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Glass Detailing Guide

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Detailing Guide - Glass

Clean, clear glass is about more than just looks, it is also essential for visibility and overall driving safety. Proper glass care removes grime, water spots, and residue so you have a clear view while driving. With a few simple methods and the right approach, even beginners can achieve streak free windows that stay cleaner for longer.

Why is Glass Care Important?

Beyond appearance, clean glass is crucial for driving safety. Leftover cleaner, smudges, or film can cause streaking and hazing, which may impair visibility, especially at night. Good glass care helps ensure you always have a clear, unobstructed view.

How Often Should You Care For Your Glass?

Glass should be cleaned whenever visibility becomes impaired or you notice water spots, dirt, or film. At a minimum clean the glass once every three months inside and out but don’t if issues arise clean the glass immediately.

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How-to Clean Interior & Exterior Glass

Interior Glass

  • Use just enough glass cleaner to get the job done. If your microfiber cloth gets stuck or grabs while wiping use more product. Using too much product is wasteful and requires more work buffing off excess product.
  • Spray the glass cleaner on your microfiber towel and work across your glass with medium pressure. Utilize overlapping passes side to side and up and down in a logical pattern to ensure you clean every part of the glass.
  • Fold your towels into quarters during use and when you move onto a new section refold the towel to expose a clean area. This gives you eight fresh sections from a standard towel, maximizing each towel while improving your results.
  • Repeat the steps above without the glass cleaner and use a fresh microfiber towel to buff away excess product quickly, removing about 90% of the cleaner residue. Ideally use a third glass specific towel to remove that remaining 10% for a streak free finish.

Exterior Glass

  • Exterior glass often deals with road dirt, water spots, and environmental film. During your traditional wash process, target glass surfaces with your wash mitt and shampoo combo.
  • After this cleaning process, inspect the glass surfaces. If you need a more thorough cleaning, repeat the Interior Glass directions from above.
  • If you have really stubborn buildups, staining, watermarks, etc. utilize a glass polish.
  • If you are not performing a traditional wash process first, follow the same steps as the Interior Glass directions above.

Glass Protection

Protecting your glass goes beyond just keeping it clean, it helps repel water, dirt, and contaminants, which improves visibility and safety while driving. A protective coating also makes future cleaning easier, reduces streaks, and can extend the life of wiper blades by minimizing drag and abrasion. Application depends on the protection product chosen, so follow the manufacturers guidelines here.

Pro Tips

  • Roll windows down slightly before cleaning so you can reach and clean the top edge and seals. This spot is often missed.
  • Clean when the glass is cool and out of direct sunlight. Cleaning in the direct light almost guarantees streaks.
  • Inspect with an LED light to make sure no residue or streaks remain.
  • Sideview mirrors are often plastic but glass cleaners generally are fine to use on them. Typically you don’t want to polish these surfaces.
  • Never use ammonia based glass cleaners on tinted windows.
  • Use multiple towels to clean your glass, this will help reduce streaking.
  • Spray glass cleaner on glass towels away from your vehicle to avoid overspray.
  • Lift up your wiper blades and wipe the blade with a towel. Use a quick detailer or a very light degreaser if needed.
  • Avoid using wipers excessively on dry glass.
  • Protect your exterior glass to reduce maintenance and to improve visibility during poor weather conditions.

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