How to Clean Inside Car Windows
Updated: Mar. 16, 2020Follow these steps to clean glass on the inside and get rid of fingerprints, smudges and the dust generated by your dashboard and upholstery.
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The inside of a car’s windshields and windows are just as worthy of a good cleaning as the outside, especially if your windshields fog up regularly. Fortunately a good cleaning is pretty simple to achieve, in just a few steps.
Tools Required
- Two or more microfiber cloths or a reversible cleaning cloth, with a thick cleaning side and a fine drying side
- A reaching tool with a curved head (optional), such as the Xindell extendable windshield reaching/cleaning tool with a 14-1/2-in. reach
Materials Required
- Interior glass cleaner. Choose a cleaner that specifies it’s safe for interior use, such as Meguiar’s Perfect Glass, to avoid exposure to chemicals like ammonia while inside your car.
- Or make your own glass cleaner with equal parts distilled water and isopropyl alcohol, plus a capful of white vinegar.
Step 1: Dry Wipe
Wipe the inside car windows with a dry microfiber cloth, working from top to bottom in an up-and-down motion. (Paper towels also work, but microfiber cloths won’t leave pesky fibers behind on the glass.) This prep step removes that nearly invisible filmy layer of dirt and dust particles that stem from the plastic, vinyl and rubber inside the car.
Step 2: Add Cleaner
Spray the cleaning solution directly onto another microfiber cloth. Just a few spritzes at a time should do the trick. Avoid spraying the cleaner directly onto the glass. Too much cleaner can make the glass hazy.
Step 3: Wipe On Cleaner
Rub the cleaner-dampened microfiber cloth in a circulation motion, again working from top to bottom.
This is why your dog sticks its head out of the car window.
The lower corners of the windshields can be tricky and nearly impossible to reach, so a reaching tool may prevent some awkward gymnastics on your part.
Step 4: Dry Glass
Wipe the glass dry with the other side of your dry microfiber cloth, or a fresh one, for a streak-free finish.
Repeat steps 2 through 4 until sparkling.
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