How to Clean a Glass Windshield

A clean windshield is not only a must-have for a clean car, it's also a safety consideration. Too often driver's overlook the importance of a clean windshield when washing their car. It's easy to get your windshield super clean and keep it that way.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Microfiber cloth
• Newspaper
• Glass cleaner

1. Clean or detail your car first. You should clean your windows last so that they are not contaminated by the rest of the cleaning process.

2. Choose what type of glass cleaner you would like to use. Your choices include household ammonia-based glass cleaner, professional glass cleaner without ammonia, a vinegar and water solution, a car wash soap and water solution or just water alone.

3. Begin with the interior of the front windshield. This is most easily accessed from the passenger seat, as the driver's seat is obstructed by the steering wheel.

4. Spray the cleaner on a clean microfiber cloth outside of the car if you are using a spray cleaner. Overspray can contaminate the interior surfaces of your car.

5. Use long strokes to apply the cleaner to the windshield.

6. Use the dry side of the cloth to dry the windshield and remove cleaner residue.

7. Repeat this process until the interior windshield is clean.

8. Move on to the interior back windshield and clean it in the same fashion.

9. Lift the wipers up on the exterior windshields. Most cars have windshield wipers that can be lifted and locked in place to clean the glass beneath.

10. Clean the exterior windshields on your car. You may need to use a little elbow grease to get the bugs, bird droppings and other hard-to-remove materials.

11. Keep your windshields clean by taking care of your windshield wipers. When cleaning your windshields, take time to clean your wipers as well and check their condition. Wipers should be replace periodically, and windshield wiper fluid should be kept full.

Tips & Warnings

• Try drying your windshield with newspaper. Newspaper ink acts as a glass polisher and newspaper doesn't leave lint behind when it dries.
• Try to clean your windows out of direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause streakiness when the glass cleaner dries too fast.
• To clean the inside, rear windshield, use the reverse side of your hand to reach the microfiber cloth into the corners.
• Ammonia can damage many of the interior surfaces in your car including vinyl, leather and rubber. Some experts recommend against ammonia-based cleaners for interior car window or suggest spraying them on a cloth outside of the car before using.
• Do not use ammonia-based glass cleaners on tinted windows.

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