The Secret to Cleaning The Inside of Your Windshield, by Clean That Up on YouTube. 1 min 28 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 28 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Park in the shade or a garage and let the glass cool. Hot glass makes the cleaner flash off before you can wipe it, which leaves streaks.
Dust the dashboard first with a dry cloth. Loose dust settles back onto the glass as you work and causes smears.
Spray the cleaner onto your microfiber cloth, not onto the glass. Direct spray runs down onto the dashboard and into vents and electronics.
Wipe the glass from the top edge downward in straight, overlapping lines. Turn the cloth as it picks up dirt so you are not pushing grime around.
Work the bottom edge where the glass meets the dashboard with a thin cloth or a cloth wrapped around a plastic card. This is where the haze builds up most.
Buff the whole pane with a second, dry microfiber cloth, wiping in the opposite direction to your first pass. This lifts the leftover film.
Look across the glass at an angle in daylight to check for missed patches. Repeat the wipe and buff on any cloudy areas.
Clean the passenger side the same way, then leave the windows open for a few minutes so the glass dries fully before you roll them up.
Tips and common mistakes
Use one cloth for cleaning and a separate dry one for buffing, or you will just move the film around.
Skip ammonia-based cleaners on aftermarket tint film, as ammonia can damage it over time.
Change to a fresh cloth once it looks grey, since a dirty cloth is the most common cause of streaks.
Clean the inside glass every month or two, as plastic and vinyl from the dashboard release a film that builds up slowly.
Questions
Why does my windshield haze up again soon after cleaning?
Dashboard plastics release a fine film that settles on the glass, especially in warm weather. Wiping the dashboard and buffing the glass dry with a second cloth slows it down.
Can I use vinegar and water instead of glass cleaner?
Yes, a mix of one part white vinegar to three parts water works well on plain glass. Do not use it on tinted film, because the acid can break down the tint over time.
Do I need to reach the whole windshield by hand?
On most cars you can reach the centre of the glass from the driver's seat and the passenger seat. A cloth wrapped around a flat card helps with the tight bottom corners.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
