Cleaning car windows for perfect visibility
A greasy windshield on the inside is dangerous at night (glare). Here is how to make it invisible.
Recommended Materials
- Household alcohol (or Isopropanol)
- 2 clean microfibers
- Newspaper (exterior)
Steps to follow
Step 1
The inside of the windshield gets covered with a stubborn greasy film (due to dashboard plastics degassing in the heat + breathing and air conditioning). Classic glass cleaner often spreads it more than it removes it, creating dangerous reflections at night.
Step 2
The pro solution: Use household alcohol or isopropyl alcohol (IPA). It's the best degreaser that evaporates instantly and leaves no trace.
Step 3
The contortion technique: sit on the passenger side to clean the driver side and vice versa. Use the back of your hand to go all the way down the windshield, where it meets the dashboard.
Step 4
Use two microfibers: one soaked in alcohol to scrub and degrease, and a dry one immediately after to buff.
Step 5
Exterior: clean the wiper blades too! If they are dirty, they will dirty the window again at the first swipe. Pass a cloth soaked in alcohol on the rubber blade until it no longer comes out black.
Step 6
For stuck insects: place a cloth or newspaper wet with hot water on the windshield for 5 min to soften them before scrubbing. Do not scrape dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to avoid fog ?
CLEAN windshield = less fog. Fog clings to micro-particles of dirt. You can also use shaving foam (like for the bathroom mirror): spread, wipe, it leaves an anti-fog film.
Rain repellent products (like Rain-X) ?
Very effective on the road (water flies off in beads from 70km/h without wipers), but you have to reapply often (every month) otherwise it makes white marks when using the wipers.
Precautions
- Do not put greasy products (dashboard silicone) on the windows.
- Watch out for tinted films (no ammonia).
