Glass Cleaning Driving Me Nuts!

dschribs

dschribs

New member
I have an '01Trans Am WS6 with an issue that is driving me absoluetly crazy.


 


I just can't seem to get the glass clean.  Even after two or three wipe downs with class cleaner and a lint free cloth - it still shows steaks in the sun.  Driving me nuts!  I've used tried Invisible Glass, Spray Away, Clearkote Quickshine, Windex (figured what the heck...) - all to no avail.  I've tried different cloths - waffle weave glass towels, MF's, even the Scotts paper lint free glass towels and I just can't seem to ever get my glasss clean.  It's always streaked when the sun hits it.  Almost like I am sort of just spreading the film around on the surface. When the sun hits it athe right angle it's especially noticeable. Just horrible.  I've wiped the glass with a dry MF after cleaning and that helps to some degree but it's just never been clean to my satisifaction.


 


It's mainly an issue on the front and back glass. The car has only 12K miles on it so the glass isn't beat by any means.  It's just always streaked no matter how much I clean it. 


 


Any suggestions?  Clay maybe?  Maybe some Megs 2015 by hand??  Does the vinegar and newspaper trick really work??


 


I do have some Duragloss Nu-Glass that I never tried. Should I give it a go?  I'm stumped.  


 


Thanks!!!

Dan
 
You can try Carpro Spotless - specifically aimed at removing waterspots.


 


If it's not getting cleaned by even that, then it needs polishing.
 
Guru17 said:
You can try Carpro Spotless - specifically aimed at removing waterspots.


 


If it's not getting cleaned by even that, then it needs polishing.


 


 
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Thanks but I don't have water spots.  The glass just won't come clean.
 
Aside from the advice of cleaning the glass with horizontal strokes on one side and vertical on the other to see if the issue is inside or out, I suggest trying some UQW on the glass.  Spray on a MF and buff.  No streaks when finished.
 
I used to have this same problem. I finally discovered that ONR was my best glass cleaner. Take an ONR soaked microfiber and wring out just enough so its not dripping everywhere, then wipe your window, winshield, etc. down one at a time. Then I take a waffle weave mf and dry. I know sounds simple but its the only method i use now and its given me the best results. By the way, your WS6 is sweet. I love the LS-1 years.
 
I use a California water blade to clean away the glass cleaner. It leaves very little streaking behind both on exterior and interior glass. Blot the excess with a mf
 
Be VERY careful with steel wool, some of today's auto-"glass"  (scare-quotes intentional) is very soft and will mar quite easily.  Not like the old days when glass was glass.  Some "glass" like the Jag TriPlex will scratch very easily.


 


Only way I can get my interior windows perfect is with Griot's Polypropylene Window Towels (pn 14910).  I use a good glass cleaner (Griot's is OK, or try the HD 50:1 stuff or Meg's...oh what is it?  D120 manybe) and plenty of it.  Let it dwell for a while before wiping it off.  Fog the glass with your breath for the final wipes.
 
I've had the best luck with 3D 50:1 Glass Cleaner and Surgical Huck Towels.   The towels have a "grain" to them which seems to clean very well and the 3D 50:1 (mixed per instructions with about 1/2 oz of IPA) leaves a light "film" after the first wipe that is easily seen and wiped with the second dry Huck towel--you can actually feel when the film is removed as the glass gets very slick.


 


http://www.3dproducts.com/detailing-chemicals/cleaners/50-to-1-glass-cleaner/


 


http://www.towelsbydoctorjoe.com/lint-freehucktowels-1-1.aspx  (wash before use just like MF)
 
Bill D said:
I use a California water blade to clean away the glass cleaner. It leaves very little streaking behind both on exterior and interior glass. Blot the excess with a mf
Click to expand...


 


^^^This.  I did it again this morning on some foggy glass and it comes out perfect.


 


Dan, I think the other thing you want to try is to clean with 2 - 3 different brands of glass cleaner.  What is left behind by the first is often cleaned by the second.
 
I think following up with a clean dry 2nd towel just before the cleaner evaporates is key. I typically use 4 towels to clean the glass on a vehicle. As the towels become saturated and soiled you are just spreading around all that gunk on the other windows. The front windshield is always done first or with fresh towels.
 
DRT said:
I used to have this same problem. I finally discovered that ONR was my best glass cleaner. Take an ONR soaked microfiber and wring out just enough so its not dripping everywhere, then wipe your window, winshield, etc. down one at a time. Then I take a waffle weave mf and dry. I know sounds simple but its the only method i use now and its given me the best results. By the way, your WS6 is sweet. I love the LS-1 years.
Click to expand...


 


Agree 100%. Strong enough cleaner to cut through the grime. Biggest mistake I see when people clean glass is they don't get it wet enough. If you don't, all you have is enough moisture to smear everything around. 
 
DRT said:
I used to have this same problem. I finally discovered that ONR was my best glass cleaner. Take an ONR soaked microfiber and wring out just enough so its not dripping everywhere, then wipe your window, winshield, etc. down one at a time. Then I take a waffle weave mf and dry. I know sounds simple but its the only method i use now and its given me the best results. By the way, your WS6 is sweet. I love the LS-1 years.
Click to expand...


DRT, at what dilution do you recommend to use it?
 
I started using Zep commercial foaming glass cleaner and have not looked back.  The foam sits still on the glass, penetrating whatever gunk is stuck there, without running off.  I use the two-towel method to clean it off - starting with an absorbant cloth to pick up the majority of it, immediately following with a dry terry towel to get the last bit of residue off.  Works great.  Get a can at your local Home Depot.
 
Guru, I can get good results at just the regular wash dilution. I have also used it at clay lube dilution and get good results. As Scott said, the key is to get the glass wet enough so that you arent smearing the grime around but rather letting the ONR encapsulate the grime so you can wipe away. Pretty much the same principle you use when you wash the paint with ONR.
 
07Tital- Are you using the Zep40 aerosol?  I always keep some of that on-hand, even give it out as gifts to friends.


 


Gotta keep it off things like aftermarket tint though (both on vehicle and building windows).
 
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