Streak free windows?

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Vinegar and water. Dry with news paper. It's all I've ever used. Or you can try some of the other suggested methods. Interested in the isopropyl alcohol. that's a new one on me. Waxing always left my windows white when it was damp out. Guess I used the wrong kind.
 
I use glass wax, kind of hard to find locally so online, works great!
 
RustyRatRod said:
You expect this crowd to buy "professional" glass cleaner when 90% or more of them *****, piss and moan about how much the hobby costs? It's hard talking some of this bunch into not running used lifters on a camshaft, or buying a cam bearing tool, or any other tool or part many people consider necessary parts of the hobby. What a damn joke.

That figures. They'll buy "the best" 20 plus dollar glass cleaner, curb feelers and air fresheners, but dammit to hell something really important.

And a 99 cent bottle of isopropol alcohol will get the job done just as good.
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Oops!!! I get it for free, cheaper than .99!!! Why?? Because I use the glass company for jobs at work, and they flip me cans for nothing!!! They also leave them at every job!!! And how do you know the OP isn't willing to spend what it costs to buy some???
 
I'll second the recommendation for "Invisible Glass" by Stoner. It doesn't streak like Windex. Spray bottle or Aerosol. Widely available at reasonable cost. Works great on bathroom mirrors too.
 
I was a detailer for a long time and my trick for streak free windows is hitting the windows with a Mr.Clean Magic Eraser ,a bottle of 50/50 alcohol,and a microfiber cloth to dry first.The magic eraser cuts and removes the crap that is gassed off from the interior ,or smoke film from a previous owner.Then,again ,use an alcohol based glass cleaner ,or even the alcohol solution and 2 microfiber towels one to wipe,one to dry.I use Sprayway Glass Cleaner.I think I've been using it for years now.You will be amazed how great micro fibers work on windows.Claying them also works great as well .Meguiar's makes very good glass cleaner too. :thumleft:
 
ramenth said:
A clean windshield can be one of the most important things that you can have as a motorist. A clean windshield can save lives.
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Did you see anywhere were I did not advocate a clean windshield?
 
I use plain ol' tap water and a microfiber towel. Then I dry the window with a second dry microfiber towel.
 
cosgig said:
Oops!!! I get it for free, cheaper than .99!!! Why?? Because I use the glass company for jobs at work, and they flip me cans for nothing!!! They also leave them at every job!!! And how do you know the OP isn't willing to spend what it costs to buy some???
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I don't know that. All I was doing was offering up advice that's damn cheap and works good. Once again as usual I get railroaded.

I don't buy into marketing gimmicks if I can help it. If you look at most all automotive glass cleaner, you will see one common ingredient. Alcohol. It works.

I think though, it will be a cold day in hell before I recommend anything else that works that might save a dollar or two.
 
1BadDodge71 said:
I was a detailer for a long time and my trick for streak free windows is hitting the windows with a Mr.Clean Magic Eraser ,a bottle of 50/50 alcohol,and a microfiber cloth to dry first.
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I'm gonna have to try that- don't know if it's the new dash pad, or the spray adhesive I used to glue down the vinyl on the rear package tray I made, or both, but my Duster's windows get a film on them that looks like Cheech and Chong invited Snoop Dogg into the car for a few hours. And I mean I can clean the glass and the next day it looks like that.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I don't know that. All I was doing was offering up advice that's damn cheap and works good. Once again as usual I get railroaded.

I don't buy into marketing gimmicks if I can help it. If you look at most all automotive glass cleaner, you will see one common ingredient. Alcohol. It works.

I think though, it will be a cold day in hell before I recommend anything else that works that might save a dollar or two.
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Well Rob, you went on a tirade about how cheap 90% of the people are here and that he shouldn't buy a $20 can of window cleaner, without even knowing if he's in the 90% you were speaking of! He asked, I told him what I used, and that shoulda been the end of that! And, it costs me less than the .99c that you posted!! I guess I'm in the 90%!!!! :) don't get all riled up on my account, I'm just being as gravelly as you!!!
 
Now back to our regularly scheduled program. I like sprayway, but I think Meguiars glass cleaner is great. When they run out, I will try the more affordable ideas mentioned.
 
Logan said:
I'll second the recommendation for "Invisible Glass" by Stoner. It doesn't streak like Windex. Spray bottle or Aerosol. Widely available at reasonable cost. Works great on bathroom mirrors too.
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I started using this with amazing results on my boat and car .
 
Windows are a pain to get right.

I start off by spraying liberal amounts of glass cleaner on the windshield (or whatever piece of glass I'm working on) and scrape off all the bug guts with a razor blade. Get the angle right so you don't damage the glass, or use a plastic razor blade. I then go over everything with a clay bar to pick up any small pieces of dirt or debris.

Once all the junk is off the glass I'll mist the surface with glass cleaner (I opt for Stoners Invisible Glass) and wipe it down with a low pile microfiber glass towel. I wipe up and down and then I will do another pass that's side to side. I'll then buff off any streaks with a low pile waffle weave microfiber towel. Speed is your friend. Clean your wipers too before laying them back on the glass. On the inside, sit in the passenger seat and spray some glass cleaner on a microfiber glass towel, wipe the window down, switch to a low pile waffle weave, buff off any remaining streaks. Repeat if necessary.

The key is doing all of this on a cool window. Never do it out in the sunlight and make sure there's no grease on the glass or else you'll just smear it around. When I'm faced with greasy glass I'll spray it down with degreaser and wipe with a microfiber until it's clean then i'll start the glass cleaning process as outlined above.

You can also buy anti fog stuff for your glass. I've got some at the house but I forget what it's called. Cleaning glass correctly is a huge pain but if you do it right you'll be pleased with the results.
 
I think the big deal with the streaks was the final wipe down. I used newspaper because I've always been told it was the best way to get streak free windows. That was decades ago when I was told this, and I'm finding out that are better methods to get good results!

I used the 50/50 white vinegar and water on one window, and I used rubbing alcohol on another, wiped them both down with micro-fiber cloths, out of the Sun, and low and behold, NO STREAKS ON EITHER WINDOW! I'm still a little suspicious about putting wax on glass.

Thanks to all of you who chimed in to educate me on glass cleaning! I will eventually try some of the other cleaners for comparison, but it looks like the issue with streaks has more to do with how you finish wiping down the glass than the cleaning product itself.

THANK YOU, FABO BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!
 
cosgig said:
Well Rob, you went on a tirade about how cheap 90% of the people are here and that he shouldn't buy a $20 can of window cleaner, without even knowing if he's in the 90% you were speaking of! He asked, I told him what I used, and that shoulda been the end of that! And, it costs me less than the .99c that you posted!! I guess I'm in the 90%!!!! :) don't get all riled up on my account, I'm just being as gravelly as you!!!
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And you assume and wrongly that I was talking about the OP. I was not.
 
Remove the windows, then there will be no streaking....
 
I've used IPA, isopropyl alcohol, in my DD windshield wash reservoir to help wash the front window in wintertime. Sorry off topic, but IPA can be used for other things, like dropping the freeze point lower for one.
 
Griot's Garage has great window cleaner. And some special window cleaning disposable cloths. I think this combination works great.

You guys that use microfiber cloths... how do you know they are clean? If there is any soap left in them from normal washing, that'll streak the windows too.
 
I wash my shop micro-fiber towels in a separate small load and begin with a small amount of detergent. I've never had a problem with soap remaining. The wife washed some with fabric softener though, and they came out a mess and did leave streaks. Took a couple of washings to get them useful again.
 
One thing I have not seen mentioned is the trouble with "Armor All" type products and window streaking. Silicone based stuff seems damn near impossible to get off glass and streaks like heck on glass.

If you use it close to (like my vinyl top) your windows or cross contaminate you cleaning towles from doing the dash, interior, etc. You can wreak havoc on your glass.

Just try putting a dab of Armor All on a window and then try to get it completely clean sometime. You'll be amazed at just how hard it is.
 
im with RRR, for a long time I was mixing rubing alcohol and water 50/50 in a spray bottle. no streaks at all !
 
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