It’s no secret that the outside of your vehicle’s windshield can get very dirty very quickly. Having windshield wipers and cleaning fluid on the go definitely helps, but sometimes the stains that make it difficult to see come from inside the vehicle.
The inside of your windshield might not seem like something that gets touched frequently, but between fingerprints that point out instructions, handprints that wipe away mist, and dog noses and tongue prints, it can get pretty greasy and gross. Then there is the dust, hair, dead skin, and saliva mist that comes with people sitting in a vehicle. And that doesn’t even take into account situations where someone smokes in their car.
How do you clean the inside of your windshield to make sure your drive is as safe as possible? Here’s what to know, courtesy of Tony Markovich on the drive.
What you need
First, collect the supplies you need, both for safety and for work. These include::
- safety goggles
- Nitrile gloves
- New microfiber towels (avoid paper towels)
- Hand tool for microfiber extension
- spray bottle
- Dish soap (but not too much as it will take forever to rinse)
- Alcohol solution (made from alcohol, white vinegar and water)
- Car-specific glass cleaner (no ammonia)
- towel
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What should I do
First, park the car somewhere on a flat surface in the shade and place a regular towel over the dashboard (to collect dirt and drips). Now, take one of the (dry) microfiber cloths and gently wipe the windshield to remove as much dust as possible before you start wet cleaning.
From here you can go two ways: one for regular, routine cleaning and one for thorough cleaning and degreasing of your windshield. Here are both options courtesy of Markovich on the drive::
Routine cleaning
- Spray your ammonia-free car-specific window cleaner directly onto the microfiber cloth or window cleaning tool.
- Wipe the glass vertically up to halfway down the glass, starting on one side and working your way to the other.
- With wide, wide strokes, wipe the same side of the windshield horizontally.
- Wipe this side of the window clean with a dry microfiber cloth and dry with long, even strokes.
- Repeat steps 1 through 4 on the other side.
- Now take care of them outside of your car.
Get rid of the fat
A glass cleaner should do the job most of the time, but some people prefer to use their own homemade cleaning solutions to ensure complete grease removal. Use one of these DIY cleaning solutions in a spray bottle:
- One cup of water, one cup of alcohol, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar
- One part vinegar, one part water
- Four parts water, one part vinegar, a few drops of washing-up liquid
- Spray your cleaning solution directly onto the microfiber cloth or window cleaning tool.
- Wipe the glass vertically up to halfway down the glass, starting on one side and working your way to the other.
- With wide, wide strokes, wipe the same side of the windshield horizontally.
- Wipe this side of the window clean with a dry microfiber cloth and dry with long, even strokes.
- Repeat steps 1 through 4 on the other side.
Ideally, you’ll get to the point where all you have to do is run the quick version. However, this does mean that you need to regularly clean the inside of your windshield. Editorial at The drive suggest Do this every time you clean / detail the rest of your car.
