How To Clean Car Glass, Plexiglass and Mirrors

Streaky Windows

It’s a common problem: You’ve put a lot of effort in cleaning your car in the morning but when you hit the road in full sunlight you notice that there are still streaks on your windows. Sounds familiar?

With this guide such a problem will be a thing of the past.

A lot has been said about the best way to clean glass without leaving streaks or a haze.

Some people use household detergents, others use car shampoo or vinegar with old newspapers,…

Seems like everyone has their own opinion about glass cleaning. It’s kind of confusing…

The question is: what works best?

We at CCM are maniacs when it comes to cleaning glass and we can say we have tried about all the tricks in the book and most available products out there.

If you simply wash your car windows with household detergents or a car shampoo and use a random sponge and an old towel the result may look fine on a dark cloudy day, but there will always be a haze, streaks and fiber residue left on the glass surface.

This is because of the residue these products and materials leave behind. If you use unsuitable towels and soaps they will leave streaks and fibers on the glass surface. These will build up over time and become visible when it matters most: on a beautiful sunny day when you want to go for a drive…

When comparing different glass cleaning products, many do an “OK” job.

If you want a better than “OK” result, there are a few things to consider:

These three key factors are crucial to get the perfect result:

The cleaning agent you use.

The material you use to apply it with.
The cleaning method.

The Best Car Glass Cleaning Product

The one product that really stands out and our “weapon of choice” when it comes to car glass cleaning is Stoner Invisible Glass spray.

This spray does not contain streaky soaps, scents, dyes, or other additives that leave behind hard to remove residues, because they form streaks and attract dust and grime.

Stoner Invisible Glass easily removes fingerprints, smudges, dirt, grease, and smoke haze from windows, windshields, and other glass, mirrored, and even chrome surfaces.

It’s easy to use and incredibly efficient.

CCM’s choice by far!

Though you can use this great all round product to clean the inside as well as the outside of your car windows, Stoner also makes a glass cleaner with rain repellent which does everything the standard Invisible Glass does, but it also makes rain and snow run off much faster, improving visibility dramatically when your window wipers can’t keep up.

This could be a life-saver in heavy rain or snow.

How To Clean Car Glass and Mirrors

When cleaning car glass it is very important to do this in optimal lighting conditions.

Avoid cleaning your car glass in full sunlight on a hot summer day, because the cleaning product will evaporate on the hot glass before you have time to work it and it may leave residue.

It’s best to work outside in the shade.

Before cleaning your dirty car windows we recommend to gently dust off sand or dust with a cleaning duster before using a cleaning agent to minimise the risk of scratching the glass surface.
TIP: When washing your car, always clean your car windows last.
Spray the glass with a thin coating of Stoner Invisible Glass.
Wipe the window clean in circular motions using a Diamond Weave Glass & Window towel to remove dirt grime.
Why use a diamond weave towel?
A diamond weave towel will leave no streaks or fibers and unlike standard towels there is no risk of scratching caused by rough seams or sharp edges. This microfiber based material is specially designed to clean glass without streaking.
Fold your towel in half and again in half forming a handy square that is easy to use. This way you have eight fresh surfaces you can use: fold your towel to a fresh clean side each time it gets dirty. This is essential to get the perfect result. You won’t get a clean result using a dirty microfiber towel. Glass surfaces are very unforgiving!
For best results your edgeless microfiber towel must be free of residual laundry detergents and fabric softeners, which can streak glass. That is why we highly recommend washing all your microfiber towels with CG microfiber wash.
Normal laundry detergents and softeners leave a residue on the towel which in turn will rub off on the glass surface leaving a haze, while this pH-balanced hyper-efficient detergent restores the softness of the microfiber material while cleaning and removing the toughest stains and residue.
If you have bug splats on the windshield, simply spray them with Stoner Invisible Glass and let them soak a little longer before wiping them off.
After inspecting for leftover impurities repeat the process if needed for a perfect clean result.
Some speck or spatter that doesn’t wanna come off? Never try to remove impurities from glass using metal objects! It might scratch the glass surface. Instead you can use a plastic razor scraper.
Because it is tough, but much softer than glass and it works great for removing nasty bugs or things like paint droplets without the danger of scratching your car glass.
Finish by removing leftover dust particles and minute fibers by systematically wiping the entire glass area with a clean dry diamond weave towel in an up-down motion. Check the result in full sunlight if possible.
You’d be surprised how those little dust and fibre particles spoil the party in full sunlight if you don’t!

How To Clean Your Inside Windshield

Spray your windshield glass with a thin coating of Stoner Invisible Glass.
Wipe the glass clean in circular motions using a fresh diamond weave towel.
If your windshield has hard to reach areas and corners, using an Invisible Glass Reach And Clean Tool can save you a lot of time and effort.
Clean the windshield in up-and-down and side-to-side motions instead of circular motions for practical reasons.
Sometimes it’s an easier cleaning position to stand up straight in an open front car door with one arm cleaning the inside windshield glass (with or without the handy reach tool) than to have to duck and crawl under the front windshield from a seated position in the car seats.
If needed repeat the process for a perfect clean result.
Finish by swiping up little dust particles or minute fibers with a clean and dry diamond weave towel for best results.
You can also use Stoner Invisible Glass for glass headlamps and occasionally to remove the odd speck on a chrome part or rim. Works great every time!
Do not use on plastic materials.

How can you tell if a car window is glass or “plastic”?

The easiest way to tell the difference between glass and “plastic” windows is to try and scratch or break them, which of course we do not recommend 😉

“Real” Glass

Simply touch the surface with your hand. “Real glass” feels colder than its surroundings, providing that it is not in direct sunlight.

Tap gently with a ring and compare it to the feel and sound of one of your house’s windows, which will certainly be glass.

If the material feels and sounds the same, it will also be glass.

Plastic

Polycarbonate or acrylic glass will have a more neutral temperature and a dull, deeper pitch. To compare surface temperature both materials must be in the shade.

Because of today’s safety regulations, almost all plastic car windows will be polycarbonate (brand names: Lexan, Makrolon, Tuffak,…) because unlike acrylic glass (brand names: Plexiglass, Perspex, Lucite,…) it will deform on impact, but it will not break or shatter.

The downside is that polycarbonate is a little less transparent than acrylic glass and scratches easier. Polycarbonate may also become brittle over time when cleaned with the wrong cleaning agents.

How To Clean Polycarbonate Glass or Acrylic Glass

Clean your plastic windows with the same technique described in How To Clean Car Glass and Mirrors but use Plexus Plastic Cleaner to prevent scratching and / or chemically harming your plastic windshields.

Plexus Plastic Cleaner was developed for use in the aviation industry. Specifically for cleaning and protecting plastic aircraft windshields and painted surfaces.

Plexus Plastic Cleaner will thoroughly clean your plastic glass, while protecting it from becoming brittle, matte or turn yellowish with a milky haze.

Congrats! Cruising along with crystal clear car windows will not only be very satisfying but will also be much safer, especially in low sun situations.

Enjoy your drive with a safe, clear view!