Have you ever noticed how much better your car looks when the windows are perfectly clean? Yet many of us ignore the windows when we wash, because it adds a few precious minutes. Forget the time involved in keeping your glass clean for a moment; have you ever thought about how hazy, dirty windows can be a safety hazard? Driving your car with dirty, hazy windows on a rainy night or in heavy traffic, straining to see, is a driving impairment. You should consider this a true danger.

Cleaning your windows is one of the most tedious tasks you will face, but it is definitely worth doing. In addition to being a hazard, the effect of dirty glass can quickly ruin the appearance of your perfectly polished and waxed automobile. After you have completed all other detailing tasks, put the perfect touch on your car by detailing your car's glass.

Glass Cleaners
Just as in the selection of car shampoo and wax, no two car enthusiasts can agree on the ultimate glass cleaner. Some people like ammonia cleaners, while the purists will use nothing but clear water. Whatever you use, the principles are the same: clean, dry and polish.

I highly discourage the use of ammonia-based glass cleaners on your car. While ammonia is a great glass cleaner for the home, ammonia is harmful to many car surfaces, including vinyl, rubber and leather. More importantly, the use of ammonia inside your car is harmful to your health. Use an automotive glass cleaner that specifically states it's safe to use on window-tint film. A glass cleaner that's safe for window-tint film will not harm the plastic and vinyl surfaces on your car.

Many professional detailers use plain water for wiping and cleaning the windows, and dry the glass with newspaper. Unlike paper towels and most cotton towels, newspaper does not leave behind lint, and the ink acts as a glass polish. The only drawback to this method is the newsprint ink on your hands when you're done. Be sure to wash your hands before touching your upholstery..

Cleaning Automotive Windows:
Start your window cleaning with the driver's door and front passenger's door. If your door has a window frame, lower the window approximately 1 inch to allow access to the top part of the glass. This part should be cleaned and dried first. Spray with glass cleaner and buff dry. Now roll the window back up, and clean the remainder of the window. Pay attention to the corners of the windows, as this is where you will get most smears and streaks. Don't forget your driver's side and passenger's side mirrors.

While you're sitting down in the passenger's seat, clean the inside of the windshield. It is easier to clean from the passenger's side, as your access is not obstructed by the steering wheel. Take your time around the rearview mirror, as it is only glued to your windshield. If you bump into the rearview mirror hard enough or at the right angle, you can break it loose from the glass.

The inside of the rear window is the most difficult to reach and should be done last. The best technique for cleaning your rear window is to use the back side of your hand to guide your towel down into the corners. Trying to use the palm of your hand will force you to be a contortionist and you will draw strange looks from your neighbors. If you're looking for a specific micro fiber towel for glass, my experience is that the towels with a deep, plush nap do not work well on glass. The best micro fiber towels for glass have a low pile and a tight weave, like a polishing towel The tight weave gives them a little more scrubbing power.

Be cautious of inexpensive micro fiber towels. There's a good chance that any micro fiber towel you purchase in bulk through a retail chain will leave lint on your glass. Fiber shedding is a significant problem with bulk towels, because most of these products are created for janitorial services. When using micro fiber on glass, it's best to use two towels. One should be damp with water or your favorite glass cleaner. The second towel should be dry for buffing.

Cleaning Spotted Glass
I suspect that the windshield is the most overlooked surface on most cars. At best, you wash it when you wash the car and spray it with a few shots of glass cleaner when you can no longer see through the haze. Did you ever think of polishing your glass?

Normal driving will coat your windshield with a variety of contaminants that normal glass cleaners cannot remove. Plus, your windshield has the greatest vertical forward exposure, which means it gets pelted with road stones and other debris. It's a wonder that windshields hold up as well as they do.

Automotive glass polishes that remove minor water spots and road contamination have been around for quite a while (although they are not always easy to find). I highly recommend using a glass-polishing product to keep glass clean and free of water spots. It?s simple to do. Just rub the polish in thoroughly with a terry cloth applicator, and buff dry with a terry cloth or micro fiber towel.

If you have severe water spotting, you can use a glass polish with #000 or #0000 synthetic steel wool (use on exterior only!). The ultra fine synthetic steel wool provides a bit more cutting power for the really tough jobs.

Please be aware that a glass polish cannot fix glass damage from road stones and severe water spot etching. If your glass is badly pitted or etched, it may need to be replaced.

Speaking of water spots, some parts of the country are burdened with extremely hard water. Hard water is water that contains high levels of trace elements, including calcium, iron, lime and other minerals found in streams and rivers. These trace elements remain on your glass when water from sprinklers or regular washing evaporates on your car. These hard-water spots attach themselves to glass like cement. If left on your glass for very long, hard-water spots will not wash off with shampooing or regular glass cleaners.

If hard-water spots are allowed to remain for more than a few days, they may permanently etch the glass. So, even though you have removed the minerals causing the water spots, the outline of the spots may remain as surface damage to your glass. The best solution is to polish the glass as soon as possible.

Windshield Wiper Care
Windshield wipers are essential for cleaning your windshield and rear window in rain or snow, or when your windows become bug-ridden or dirty from long road trips. Wipers perform best when the rubber is in good shape and the glass is fairly clean. You should make it a habit to clean your front and rear wiper blades at the same time you clean your glass. After cleaning your glass, use a damp cloth to wipe the rubber blades, removing bug residue, wax and other dirt buildup.

Although rubber dressing helps preserve, protect and beautify the rubber and vinyl parts on your car, you should not use dressings on your wiper blades. Rubber dressing on your blades will cause streaking and smearing, impairing your vision. The best overall maintenance of your blades is keeping them clean.

A good wash fluid is just as important as your wiper blades. Pick a wash fluid with enough power to cut the grime, but don't use something so harsh that it stains your car.

Final Touches on Glass
If your car is a year or older, a close inspection may reveal dirt buildup in the corners of your windshield and rear window around the trim. To remove this caked-on gunk, use an old toothbrush or detailing brush with your spray cleaner. Before cleaning, lay a towel at the base of the window to catch drips

Spray your brush with window cleaner and shake off the excess cleaner. Use your brush to scrub along the trim, breaking loose the dirt. Use the tip of a cotton swab to reach underneath trim and remove trapped dirt. If your brush won't remove the buildup of dirt, use a sharp single-edged razor blade to gently remove the dirt from your glass. Take care not to push your razor blade too far under rubber seals, as this may cause leaks. On the rear window, stay clear of defroster strips that are not embedded in the glass. Cutting the defroster strips will render them useless. Follow up after the razor blade with your brush and glass cleaner.

Cleaning Tinted Window Film
Tinted window film is often applied to the inside of windows to shade passengers or provide privacy. Tinted window film is a thin sheet of Mylar plastic. Mylar scratches easily and will be destroyed by ammonia. To clean tinted windows, use water or a mild cleaner. If not sure of what to use remember to do a very small test area first, something that may not be noticed right away.

Polishing Scratched & Yellowed Plastic
The days of the glass headlight are long gone. Most vehicles made since 1990 have plastic lenses covering the headlights. These lenses protect expensive lamps from flying stones and road debris, but over time they discolor and become chipped from road stones. Without proper care, plastic headlight lenses will degrade until they turn opaque, which severely restricts the amount of light reaching the road. Most of the damage is caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. If you live in a southern state, headlight lens discoloration will become noticeable in as little as 2 or 3 years.

To maintain your plastic headlight lenses and taillights, I recommend regular use of the product called Plexus. Plexus is a combination cleaner, polish and protectant. When used regularly, Plexus will protect plastic lenses and windows from UV damage.

Plexus will not repair damaged or scratched plastic. For this you will need a plastic polish. If you have a convertible with a plastic rear window, it will require special care. This subject is discussed in the Convertible Tops chapter.