[jwmFcreek]

Afternoon just seeing if anyone has a go to for the best streak free windows .. my BMW windshield can be a bit tempormental at times that’s for sure . Any suggestions much appreciated.

[Dad of Two]

This is the most frustrating part of cleaning my car. Windows.

I’ve never found a way to go totally streak free but here is what works best for me.

Sprayway glass cleaner with two different microfibers. One heavy nap to soak the dirt and a low nap one to polish off the glass. Works better than everything else I tried.

[TboneS54]

My trick is to NOT use MF, but cotton like an old T shirt so there's no lint to come off. It just seems to grab better and cotton absorbs moisture the best.

The only MF that's worked really well for glass are my autofiber waffle towels that are either 80/20 or 75/25. You don't want 70/30 as it's too soft and just smears the liquid around. Don't need soft or even a MF for glass since it's not delicate car paint.

[Dad of Two]

Originally Posted by TboneS54

My trick is to NOT use MF, but cotton like an old T shirt so there's no lint to come off. It just seems to grab better and cotton absorbs moisture the best.

The only MF that's worked really well for glass are my autofiber waffle towels that are either 80/20 or 75/25. You don't want 70/30 as it's too soft and just smears the liquid around. Don't need soft or even a MF for glass since it's not delicate car paint.

Agree with the use of cotton. I have to use a cotton cloth (not washed with fabric softener and not dried with dryer sheets) after I used what I described above because….no matter how good the microfiber is…..I always seem to get lint left over on the glass. Cotton seems to take this off.

Like I said……the most frustrating part of the car wash.

[FC4]

Hate cleaning glass as much as anyone.

What has worked for me is making sure the rag is washed after each use. I use a waffle weave MF that my detailer gave me. As long as it's freshly washed, it's all good. Second or third time using it without washing it...forget it.

[Mech Spec]

On the inside of the glass you need to wipe down with IPA once in a while to get rid of the plastic off gas residue from the interior. Not a huge problem on my car so far, but I think it's usually worse in the summer.

[louielouie]

Came here for free steak and was disappointed.

[stbm5]

i too hate cleaning windows. for me the key is to wipe twice. so clean windows, wipe well. come back later with clean microfiber and buff again. sometimes the inside surface of the windshield will have cleaning agents/detail spray/interior cleaner so getting it right is difficult. get it done well then dont ever touch it and you'll rarely have to clean it. most of the window cleaning gadgets are completely worthless.

[jwmFcreek]

Great comments nice to know I am not alone on cleaning glass . I have tried

1. Invisble glass cleaner perfect for GM products bmw cleans the surface but not a degreaser.

2. The comment on the waffle towel was spot on have had success with the waffle print .

3. The comments of double wiping was great I feel that’s a must for the BMW glass a paper towel finish wipe appears to help but again just when I think I have BMW figured it proves me wrong .

4. One to laugh at I had 2 jars of nano wax .. after using some on my frozen paint like a idiot which was quickly removed from my car darken it way to much … nano wax says it’s great on glass with 2 jars at 200 bucks a jar I tried it on the windshield applied with bare hand let it sit for 10 minutes and just wipe off performed great as stupid as it sounds .

But it’s funny what works for cleaning windows for my other cars had no bearing on the BMW glass . I degrease with a APC then foam up .. wash down good . And now only bmw glass cleaner and chase streaks until I tired of it .

[bosstones]

Really? I've always found windows are easy to clean (other than the inside of the windshield and rear glass). I always use Stoner's Invisible Glass and either a blue shop towel or a waffle weave MF towel.

If using a waffle weave, the key is in how you wash and dry it. If you do either w/ something that can lint, the waffle weave can pick it up and leave it behind when you do your windows. This then gets into how much stomach you have for separating your MF towels when cleaning them.

Old school is to use newspaper.

[scubajim]

I am glad it's not just me..was reading different suggestions a while ago and I found 1. Cleaning a few times with sprayaway or streak free by chemical guys 2. Clean with isopropyl alcohol (prefer 90%) also useful for other things 3. Dry wipe the entire area really well. I agree with a good cotton material or good paper towels

[CLTMDA]

Best cleaner I have found is Traceless. Best practice, for me, I have found to be an initial cleaning with whatever to get most of the heavy crap/dirt off and then a cleaning with a waffle weave cloth and Traceless.

[B58-M340iX]

Using waffle weave/lint-free drying towels does the trick. I never have streaks. I've used detailer as a window cleaner, dedicated glass cleaners like Stoners, and the brand from Sam's club.

[Littlecoupe]

My method that almost always works perfectly:

Step 1. Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) on a paper towel. Usually 2x application.
Step 2. Invisible Glass sprayed onto a WAFFLE WEAVE towel. Specifically waffle weave - they supposedly trap the dirt in the...waffle holes?
Step 3. Flip over waffle weave towel to a clean section, dry buff any remaining residue.

This method is mainly for the inside of the windshield. Normally the rear window and side windows can get away with less effort.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Surprised so many people havbe issues.

I use Stoner invisible glass along with CarPro glass microfiber although I'm sure you can get by with any proper microfiber towel.

You do one pass wet and wipe the window, and then another with a dry towel to buff off so to say.

[ttaidapos]

I have tried and suggestions here with no luck. To be clear, (pun intended), I only have issues with the windshield, specifically on the inside only. I've gone extreme with 90% alcohol and various materials both I always get a smeared look that's really getting annoying at night time. It's so bad that I'm having my dealer look into it on my next oil change.

It's not tinted and no other chemicals have touched it besides chemical guys glass cleaner.

[jkoral]

I've only used these for the last 25+ years. Griots stopped selling them, but I found their source.

I typically use one for outside glass, one for inside. I dislike using MF towels on glass.

I use Stoner Invisible Glass Cleaner, but with these polypropylene towels, I find the glass product is less important.

[stbm5]

So what’s the source?

[brianeck]

Originally Posted by louielouie

Came here for free steak and was disappointed.

Ughhhh beat me to it. And I can't give you an appreciation on mobile!

[Belair62]

I used to get these from Griots. Never understood why they stopped selling them.

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by louielouie

Came here for free steak and was disappointed.

Originally Posted by brianeck

Ughhhh beat me to it. And I can't give you an appreciation on mobile!

Ha! Just noticed that.

OP, just stop putting steaks on your glass. Problem solved.

[V1_ROT8]

I use Griot’s Garage Window Cleaner and their PFM Crinkle Glass towels. Spray on the crinkle weave side, wipe the window to clean, then flip the towel to the tight weave side to “flash” the window. Easy and excellent results.

Another trick: wipe the insides of the window perpendicular to the airflow over the car. This way, when you get the rare errant streak, you can easily tell if it’s on the inside or outside of the glass.