Clean Da' Glass Class : Glass
Cleaning
A friend once said: "Glass cleaning is an art",
which puts it all into perspective. Clean glass is important if only
because dirt and other problems are more obvious on window glass.
There are any number of glass cleaners available, most of which contain
ammonia, that do a good job of cleaning glass. Home made recipes are
popular and effective however. A simple one consists of 1/3 white
vinegar and 2/3 water, with some people adding a teaspoon of car wash
detergent. A more complicated concoction is:
- 1/2 cup sudsy ammonia
- 1 pint 70% isopropyl alcohol
- 1 tablespoon dish washing detergent
- 1 gallon water
Others insist plain water is best, and some go to the
trouble to use distilled water or collected rain water.
A thorough glass cleaning is actually a three part
process. First, wash the glass with soap and water along with the rest
of the car. Then use your chosen cleaner to clean both the inside and
outside of the glass. Cleaning the inside is particularly important for
newer cars, as interior plastics release gaseous materials (popularly
known as "that new car smell") that leave a film.
Microfiber towels can work wonders when it comes
to glass cleaning techniques.
The last step should be a dry pass, again on both
the inside and out. Use a clean cotton cloth or paper towel without any
cleaner. If you use paper towels, stay away from any that have a design
printed on them. While doing the dry clean step, inspect the glass
carefully from various angles for residue and other imperfections. Done
properly, you should be able to eliminate all streaking.