I've found that a film forms on the inside of the windshield, which I believe comes from residue from traffic exhaust coming in through the defroster vents. Accumulates over time, mostly noticeable with direct sunlight on the glass.

Here's what works 100% for me. A felt eraser, like used on chalkboards. Should be new/clean. Make sure it's a "felt" eraser. Wipe like you would a chalk board, ideally in the sunlight so you can see the effect. Here's the one I use:

Amazon.com: Melissa & Doug Felt Chalk Eraser: Melissa & Doug: Toys & Games

Buy Melissa & Doug Felt Chalk Eraser: Toys & Games - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

1st, fully cover your dashboard, then I suggest using the "Invisible Glass" auto glass cleaner (safe to use on tinted windows too) specifically the hand-trigger bottle (Not the aerosol bottle) with a clean towel (not sure if microfiber towel will work better or not...), wear a glove to avoid accidental smudge of your hand/finger prints on the windshield while cleaning...
Good Luck!

 

Once you put Amorall on it, you may be in for a very tough time. Regular Amorall is for plastic, not glass (and not for clear plastic because it is greasy). Also, Amorall doesn't really clean plastic, it lubricates it with oils. Maybe you used some other Amorall product meant for glass.

I only thing I can think of to try is a vinegar and water solution, but since that is acidic, be careful. And don't use wine vinegar. You may need to take it to a professional detailer.

 

Amorall doesn't really clean plastic, it lubricates it with oils.

To clean oily residue, I'd suggest rubbing alcohol on a new sponge (not the kind that has soap pre-embedded in it.) But test on a small part of the dash plastic first.

 

Be sure that any rags or towels that you are using haven't been washed or dried with any fabric softeners.

I've been using Invisible Glass and it seems to work quite nicely.

 

My process of cleaning a front window:

• Invisible Glass x 1
• Microfiber Towel x A LOT
• Wet wipe
• Wet wipe
• Dry wipe
• Dry wipe
• Wet wipe
• Dry wipe
• Wet wipe
• Dry wipe
• Dry wipe
• Repeat til clean
• Never touch the window again

I last cleaned my front and rear window in... 2013ish and have done my best to never touch it. I clean my side windows when I do my car washes.

• Wet wipe
• Wet wipe
• Dry wipe
• Wet wipe
• Dry wipe
• Dry wipe
• Repeat til clean

 

My process of cleaning a front window:

• Invisible Glass x 1
• Microfiber Towel x A LOT
• Wet wipe

Could you be more specific about the wet wipe? I'm thinking hand cleaner wipes.....

 

Denaturated alcohol. Just check first how dash responds ot it. Won't hurt to cover.
Get one of them swiveling microfiber windshield cleaning gizmos. Allows you to reach anywhere on WS without contorting your arms. Keep it inside, run it on WS ever so often.
Also, you cabin filter apparently is not doing its job. It should block most of particulate.

 

What works for me is:

1 - Using a terry cloth towel and plain water wipe down all window interiors.

2 - Using multiple clean cotton rags (old white undershirts work really well) or good quality clean micro-fiber rags apply Invisible Glass (spray bottle, not aerosol) directly to the windows and wipe clean.

I find the terry cloth really 'cuts through the crud' better than anything else. The Invisble Glass then cleans up what left.

Do not use new microfiber cloths without washing them. They have manufacturing residue in/on them that will cause streaking.

 

Magic Eraser followed by Stoners works for me

 

Chris Fix’s video is the answer. I just cleaned my Tacoma, Avalon, and ‘08 Corvette today as described in the video - it is like there is no windshield there! I have fought and fought streaking on my Corvette rear window but this method finally solved it. the glass is now invisible. I followed Chris’ instructions exactly - it works!

 

Subliminal message......Invisible Glass is your friend...

 

I learned how to clean glass from my Grandfather, who owned a jewelry store with glass display cases that always needed cleaning.

He used dilute vinegar (8 parts water to 1 part vinegar along with a few drops of dishsoap) and used crumpled up newspaper (black print, no color) to wipe the glass clean, it works great give it a try.

 

It's my understanding that most of the film on the windshield comes not from road crap getting past the cabin filter, but from off-gassing of the upholstery and plastics in the cabin, particularly when it is heated up real good in the summer sun. Never use any liquids on mine; just the microfiber cover on the special extendable windshield cleaner tool.

 

Great input already. Thanks! I will try the white vinegar and if that doesn't work, the Invisible Glass.

This is definitely caused by the outgassing from plastics in the car. With each new car, the outgassing is even worse.

 

FWIW....I now use this.. Windshield wonder (telebrands.com)..Has 2 pc 16" handle with pivoting head. 2 microfiber cleaning covers (attach to head) Small spray btl. Mfg said, just use plain water , I'm thinking, huh? I don't clean in direct sunlite, but in slightly shaded area where I can see film/streaks on glass. I clean up/down..1 time, then back & forth one time. Sometimes have to do just abit more. I use distilled water, never tried plain tap water. I got it a WMart, but don't recall price. Was in the "As seen on TV"display with other stuff.

Still amazed, just water & micro cloth clean as well as it does. The pivoting handle makes it a lot easier, especially inside front windshield, not a lot of stretching & straining. I still use Invisible glass on outside when glass gets really dirty..road grime/bugs etc. Anyhow, just another way of cleaning.

 

I am pretty particular when it comes to detailing, but not obsessed. I have found water with just a few drops of dish detergent and some paper towel is enough to displace the residue that causes streaks by wiping them wet. Then dry with a microfiber towel. Any streaks that you missed can usually be removed with another dry microfiber. The dry wipe is probably the most important step in this process. Just be sure you have clean microfiber. I don’t wash mine with anything other than more microfiber towels in dye/perfume free detergent and I air dry them.

I actually presoak mine before they go in the wash in my wash bucket with a little detergent.

 

I use the aerosol can of Safelite Auto Glass cleaner. You can get it at Safelite stores that do windshield replacements oh, by the way I would never use Safelite again to do a windshield replacement after a bad experience but they make a great windshield cleaner. You can also get the cleaner from amazon.com. once you spray the inside of the windshield use a squeegee with silicone or rubber blade, and wipe either horizontally or vertically with your strokes I do half of the windshield at a time. Small amounts of leftover cleaner I wipe off with very clean paper towels or very clean terry cloth towels. Perfect clean interior windshields!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

 

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-a-window-with-new-109240

 

Follow up... I was near an AutoZone so went ahead and bought the Invisible Glass and some microfiber cloths. It worked great! Thanks to all for your input.

 

I use old worn out bath towels (free) but they must be clean. Lay the towel on your dash to keep the cleaner off the panel then spray it on the glass, pick up the towel and start cleaning, sometimes it takes a second wipe or 2 on the glass but it works for me.

 

At home I use a microfiber cloth soaked in water and wrung out to scrub & loosen the build-up. Then a small squeegee for easy maneuverability. This takes the build-up off down to the glass. Wipe with another clean microfiber cloth, clean small cotton hand towel or paper towels, your choice. Ammonia based cleaners eat at the glue that holds the rearview mirror etc. to the windshield glass and should be avoided.

On the road I have found that a cotton washcloth in tap water and wrung out works very well. Then wipe the inside of the windshield with a clean cotton towel. This works really well on rental car interior glass which never seems to be clean! Remember to leave the towels in the hotel bathroom to be washed.

 

For heavily hazed windshield glass, I’ve gotta go with the white vinegar and newsprint. Works like a charm everytime. I’ll have to try a magic eraser next time. Those things do quite a wonder on a lot of surfaces.

 

What I used to do that worked for me is 2 steps.

1) just use a paper towel with windex til the new paper towels aren't picking up dirt and turning dirty. That means most of the dirt is gone from the windshield but now there are going to be streaks and wipe marks.

2) to get rid of the wipe marks.. ever squeegee the outside of the windshield at a gas station? There's a method to do it so you don't get streaks. YOu have to wet it at the top, then as it drips you squeegee the top, wipe with a towel then do the next row going down. I do this on the inside as well. put paper towels on the dash at base of windshield. spray a light bit of windex at the very top. Just enough not to drip. Squeegee that top row, it will start to drip. Follow the drips down and squeegee, wipe with towel. Repeat til you get to the bottom. Then carefully wipe the left and right ends.

Sounds like a lot but it's not. Just think about how you do it at a gas station.

 

Invisible glass and some good quality paper towels that don't leave a lot of lint, it's the easiest way to go.

 

IMO, best thing to get rid of the oily residue from plastic outgassing, Armour All outgassing, etc., is to use a 1:6 vinegar solution. Apply with paper towel, wipe away with regular terry cloth towel. If the window is very oily then clean it twice. For any residual streaking that may remain, lightly sprinkle a clean terry cloth towel with distilled water and wipe until clean. Works like a dream. I do not recommend using Windex or anything with ammonia in it for two reasons: Ammonia tends to smear oily residue around instead of removing it, and ammonia will de-bond most aftermarket window tinting films.

 

Hi there Andrewst02!

Here's a great YouTube video to help with your issue (click on the link below). BTW, I'm not connected with him in any way, just found it when searching on my own:

How to Super Clean the INSIDE of Your Windshield (No Streaks)

This is a FANTASTIC video from ChrisFix! I love his YouTube channel!

And for the outside of the windshield, try his other tips here:

How to Super Clean Your Windshield (<= video for outside of windshield #1)

The one above seems the best, but here's another one he did a year earlier, using a different method:

How to Super Clean your Windshield (<= video for outside of windshield #2)

Hope this helps! Enjoy the rest of your day,
Dee

 

As several have already said, solvent release from the polymers in the vehicle is the likely source of film on the inside of the windows. While basic solutions (or caustics, such as ammonia) remove oil better than do acidic solutions (such as vinegar), but acidic will work better than neutral. On the other hand, chemical degreasers will work better than caustics that are safe for application by hand. I use brake cleaner applied to a paper towel and wipe the window down with it, then follow with a clean terrycloth towel. An additional bonus is that I don't know of brake cleaner destroying the defroster grid or diversity antenna that is on the inside of some windows. Caustic solutions will ruin those; I believe the owner's manual may specifically tell you to not use caustic solutions to clean the windows becasue of this.