The inside of a car windshield tends to get a lot dirtier than some people might imagine. It often makes car owners think about the proper way to clean this area. After some research, we found a method that can help you get the job done.
Cleaning your windshield's interior isn't a tricky process. It's a simple matter of following these four steps, and it should look as good as ever:
- Wipe Down with a Microfiber Towel
- Degrease using an Interior Windshield Cleaner
- Use a Glass Cleaner
- Enjoy Your Clean Windshield
But listing them out like this comes off a little vague. We dive deeper into each step below to ensure you know exactly how to clean your windshield. Our following sections will also cover and answer a few other questions that might be rattling inside your mind.
How to Clean the Inside of Your Car's Windshield
Before we dive into the steps, let's do a quick overview of what materials are needed. Each of the following items will be crucial in returning your car's windshield to pristine condition:
- A couple of clean microfiber towels
- Mr.Clean's Magic Eraser Sponge
- Water
- A glass cleaner
Make sure you have access to all these materials before starting step 1. Once you have them, the process of cleaning your car's windshield can begin.
Step 1: Wipe Down with a Microfiber Towel
The first step is rather simple. Give the dry glass a solid wiping down with a clean microfiber towel. We suggest starting from the passenger's side instead of the driver's. You should then slowly work your way over to the driver's side.
Some people might find reaching the joint between their dashboard and windshield a bit challenging. You can overcome this issue by using the backhand method. Sit with your face facing the car's rear, move your palm towards the windshield, and reaching this tight spot should no longer be an issue.
It'd be wise to do it in a circular motion to start. You can then use the towel vertically, which will make dusting off the glass much easier.
Step 2: Degrease with an Interior Windshield Cleaner
An interior windshield cleaner should make removing grease or oil from the windshield a simple task. We suggest going with Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser Sponge
You just need to soak it in warm water and wring it out. But please, refrain from drying it out entirely as there needs to be some liquid. Proceed to wipe the glass again in a circular motion until completely dry.
If some liquid does drip on your dashboard, make sure to wipe away quickly with an extra towel. This liquid can make your dash discolored when left unchecked. It's not a pretty sight.
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Step 3: Use the Glass Cleaner
Before using the glass cleaner, please make sure the windshield is completely dry. You can then grab a dry towel and spray some glass cleaner on it. Start wiping with a circular motion, first, and switch to a vertical movement later.
Step 4: Enjoy Your Clean Windshield
Your windshield should now look brand spanking new.
What is the Film on the Inside of My Windshield?
Car interiors are the perfect setting for the buildup of a film on your car's windows. This film can come from cigarette smoke, dust blended inside a hot vehicle to form a cloud capable of coating windows, or condensation.
As a result, this film becomes worse when the weather outside gets hotter. You can also attribute the film buildup in new cars to evaporation of certain materials inside them. This situation is called outgassing, which happens to be a common issue. You might be familiar with this situation as it goes by another name: "new-car smell." This problem will become less of an issue as the car gets older
Can I Use Windex on the Inside of My Windshield?
A driver might be tempted to use Windex on their windshield. This isn't a good idea because Windex products contain ammonia, which is very harmful to cars. Its usage can cause a heap of issues:
- The ammonia can leave behind streaks on a car's window glass. This will likely create a glare when you drive, which makes driving more dangerous.
- Ammonia is known to dry out rubber and plastic parts within windshields. These parts can then become loose and detach entirely.
- Tinted windows can become ruined when cleaning with ammonia-based products. It actually can cause your window's tint to peel off.
What Can I Use to Clean the Inside of My Windshield?
As you know now, ammonia-based cleaners aren't a good choice for this task. This leaves the question of what cleaners would be an acceptable choice? Well, here are some cleaning products known to be effective on windshields:
- Mothers Professional G
lass Cleaner
- Armor All Glass Cleaner
- Invisible Glass Premium Glass Cleaner
- Rain - X Automotive Glass Cleaner
lass Cleaner Each of these options should have no issues cleaning your car's windshield. Of course, these products aren't the only ones out there capable of doing this job. Any non-ammonia glass cleaners made for window cleaning should do the trick.
How Do I Get Streaks Off My Windshield?
Aside from film buildup, streaks are another hassle car owners have to deal with on their windshields. The good news is that the process of removing them isn't too difficult. Following these six steps should do the trick:
Step 1: Prepare Your Car's Windshield
Before starting the cleaning process, you'll need to do a little preparation. You should make sure to turn your car's engine completely and ensure those pesky wipers are resting. If they aren't in a resting position, you may have an issue lifting them later on in this process.
Step 2: Use the Glass Cleaner
Spray your car's windshield with your preferred glass cleaner. It's essential not to be stingy with the cleaner and make sure it coats the entire windshield. We suggest starting from the top and working down it. This method will help ensure the whole surface becomes covered.
It'd be wise to keep the spray bottle less than about a foot from your windshield, as well. This will make sure most of the solution ends up on its intended target rather than elsewhere.
Step 3: Grab a Towel and Wipe the Cleaner Away
Locate the nearest clean microfiber towel. Use this tool to rub the glass cleaner into your windshield with an up and down motion. You should do this along the entire length of your car's windshield.
It'd be smart to start at the windshield's top portion on one side. You should then proceed to make your way across and use a bit more strength when coming along any streaking. Overall, these up and down motions don't only offer full coverage but should limit any extra streaks from the cleaning process.
Step 4: Clean Under the Windshield's Blades
As we mentioned before, you'll have to lift your windshield's blades. This action is essential to expose any streaking lying underneath them. Use your towel to clean this area with those same up and down motions explained in the prior step.
Step 5: Wipe the Blades.
You should then spray the window onto a towel and wipe your windshield's blades. Make sure to do this thoroughly to remove any buildup, dirt, or debris. Each of these issues could be a massive component in what's causing the streaking.
Step 6: Repeat the Process
If the streaking remains even after the cleaner dries, you should start this process over. This time try using more product and applying extra pressure for better results. But if this doesn't work, it might be time to replace your windshield wipers.
We hope our discussion on cleaning a windshield's interior answered all your questions. If you have any other ones, please let us know in our comment section. We'll make sure to reply as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!