[3.0L]

Try as I might, I clean the windows inside and out and the next day they look streaked and/or smudged. I use one towel (a bunch of 3) to wipe the cleaner thoroughly on the glass and then I dry the glass with a separate towel (bunch of 3).

I use heavy-duty blue paper towels from my favorite auto supply store and RainX window cleaner.

Any ideas much appreciated.

[jzeiler4]

I use Windex and three sheets folded of Viva Signature Cloth paper towels. Wet half the windshield with Windex and just wipe until are is covered and turn the towel over to dry and buff out any streaks. Toss that towel and do the next section with fresh towel. Been doing this for 40 years. It's not rocket science. You have to keep it wet until the dirt is loosened then don't let the dirt suspended in the liquid dry on its own.

[leftoverture]

Make sure you are cleaning with lots of light shining in so you can see what you're doing. Then use Windex and paper towel as jzeiler suggests.

[XutvJet]

Clean white t-shirt and elbow grease. Nothing else.

[dradernh]

Most of my life I used warm water and newspaper. Worked like a charm, including on the inside surface when there was a fair amount of outgassed plastic to be removed.

Now I use these products:

Glass Cleaner – https://www.autogeek.net/sonax-glass-cleaner.html

Insect Sponge – https://www.autogeek.net/sonax-insect-sponge.html (when necessary)

Waffle-Weave Glass Cleaning Towel – https://www.autogeek.net/ww1627.html

Microfiber Final Streak-Remover Cloth – https://www.autogeek.net/sonax-mf-glass-cloth.html

Does all that do a better job than warm water and newspaper? Not really, but a guy has to keep up! Besides, there's not a lot of newsprint freely available these days.

Seriously, that stuff is better when insects, anything oily in nature, or rubber streaks picked up on the track are present. In all the years I was using water and newspaper I very rarely encountered those contaminants.

Originally Posted by leftoverture

Make sure you are cleaning with lots of light shining in so you can see what you're doing.

^ This...for sure. A setting sun is the best; bring your OCD with you if you choose that light to work with.

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

I use heavy-duty blue paper towels from my favorite auto supply store and RainX window cleaner.

I use the Rain-X glass cleaner with rain repellent on exterior surfaces, but never inside. Are you using this or just their glass cleaner?

[TonM3]

Much better than Windex

[overcoil]

I've been using SprayWay glass cleaner. Microfiber towel to apply.

Change out your products over time till u find one that won't haze and streak which is a common problem.

[lateapex'er]

Streaked or smudged windows have always been a pet peeve of mine. As others have said light is your best friend when cleaning windows.

I follow Ammo Larry's method in the video below. (starts at 14:30).

Basically,

1. Spray with cleaner, then wipe dry with a microfiber towel
2. Spray with cleaner again, wipe with a scrub pad to pick up contaminants, clean up using a squeegee
3. Wipe any residue with a clean microfiber towel

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by lateapex'er

Streaked or smudged windows have always been a pet peeve of mine. As others have said light is your best friend when cleaning windows.

I follow Ammo Larry's method in the video below. (starts at 14:30).

Basically,

1. Spray with cleaner, then wipe dry with a microfiber towel
2. Spray with cleaner again, wipe with a scrub pad to pick up contaminants, clean up using a squeegee
3. Wipe any residue with a clean microfiber towel

Larry is the guru. I follow slightly different regiment from him. 50/50 IPA water mix with scrub pad. Window cleaner with microfiber towels. He even shows you how to contort yourself to easily clean the inside windshield.

Outside is window cleaner with razor blade scraper then just window cleaner with microfiber. From there you can rainex or seal, I use chemical guys jet seal it works great.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

From there you can rainex or seal, I use chemical guys jet seal it works great.

I forgot about sealing. I've been using Aquapel for quite a few years and like how long it lasts – 6-9 months depending upon how much time the car spends outside.

[RoundelM3]

Never use those blue paper "shop" towels - they smear really bad. I use the previously-mentioned spray foam cleaner and microfiber, but wadded-up newspaper is also good. The ink polishes the glass and it absorbs well. Another trick (from Griot's Garage) is to wipe off the outside using up-down motion and do the inside from side-to-side. That way, if it streaks, you can easily tell if it's on the inside or outside of the glass.

[MarcoZandrini]

I use a homemade glass cleaner:
- 60% water
- 20% alcohol (70% alcohol is fine)
- 20% white vinegar.

Mix in a 2 liter (B48) bottle and add 8 drops of Dawn or other dish washing liquid. Shake vigorously to mix thoroughly. Pour into a spray bottle. Shake the spray bottle before spraying. Leaves no streaks as streaks are caused by ammonia.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini

I use a homemade glass cleaner:
- 60% water
- 20% alcohol (70% alcohol is fine)
- 20% white vinegar.

Mix in a 2 liter (B48) bottle and add 8 drops of Dawn or other dish washing liquid. Shake vigorously to mix thoroughly. Pour into a spray bottle. Shake the spray bottle before spraying. Leaves no streaks as streaks are caused by ammonia.

I first saw this formula in my local paper back in the late 70s or early 80s. I gave it to my father and it became his go-to glass cleaner.

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by RoundelM3

Another trick (from Griot's Garage) is to wipe off the outside using up-down motion and do the inside from side-to-side. That way, if it streaks, you can easily tell if it's on the inside or outside of the glass.

Yes, a great tip, but in use long before Griot's came along!

[ggggbmw]

NEVER wash your windows in the sun! Yes, you want a lot of light, but direct sun will keep the glass really hot, and dry out the wet dirty cleaning solution on your windows before you can buff it off. That ALWAYS leaves hard to remove streaks because you've just baked a new layer of dirt on the windows.

I'm also a big fan of the two-sided glass cleaning micro-fiber towels that have a fluffy weave on one side, and a tight flat weave on the other. You use the fluffy side with a cleaner to get the glass clean. Should be fairly damp to wash the dirt. Then you flip the towel over and use the flat side to buff it clean. I use the ones from Target and they work great.

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by John in VA

Yes, a great tip, but in use long before Griot's came along!

Griot's has been around for 30 years...

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by RoundelM3

Griot's has been around for 30 years...

And window glass has been around since Roman times! Columnist Heloise was providing household tips like these in the early 60s - I'm sure someone preceded her. Regardless of who promulgated them, it's great to learn new techniques every day.