Can't Clean Glass Well...

How is the condition of the actual glass in your window?
I have seen front windshields that were so pitted that it was impossible to make them look "clean". And windshield wipers would just leave streaks.
I have used a rotary polisher with 4 inch pads and glass polishing compound (it took almost five hours) and it has helped. But only replacing the windshield will return it to "like new"
 
A4 1.8tqm said:
I know exactly what you mean, I blamed my towels though. Haven't noticed it since only using dedicated glass towels, both Cobra Glass MF and the thin "napless" glass towels from dollar stores. Really, I think it's the final wipe with a clean dry Glass MF that gets it done for me. :xyxthumbs:
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I was of the same opinion.

No matter how I tried, how many times I cleaned it I was left with streaks. I tried several glass cleaners and paper towels but never really saw any real improvement. So reluctantly, I bought a few Microfiber towels and among them were two Cobra Waffle glass towels. I liked the design and they were very well made.

Spray half the windshield and wipe with the towel. What I didn't expect was an absolutely clean swipe. I cleaned the entire windshield then went over it with a dry clean section and stood back with amazement; NO STREAKS!!

Something I also took note of was how dirty the glass was. If it was real grubby with dirt, bugs, bird crap and the like, I'll clean it with paper towels and remove the majority then clean it again with the Microfiber towel.

A point I'd like to make is the reason for the pre-clean with paper towel was to avoid a heavy contamination of dirt on the Microfiber towel, nothing more. Could I have accomplished the same without using the paper towel? Of course but then I'd have one filthy towel to wash..

Bottom line; if you're cleaning glass and the final wipe is with a section of a towel that has absorbed contamination you'll end up with streaks.....
 
This is how I scrub glass. I use a terry cloth applicator (those cheap 5-in round ones) to break up the crud after spraying with glass cleaner, then dry using a low nap microfiber cloth. When the cloth gets slightly damp, I get another one. It sure makes drying easy.

The polishing pal helps to really scrub.


DSC_1819-1
 
sheeeet, i use Stoner's (pump bottle) and love that stuff! i've been using it for a while and have no beef with it whatsoever. what's the problem you are seeing?

i have to be honest - i have a bunch of different things meant specifically for glass that i procured from AG: waffle weave glass towels, the glass master, some other stuffs, blah, blah...

and i still use my old school advance auto MFs and stoners pump bottle. it just flat out works! the towels don't lint, the spray works great :shrugs:

another item i use is from the company that makes the wiper blades i use. it's called Silbead. think rain-x but way more durable. i find that this stuff makes glass cleaning much easier if the window is treated with it initially.
 
BobbyG said:
I was of the same opinion.

No matter how I tried, how many times I cleaned it I was left with streaks. I tried several glass cleaners and paper towels but never really saw any real improvement. So reluctantly, I bought a few Microfiber towels and among them were two Cobra Waffle glass towels. I liked the design and they were very well made.

Spray half the windshield and wipe with the towel. What I didn't expect was an absolutely clean swipe. I cleaned the entire windshield then went over it with a dry clean section and stood back with amazement; NO STREAKS!!

Something I also took note of was how dirty the glass was. If it was real grubby with dirt, bugs, bird crap and the like, I'll clean it with paper towels and remove the majority then clean it again with the Microfiber towel.

A point I'd like to make is the reason for the pre-clean with paper towel was to avoid a heavy contamination of dirt on the Microfiber towel, nothing more. Could I have accomplished the same without using the paper towel? Of course but then I'd have one filthy towel to wash..

Bottom line; if you're cleaning glass and the final wipe is with a section of a towel that has absorbed contamination you'll end up with streaks.....
Click to expand...

I have been down the road with paper towel. I agree with Bobby, it works great with a MF follow up (I have a roll next to the work bench)!

Personally, I am trying to reduce paper going into the trash. Not sure if using water to clean MFs or reducing paper in the trash is actually better. Using a double towel process should help you!
 
I use a glass cleaner called Film Buster that smells just like IPA and I can use a used microfiber towel that has polish residue on it to do the windows streak free so long as I give it that second buffing. I think it's just IPA and water. I know my signature says IPA is for zits but that's just a joke.
 
tuscarora dave said:
I use a glass cleaner called Film Buster that smells just like IPA and I can use a used microfiber towel that has polish residue on it to do the windows streak free so long as I give it that second buffing. I think it's just IPA and water. I know my signature says IPA is for zits but that's just a joke.
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Huh?

The guy is having problems with streaky windows and window cleaners. Sometime the satire on these forums kills me...

Help him with insights that you know work.

I know that some people use towels that were used to buff the wax off the paint for finishing windows. I have not... I used newsprint 30 years ago when the ink was carbon based. It's not now...

Come on guys... I don't have all the answers and I'm not always right, but sometimes it's just sharing techniques that work. I want to learn too and I've been at this for 40 years.
 
+1 on washing your glass towels separately. Almost all the streaks on windows are from left over polish or wax residue on the towel itself.
 
Kurt_s said:
Huh?

The guy is having problems with streaky windows and window cleaners. Sometime the satire on these forums kills me...

Help him with insights that you know work.

I know that some people use towels that were used to buff the wax off the paint for finishing windows. I have not... I used newsprint 30 years ago when the ink was carbon based. It's not now...

Come on guys... I don't have all the answers and I'm not always right, but sometimes it's just sharing techniques that work. I want to learn too and I've been at this for 40 years.
Click to expand...
I was sharing my experience in that with the cleaner I am using my towels don't necessarily have to be clean to get good results. There was no satire intended in my reply. I don't reach for dirty towels to do my glass cleaning but have been in that situation where I hadn't brought enough towels and Film Buster does the trick regardless. In the past with other products I have had some of the same troubles as mentioned above but now I don't. What's so hard to understand about my reply?
 
Kurt_s said:
I have been down the road with paper towel. I agree with Bobby, it works great with a MF follow up (I have a roll next to the work bench)!

Personally, I am trying to reduce paper going into the trash. Not sure if using water to clean MFs or reducing paper in the trash is actually better. Using a double towel process should help you!
Click to expand...

I agree, using paper towels will increase the cost of things so I don't use them all that often, only when a windshield is extremely dirty . Rinsing a Microfiber towel in clean water afterwards is a great idea to float away some of the dirt and should allow for additional uses before laundering is needed.
 
Mindflux said:
Disagree with the SIG recommendation.

Do the windshield in halves. Spray, wipe away and use another dry towel for final mop up. Repeat on other half of windshield.

ZEP is well liked along with the Megs Concentrate.
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Do this in the shade and you should have no streaking. I use Clearcoat Quick Shine which is resistaant to streaks IME.
 
I got tired of streaks so I talked to some commercial glass cleaners. Picked up a commercial glass cleaning tool (looks similar to terry cloth with longer nap) and a small squeegee. First use plenty of glass cleaner, mover the product around with tool A, then squeegee off most of the grimy residue, the lightly go over with a MF. Completely fixed my problem and actually saves a TON of time. Looking back it makes perfect sense to get as much cleaner and dirt off before wiping it with a towel. Using a towel for the initial removal depends too much on absorption and most just smears dirt and chemical around. If any of you try this, lemme know how you like it.
 
integritydetail said:
I got tired of streaks so I talked to some commercial glass cleaners. Picked up a commercial glass cleaning tool (looks similar to terry cloth with longer nap) and a small squeegee.
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Is it like a terry on a stick or something? Pics?
 
I started using Stoners IG, both aerosol and spray bottle with a waffle weave MF, and have good results. It even took water spots off with several repeat applications.
 
tuscarora dave said:
I was sharing my experience in that with the cleaner I am using my towels don't necessarily have to be clean to get good results. There was no satire intended in my reply. I don't reach for dirty towels to do my glass cleaning but have been in that situation where I hadn't brought enough towels and Film Buster does the trick regardless. In the past with other products I have had some of the same troubles as mentioned above but now I don't. What's so hard to understand about my reply?
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My apologies. I completely misread your comments and I am not sure why.

I reread your post today, it makes complete sense and was very good advice regarding Film Buster.

Please forgive me.
 
Great thread. Still no one that dislikes SIG has said why? Anyone want to touch on that?

I was considering buying SIG, but am unsure ATM.

They were out of it when I went to O'Riellys so I had to buy Eagle One product. Leaves behind the smokers haze in cars I've done. Even after several passes.
 
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