Crystal clear glass in 5 mins. Follow this guide and bring back clarity to your commute.

By the end of this article, you will learn

• How to clean your windscreen without streaks using the box method.
• Selecting the right cleaners and tools the achieve the best results
• What causes streaks and water spots on glass
• How to maintain perfectly clean glass
  

What you need to know

Cleaning your car’s windscreen is usually the final touch to any home car wash session. However, most of us live busy lifestyles and compromise on the time frame between car washes. Ask yourself the question - when was the last time I washed the car? The stats indicate that the average car owner gets their car washed 13 times per year this puts the average washes per month at one or two times.

What if you don’t have the time to commit to a full car wash? What if you only had 5 mins to spare and still wanted the feeling of driving a clean car?

Let us show you how to get that feeling.

Things you will need:

Preferably

• 2x microfiber cloths
• Ammonia free glass cleaner
  

Cheap alternatives

• 2x lint-free clean cloths

• Household glass cleaner

Why you should NOT use Windex on car glass.

Windex and other household chemicals designed to clean glass are ammonia-based cleaners these work well in a ventilated space. However, we do not recommend these cleaners to be used on a car, as they can harm many interior surfaces, including tinted windows, Leather upholstery, vinyl dashboards and rubber surfaces. Not to mention the hazardous effects ammonia has on your health.

If you have no other option, please make sure you cover your seats and dashboard with a towel and wear a mask while using ammonia products.

Let’s start cleaning!

Start by cleaning the exterior of the Windscreen.

You should always pick one side of your windscreen to clean before switching to the other side to see what you’ve missed. We recommend starting with the exterior first and moving on to the interior, or vice versa. The important thing is to stay consistent with the order you choose.

Step 1: Apply an even layer of glass cleaner. Be generous.

If possible, lift up the wiper blades and spray a generous amount of cleaner onto the glass, paying close attention not to overspray onto corresponding panels. Be sure to select a glass cleaner specifically formulated for auto glass. Spray the product onto the glass from top to bottom and do not let the product dry; ensure the product is wiped down as soon as possible.

Note: We highly recommend not to clean glass in direct sunlight, as the cleaner will dry to the surface of the glass causing smudges and water spots. Avoid the sun while cleaning.

Step 2: Use towel one to wipe and towel two to dry.

Fold two micro-fibre towels into quarters, let towel one be the ‘wet’ towel. This is to mop up all the liquid applied to the windscreen in step one. Apply a light amount of pressure as you begin cleaning the window from top-down.

Using the ‘box method’ to remove light stains, dust and fingerprints. Continue wiping the glass until all the stains and debris have been removed. Then immediately follow up with the dry towel from top-down to buff the glass and remove all streaks.

What is the Box method?

Automotive detailers have long used a simple trick to perfect glass and this trick is called the ‘box’ method. Put simply, the box method is a technique to ensure no part of the glass is missed when cleaning it’s hand down the most efficient method to clean glass.

Working your way from top to bottom create a ‘box’ against the windscreen with the wet towel. Immediately, follow up with horizontal strokes back and forth with the dry towel. Don’t forget the edges. For the interior use vertical strokes; as this reduces glare.


Expert Tip: Roll down your windows a tad bit to gain access to the edges of the glass.

Step 3: Repeat these steps on your interior glass.

Once the windscreen and exterior glass have been cleaned fold the wet cloth again exposing a clean side of the towel, repeating steps one and two on the interior of the windscreen and surrounding glass. Keep your wet towel and dry towel separate to prevent streaking and smearing to your flawless finish.

Expert tip: Grab another dry microfibre towel and lightly wipe all the glass again. This final step will ensure that the glass is crystal clear.

Step 4: Inspect the wipers and clean or replace them if required.

Now that the windscreen is completly spotless, it's best to clean the wipers with the wet cloth used in step one.

While cleaning ask yourself, “when was the last time I changed these wipers?”

If the wipers have not been changed in over 12-months, it’s time for new wiper blades. If the rubber is cracked or falling apart, it’s time for new wiper blades.

Remember that wiper blades are the only thing ensuring you see the road ahead in terrible weather conditions. Don’t forget to change them regularly.

What about LCD and navigation displays?

Most new cars have LCD screens inside the cabin that can also get quite dirty and could use a good express clean regularly. Follow the same steps to clean the screen.

Note: We recommend using a fresh set of microfiber cloths and very light pressure when cleaning LCD screens.

Once you’ve finished express cleaning your windows, we are guaranteed you will be satisfied with your results. It can also be a very calming activity to perform once a week as it is so rewarding to see the fruits of your labour instantly.

We recommend that you clean your glass at least once every two weeks. Once you drive with clean glass you will never neglect your windscreen and compromise your vision on-road again.