How do YOU clean windows?

Steam and terry cloth towel. If I need a cleaner, Aquapel.
 
I've used the Meg's glass cleaner, Stoner IG, Clearvue, Sprayaway, just to name a few. I've use countless microfibers from both AG, Sam's club, all of the autoparts stores.

I've come to the conclusion that the wiping media matters more than the cleaner itself up to the point of severely tobacco stained windows in which I feel the cleaner will make a difference.

A few of you use something close to what I use in that you use newspaper. I use something similar, but not the newspaper. Though I've use newspaper a few times I came to the conclusion that if it turns my fingers black it's probably leaving something on the glass I can't see. That said, newspaper in my view is better than any microfiber I've used.

As far as cleaners, I'll use whatever I have on hand. Meg's happens to be cheap considering the cost and dilution ratio. However, when it comes to severely neglected glass, especially nicotine stained windows I switch gears altogther.

On nicotine stained windows I simply use the blue paper towels that you'd see at any gas station and 91% alcohol. I refuse to waste my time cleaning windows, but I hate filthy glass. Keep in mind I only use the alcohol if the job warrants it. Otherwise, I like to use those blue paper towels from the filling stations, even using water or washer fluid. I get the blue towels at a janitor supply house. Hint: There's a reason they are sold at janitor supply houses.
 
I also stumbled upon the damp WW setup.

I had used some other towels, and ended up with streaking with Stoners.

Went over it with a damp WW I had lying around, and it turned out great.

I also have good luck with one MF that's used to wipe the glass down, and go over the glass again with another dry MF to lightly "buff" any remaining streaks out. It works best to do these steps right after the other, to keep the streaks from drying.
 
Stoners, waffle weave towels, and the glass master tool. I never liked the bonnets that came with the Glass Master, so I chucked the bonnets away and I just drape the WW towel over the glass master and wipe away.

I also make sure I do my windows last, after washing and detailing the rest of the car. That way I'm exhausted and too tired to really care if I leave a fleck or two of lint or behind! :)
 
I either use Stoners or Zep and don't have a problem with streaks but the CG WW towel seems to get grabby as the window dries and that is probably where it is pulling off the lint. i do get streaks if I try to stop just before it gets grabby though.
 
Yes but both sides of my CG WW glass towel are exectly the same. I have other MF towels that are like what your talking about.
 
I've played around with a couple different ways to clean glass and the best I've found so far is Stoner's Invisible Glass with a terry cloth. I just make sure I start to use the dry side of the cloth before the glass cleaner can dry.
 
Meguiar's Glass Cleaner, Waffle Weave Glass towel, not hot windows
 
Anyone wipe down glass with distilled water after cleaning to remove any possible streaking?
 
Yes! I have, however if the towel is contaminated, it doesn't work well, and defeats the purpose of using distilled water. I have got DECENT results with it, but never crystal clear windows. It's probably just the quality of the cloth, but I don't know.
 
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the problem is the fact that glass cleaners clean all lubricants off the surface and you get lint from rubbing the dry glass with a dry towel, so the lint sticks. this is why a little quick detailer added to your glass cleaner helps bigtime.

I also noticed that mucoff glass cleaner leaves a slick finish after wiping and because of the slick finish the towel never grabs and leaves lint.

also this is the same reason why someone else in this thread mentioned that DP rinseless worked so well for him. because of leaves a slick light polymer film behind, making the towel slide easy not leaving lint.

see the trend.

i'll add one more, another member mentioned a damp WW towel working for him. now while water is not a great lubricant, it is better then rubbing a dry non slick glass surface, so lint is cutdown bigtime.

this is why i love glass cleaners that leave a slick finish behind.

to test this try adding a small amount of a slick QD (not spray wax or a QD with wax in it) to your glass cleaner.
 
mg6045 I think your on to something here. This is exactly what I was saying my WW starts to get grabby and then lint is the end result. What QD do you recomend? I think I have a bottle of Megs sitting around so what 1/2 oz to 16 oz cleaner???
 
rzatch said:
mg6045 I think your on to something here. This is exactly what I was saying my WW starts to get grabby and then lint is the end result. What QD do you recomend? I think I have a bottle of Megs sitting around so what 1/2 oz to 16 oz cleaner???
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try and test on your own. sound like a 1/2 or 1oz with 16oz will work.

I dont want to make an exact recommendation and it not work. but if you could trust me, I know this idea works and with some testing you will do better than you are now with getting lint.

another solution is try wiping the windows with a rinseless wash at claylube dilution (not QD dilution) after cleaning your windows. This I have done with excellent results as well.

I also would like to add that never mixed any glass cleaners that contain alcohal. whether that makes a difference or not, i dont know, but I wanted to add that as well.
 
Meguiar's Glass Cleaner mixed with distilled water + Microfiber Waffle Weave Glass Towel = Clean streak free glass

Note: Trying to clean a dirty window with a soiled towel only results in redepositing dirt back on the glass.

A clean towel is paramount to clean streak free glass. Sometimes having a second clean towel for that last wipe makes it even easier...:props:
 
I've gained a ton of info from this post. There are so many methods I can't choose! :)
 
mg6045 said:
the problem is the fact that glass cleaners clean all lubricants off the surface and you get lint from rubbing the dry glass with a dry towel, so the lint sticks.
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Agreed! There are very few combinations that work well for me.
Last time I was at a gas station (Chevron if it matters) I pulled out my travel bottle of Megs D120 Glass cleaner and used their paper towels at the squeegee islands and and some great results.
When I detail at home, the 3M Microfiber Detail Cloths are the best I have used. They do not lint and are very soft. Unfortunately they are pricey. The will start to lint if they are washed improperly or dried in the drier.
Stoner IG and these towels are the best combo I have used do far as they seem to glide fairly well.
 
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