Wash and clean the car windows and the internal windshield

In this free guide you will discover how to wash and clean your car windows obtaining a brilliant and smudge-free finish .

Glass, we think you’ll agree that they are a pretty important part of your car, and especially useful when you’re driving. Getting them shiny is also one of the final touches to any car detailing . So, we think it’s quite ironic that they’re so often forgotten, plus applying glass protection is really easy and makes them easier to clean.

Here's how to get the job done effectively, the car products to use, and some helpful tips along the way...

• Discover the easiest way to get a smudge-free glass finish
• Learn about the different types of glass cleaning products and what they do
• Discover how old glass can be quickly refreshed and revitalized
• Find out how to get the maximum hydrophobic protection

• Better vision always equals greater safety
• Clean glass is the perfect finishing touch and the most noticeable for any detailing.
• By using the right products, the job of cleaning windows will be easier than most people think.

Keeping your windows looking clean and actually having the best vision while driving are the main concerns. In addition to keeping them in tip-top condition, when it comes to exterior glass, the four things to pay attention to are: safe dirt removal, restoration/decontamination (if necessary), finishing and protection. So let's find out how to wash your car windows the right way with high-quality products selected by the best detailers.

It is obvious that the exterior glass is affected by exposure to heavy contamination, which is the main reason why, in many cases, it may be necessary to clean it even more often than the paint. But how to clean car windows and remove dirt quickly and safely?

As with any aspect of detailing, the amount of dirt to be removed is the primary concern. Heavily soiled windows should be washed with car shampoo as part of your regular maintenance routine or thoroughly cleaned with a light dilution of an all-purpose cleaner such as Ultracoat APC+ .
It is important that they are washed and dried with a microfiber cloth effectively before moving on to the next step, to ensure that no light scratches are inflicted. Remember that car window glass can be much more resistant than paint, but that does not mean that it cannot be scratched.

With a specific product for cleaning car windows such as Ultracoat Glass Cleaner or Innovacar 0 Ammonia, you can immediately clean slightly dirty windows.

This solution is ideal for intermediate maintenance washes and finishing detailing. At a microscopic level, glass is not actually smooth - the surface is serrated - and this is where dirt and even water molecules can take root.

In liquid form these cleaners work their way into the corners, breaking the bond of the contaminant in question and allowing it to be removed from the surface. The nature of the rough surface of the glass is also important when it comes to the restoration and protection phases.

Not all glass needs to be restored … or perhaps we should say, not all glass initially appears to need to be restored, but it is surprising what a difference using Rupes G202 Glass Polish can make.
And not just on older glass!

Just like paint, glass can be given a new lease of life by using a specific car polish .

The idea here is to remove any oxidation and limescale stains . A mild abrasive is used to remove them mechanically (i.e. physically).

Using G202 does this in the same way that a light polish would do on the clear coat of your paint, refining and cleaning on a molecular level at the same time.

Removing stubborn stains this way is a very important process, and it is best done before using DopeFiber Nano Glass Cleaner or Ultracoat Superior Glass to remove any residue. The transformation will be immediately evident.

It is also worth noting that mechanical deep cleaning of car glass removes all contamination and protection so effectively, that your glass will be as pristine as ever. This in turn will make it hydrophilic , meaning that water molecules will no longer be able to flow across the glass. So, this is where adding hydrophobic protection will be necessary.

There is a simple reason why adding a hydrophobic protection to the exterior glass is a good idea: it will prevent dirt and water from sticking to it. In fact, we have products that contain a Si02 nanotechnology protection , which will actively repel these contaminants, creating a barrier that prevents them from taking root in the surface.

SiO2 (or silicon dioxide), also known as silica , is essentially the most important component of glass, which in turn is derived from sand. SiO2 also occurs in the form of quartz - the basis of all ceramic coatings - whether designed for glass, or for paint, or any other surface.

What ceramic coatings do is they bond to the surface creating a chemical bond becoming the durable part of the surface. At a molecular level, they fill in the rough pores making the surface smooth, leaving nothing for dirt or water molecules to cling to. This is why you see water running down glass or paint after applying a ceramic coating.

For a super fast clean and added protection, our DopeFiber Nano Glass Cleaner or Ultracoat Superior Glass car glass cleaners are an absolute must. Not only are they powerful, smudge-free cleaners, but when you use them you can immediately see the difference in the water behavior due to the Si02 layer they leave on the surface.

For the ultimate in glass protection we have our nanotechnology glass coating UltraCoat Umbrella . Applied in minutes, it creates a super hard, ultra hydrophobic layer that lasts over 12 months or 25,000km. The easy application properties also make this product extremely popular and it is great for adding protection after any polishing and refinishing work. With Ultracoat Superior Glass used as a maintenance during regular maintenance, you have a combination that is impossible to beat.

Inside, effective car windshield cleaning is still vital to ensure that visibility is not compromised while driving, not to mention giving it that smudge-free, attention-grabbing finish. But while your interior glass is not exposed to outside contaminants, there is a different set of contaminants that will need to be removed. Mostly tobacco smoke residue, along with annoying coughs, sneezes, and even breathing. Oh, and let’s not forget about those greasy fingerprints, either.

The good news for cleaning the interior windshield of the car is that all of these can be effectively eliminated using a specific cleaner such as Ultracoat Glass Cleaner or Innovacar 0 Ammonia . These are extremely effective in breaking down greasy films, allowing them to be swept away.

They are very effective and easy to use, so all that is needed is a quick final wipe down to leave behind a crystal clear finish. With no exposure to outside contaminants, hydrophobic protection is not necessary and it is unlikely that oxidation polishing will be necessary either.

Many people forget this, but on some cars it makes sense to roll down the windows when you start cleaning the glass so you can reach the hidden parts up high.

It's also a good idea to do this while drying, especially on cars with wind deflectors. This way you get to the entire surface of the glass.

On many modern cars, holding down the unlock button on the remote will do this for you.

Short-haired microfiber cloths are best for use with glass cleaners. For the best glass cleanliness, however, use a cloth specifically designed for the job. We stock specific auto glass microfiber cloths , great tools, and trusty companions.

Our super soft Car-Care.it Silk Towel Glass is great for absorbing and polishing, while our Profipolish Cloudless Glass Towel  It has a little more bite to remove stains.

When using glass cleaners, we find that the best way to attack windows is to spray a little on the glass, then wipe the end, followed by the middle. This will help ensure that you have covered the entire area.

A small but great trick is to make sure the glass is a little warm inside before you clean it. This will help the solvents evaporate even faster.

Try using a sideways motion on the outside and a top-down motion on the inside . This way, if you leave any stains, you'll be able to identify them more easily.

Don't forget your mirrors and maybe your beloved headlights (we have headlight polishing kits specifically for this). After all, our products are "glass" cleaners, and they are just as effective on other areas as they are on windows.