How to Clean the Inside of Your Windshield
It is dangerous to drive at night or in bright sunlight with little dirt on your windshield. Most drivers know that to be able to see well through it, the windshield needs to be clean and crack-free, but not everyone thinks of cleaning the inside of the windshield.
The inside of a car window gets dirty for a variety of reasons. Smoking in the car releases chemicals that stick to the interior surfaces, dust and dirt that circulates inside the car during normal use stick to the inside of the window, and the release of gases forms an oily film on the surface.
When plastic or vinyl interior parts heat up in the sun, they release oils through evaporation. This is especially true for the dashboard.
The Best Way to Clean Your Windshield From the Inside
Every company wants to advertise their product as the “best,” but this method uses a variety of products that you probably already have in your home. Following these steps will leave you with a clean, streak-free inside windshield.
You can also use this method to clean other windows, but don’t apply it to tinted windows, or you risk causing damage and having to strip the window tint off. For tinted windows, using regular soapy water followed by glass cleaner works well because it’s easier to clean since it’s not the main window you use while driving.
1) Clean the Exterior Windshield
To get a good idea of how dirty the inside surface of your windshield is, you need to clean the outside surface first. Start by applying car wash soap and water to a microfiber cloth or sponge. Rinse with water and then use a quality car glass cleaner.
A quality microfiber cloth is one of the most important cleaning tools you can buy. These are used throughout the vehicle detailing process. A good product is lint-free, doesn’t fall apart during use, is less likely to scratch sensitive surfaces, and absorbs water well.
Choose carefully when using microfiber cloths on exterior paint, as cheap cloths can scratch paint. Be sure to remove the label before first use. Paper towels and shop towels can also be used on glass, but they usually don’t work as well.
Some of the best car glass cleaners include Stoner Invisible Glass and Sprayway. These are specially designed to remove common environmental contaminants like bird droppings and insect stains. Both are also good for interior cleaning by breaking down interior grease and dirt.
Stoner and Sprayway Car Glass Cleaners
Invisible Glass also comes with a rain-repelling option, so choose the best car window cleaner for your situation. Make sure you have the right wiper blades and a reliable windshield washer fluid to maintain a sparkling clean exterior.
2) Wipe the inside of the windshield with a dry microfiber cloth.
This step will remove most of the dirt and dust from the inside of the windshield. The easiest way to get into the tight gap between the dash and the windshield is to kneel on the seat, look behind you, and wipe the glass with the palm of your hand facing the windshield. This is known as the “backhand method.”
Clean in a circular motion first, then use a sideways or up-and-down motion to wipe away any dirt. Be careful not to let the microfiber cloth touch the dash, as this will cause oils and dirt to stick back onto the glass. Fold the cloth into a new side after each pass to avoid transferring the dirt you just picked up back onto the glass, preparing a new cloth if necessary.
3) Degrease the inside of the windshield
The next step is to remove any remaining grease from the jar. Use a clean microfiber cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol, or a damp Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. In either case, make sure the material is wet, but be careful not to drip it.
Clean the glass in the same way as in the previous step, being careful not to drip anything onto the dashboard. If any liquid drips, wipe it off immediately with a clean cloth to prevent damage or discoloration from drying on the material. After cleaning, immediately dry the glass with a clean microfiber cloth to prevent the oily liquid from drying on the glass.
4) Scrub the inside of the windshield
Once you have removed all debris from the inside of the windshield, rub it with your favorite glass cleaner on another clean microfiber cloth. Be sure to spray the cloth instead of directly on the glass to avoid overspraying the dashboard.
If any liquid drips onto the dashboard, wipe it off immediately to prevent discoloration of the material.
If you are short on time, you can also clean your car glass yourself using the glass cleaners mentioned above, Stoner Invisible Glass and Sprayway. Using a clean microfiber cloth, wipe the surface using a circular motion as before, then a side-to-side motion. Once your windshield is clear inside and out, you can drive at night and see the difference.
Conclusion
The windshield has the greatest impact on a driver’s vision, so a clean windshield is very important for safe driving. If you live in a humid area or don’t have air conditioning, it’s even more important that your windshield is oil-free. At the same time, it might be a good time to clean the rest of your interior. Still not sure how to perfectly clean your windshield? Check out this great tutorial from ChrisFix below to achieve a streak-free shine.