSMASTER.

I believe Exceldetail has something similar:

http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/s...ass&recview=11

 

Another idea might be to try cleaning the outside and inside part of the windows in different dirrections. For example, on the exterior side wipe up and down, and on the interior side wipe side to side. This way you know where your streaks are coming from... if that makes any sense.

I might have read that somewhere on this forum some while ago....

Anyway, just my

 

ok, my turn..

I have found best results when using the WW from Pat and spritzing my Meguiars Detailers Line Glass Cleaner onto the WW with just two spritz and going at the glass that way, then flipping for a final buff. I had alot of problems with streaks months ago, using the process of spraying the glass, but with the two spritzes onto the WW, I have had alot of luck..hope that might help a little..

 

The Tumble Mrclrider? Thats a great glass towel, we use them all over the house windows and mirrors.......!

 

yes sir, I love that WW for windows, will be ordering a few more in the near future, your the only place that I know of that carries the smaller WW for glass purposes..

 

I don't think there is a soul out there who says, "Oh yes...windows!! I've been looking forward to this for weeks." I'm with you man I hate it but I think I found a method that works. I recently detailed both the RL and the Santa Fe. The RL's rear window and the SF's windshield are both at angles that require contortionist abilities to clean properly although the rear window of the RL is worse due to the angle of the glass, rear seat being in the way, sloping roof line, and high hat shelf.

I used a brand called Sprayaway Ammonia-Free glass cleaner and liberal amounts of paper towels. Use one to wipe the cleaner in and the majority of the crud off and then follow with a clean and dry paper towel. I used MF cloths for windows once...NEVER again. Use a clean towel for each window, regardless. Dirty paper towel = streaks.

Good luck.

 

This is good stuff.

 

windows are the worst and I hate to admit it but I usually don't do them on my car. I agree tho, clean towels are a must

 

Here's a little tip for you as well. Wash the interior of the windows in an up and down motion. Wash the exterior in a horizontal left to right motion. At least you will be able to tell if your streaks are on the inside or outside of the glass. If your streaks are left to right its on the outside, if up/down redo the interior. Also you may have to hit the interior 2 or more times to get all the grime off

 

Do you have this problem more on the inside or outside of the windows?

 

Outside. Hell, I didn't even touch the inside on the Durango.

 

I wash the windows with car shampoo as part of my wash, usually don't even need window cleaner for the outside

 

That's what I did for the Durango, though. Wash with a clean sheepskin mitt and ONR. I don't know if it dried and left it that way (shouldn't have) or when I wiped it with the MF it left it like that.

I dunno, I'm going to try and clean those windows again tonight when I go over for dinner.

 

I've NEVER been able to do the insides of the windows. When I have taken my car in for waxing I have them do it but i'm noticing their work isn't immaculate either. I want to learn how to do them myself. I've used papertowels and regular MF's with no luck either way. What the he** is the trick? Would excel's optical towel do it? Or his WW glass towel? Which is better...?

 

I don't want to get flamed here but I'll post what works for me.
I use Stoner's (in the can) with the cloth "diapers" available at any local store. I've read the WW works well and may give that a shot, but I just can't for the life of me get MF to work.
Windshield: Spray on windshield, wipe to clean. Spray again, wipe clean, flip "diaper" over and buff. I've used Stoner's for quite a while now and it actually repels water like RainX now.

 

For the inside of the windows I spray Stoner's on the "diaper" and wipe to clean, flip it over and buff. I'll then stand on the outside of my car and look into the car to see if there are any streaks. Repeat as necessary.

p.s.
I always clean the windows in the garage or at least out of direct sunlight

 

The Tumbler WW is a manageable size for glass work......

 

What's your method for streak free interior glass ?

 

See post #29 above from cmschmie, substitute diaper with a small Waffle Weave and you should be good to go!

Myself, I use a combination of a glass wand, a small waffle weave and Stoners and my windows come out really nice.

 

I NEVER have any streaks, smears, or anything with a mf and a can of Stoners Invis Glass. Except when I do a car that the owner smokes in because the smoke causes a film on the glass as well.

 

+1 to sprayaway

 

I bought some stoners invisible glass in the pump not spray last night at target....once I get the tumbler WW i'll give it a try and see what happens. Last time I used some generic foaming window spray and didn't know about the stoners invis glass products.

 

I spent most of yesterday cleaning my NBP TL, you know wash & wax inside & out. I use Zaino stuff and now the car looks just sooo good in the bright sunshine. But as I drove to work this morning my glass was nothing but streaks... what a bummer.

So I thought that I'd check out Azine to ask for help and there it was only 3 threads down. After work I'm going to try Stoner's and some WW towels and I'll let you know how it works out.

Once again the forum comes through! Thanks!

 

Tried cleaning the windows with balsamic vinegar but all it did was make me want to slice up some tomatoes and fresh buffalo mozzarella.

As mentioned, the key to clean interior windows is to treat the dash periodically to prevent outgassing. I love 303 Protectant for that. I've done a few cars where the film was so thick it took multiple times with straight vinegar to get it off.

 

I have been using Stoners since i bought my TSX, use the windows towels that are kinda ribbed, not as fluffy as a MF. spray on towel lightly and go to town. I purchased the window thing from Patrick and its great, works very well and is even better now that we have an Odyssey.

as others have said sometimes if I let it go for a while I will have to do the interior twice but I usually try to treat the inside surfaces regularly to prevent the buildup.

 

Invisible glass & newspapers. Try it at night, with a streetlight or something a short distance away- you can easily see EVERY streak you might have missed.

 

I hate cleaning windows...apparently...who doesn't.

Mine always turn out like shit...

Going to try out some of the techniques here that seem to have success.

Thanks for sharing.