Still struggling with streaking- any suggestions?

Route246 said:
You are using the wrong microfiber towel. Good MF should be lint-free. IF it isn't you should try a different brand or a different form factor. A decent waffle weave should not leave any lint at all.
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Well if you take a good lint free microfiber towel and wash and dry it with a cotton towel, it will no longer be lint free.

Also residues from dryer sheets and fabric softeners in driers could cause issues with streaking.

I don’t use any special glass towels, just my cheap interior ones, but I do switch them out frequently.

Edit: Another thing I also do is I clean all the trim around the glass and the dash at the same time.

I spray my cleaner (D114) fairly heavy and this also wets the dash. I use a glass tool with a microfiber just draped over it and mop the windshield with it. Spin my towel so the dry half is on the tool and soak up the liquid that’s leftover. I take that towel and wipe down the surrounding trim and dash. Then do it again with good spray of cleaner and a fresh towel. Then again with a fresh towel and a light mist.

You often can’t clean the one without touching the other.
 
Make your final wipe with just a slight mist of glass cleaner and a dedicated waffle weave towel for windows.
 
Once the interior windows are initially cleaned I like plain 'ole water and terry cloth for maintenance. One damp rag followed by a dry one or two, or three.
 
I have found through lots of trials that I have to use three microfiber towels to eliminate streaks. First one has heavy glass cleaner application, 2nd towel light application, and 3rd towel little or no cleaner. I use Griot's glass towels and have tried about ten glass cleaners. They all work if I use three towels. I machine polish the windshield with Griot's glass polish a couple times a year to remove film and water spots that seem to build up no matter how often I clean the glass.
 
I will ad a thing that I learned at a forum a year ago and find helpfull for maintance cleaning the most. That is to clean the inside windows up and down then the outside windows from side to side. This way if you get some streaking you will see if it's on the inside or the outside windows.

Also as mentioned a claying of the outside windows is helpfull to get a smooth glass surface. As you do a baggie test on paint do it on glass also. And if really imbedded grime a glass polish.

The need of multible mf towels is important. I like the no nap glass mf towels for heavy cleaning and a WW mf towel for the last wipe off. Those no nap glass mf towels can be very draggy when the windows are really cleaned. And that is a good sign that they is clean.

I like to have both the outside windows and inside windows with some kind of glass coating. The outside windows with a stand alone and the inside windows after they are deep cleaned use a glass cleaner with water repellence in that as a final wipe down. Just to make them easier to clean.

Then something many forget about is to use fresh wiper blades. And clean them really good I take them off to clean them when needed. I will test a tire and rubber rejuvenate cleaner next time. Thinking about to treat them with 303 rubber seal protectant and if that works great I will consider to by 303 protectant. Just make sure to use something that dries to the touch and penetrate the rubber.
 
gspam1 said:
I have found through lots of trials that I have to use three microfiber towels to eliminate streaks. First one has heavy glass cleaner application, 2nd towel light application, and 3rd towel little or no cleaner. I use Griot's glass towels and have tried about ten glass cleaners. They all work if I use three towels. I machine polish the windshield with Griot's glass polish a couple times a year to remove film and water spots that seem to build up no matter how often I clean the glass.
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What type of pad do you use on your glass?
 
I’m not too certain if anyone else has used this, but I’ve always used zep40 (the white can) with no problems, when applied to a microfiber then going over once again with a dry micro.


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I use a couple of simple methods depending on the application. On the outside glass I use Stoners Invisible Glass. The initial wipe is with a microfiber towel. The final wipe is with a waffle weave glass towel making sure that all of the cleaner is removed from the surface. On the interior glass I use the Zapcloth. It is a superb product. Just soak it in a little warm water and it will clean glass streak free. I also finish that up with a clean and dry waffle weave towel. The glass will really appear invisible.
 
luvmyrv said:
What type of pad do you use on your glass?
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The pad doesn't matter for glass cleaning in my experience. There are dedicated glass pads for strong abrasive products that are taking out scratches, but that isn't needed for deep cleaning. Any machine will work too, I have used DA polishers, rotary polishers, wax applicators with a terry cloth pad. My weapon of choice is the Milwaukee M12 rotary polisher - cordless, light and small. Takes 3" foam pads or wool pads. A single pass ensuring complete coverage has always been enough. You could accomplish the same thing by hand or with a Magic Eraser sponge.
 
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