If you realized you’d cleaned your windshield with your best efforts, but it’s still quite blurry when you’re sitting on the driver’s seat, maybe it’s time to clean the interior of your windshield correctly. Cleaning off the dust, bird poop, dead bugs, mud splash, dried leaves, and general grime from the exterior of it is not enough to get crystal clear visibility.
A hazy windshield is not only troublesome to look through, but it’s also risky. A haze-free spotless windshield is essential for safe driving, especially at night or when it is raining. Let’s check out the best way to clean inside of the windshield suggested by experts.
What Makes the Inside of Your Windshield So Dirty?
There are several numbers of reasons your car’s windshield gets messy as in fingerprints, car off-gassing, smoke and smog, engine coolant, etc. Before knowing the methods of cleaning inside of the windshield, let’s find out some reasons that make it dirty from inside.
Car Off-gassing
Ever wondered where the ‘new car smell’ is coming? Well, it turns out it is the plastic vinyl components of the interior, such as the dashboard, seat covers, and the steering wheel of your car.
The scorching heat of sunlight causes evaporation of the oily components from the surface, which develops the oily film.
The oily products of this process are not visible by naked eyes, and it’s also difficult to wash them off using only water.
Smoking
Everyone knows that smoking is injurious for health, but it can also lead to terrible consequences for your car. A small gas leak can cause a massive explosion. The smoke particles tend to stick to your windshield glass, developing a thin layer that obscures clear visibility.
Engine Coolant
A leak in the engine or heater coolant produces a green or colored haze on your windshield that enters your vehicle, mainly through the front vents of your car.
Other Reasons
Dirt and dust from the outside are some of the reasons to make your windshield dirty. Dirt and dust stick to the oily layer already developed on the surface and makes it challenging to scrub them off. Greasy protectants on your dashboard also produce an oily film.
Drawing stuff with your finger on the glass may sound fun. But touching the glass with your fingers leaves fingerprints produced by your sweat and dirt from your hand.
Smog and smoke emitted from your car engine are also one of the reasons to make your windshield gross.
Best Way to Clean Inside of the Windshield With Degrease
So now we know that the hazy layer of the inside of your windshield is mainly oil and grease-based components. Degreasers are the best option to clean off the stains. Let us know the best way to clean it with degrease.
Things you’ll need
- Microfiber Towels
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Magic Eraser
- Water
Steps to Follow
Wash the Exterior First
Wash the exterior of your windshield first so you can get a better view of the streaks and dirt inside.
Pick up a Microfiber Towel
Use a clean, new (if possible) microfiber towel. Microfiber towels have tiny pores that suck up every little dust particle from the surface, which makes it very effective.
Get Yourself into a Comfortable Position
Hop in your passenger seat for better and easier access to windshield glass so you can put enough strength to wipe the glass. Clean the glass thoroughly with a microfiber towel first.
Watch Your Moves
Rub the surface by circular motions to wipe off the dirt in every angle. Finish off by wiping up and down movements.
Degrease The Glass
Next, use a different towel or magic erasers and rubbing alcohol to degrease the glass.
Try Vinegar Solution
You should try vinegar solution to clean off dissolved sea salt if you live near the coast.
Be Careful
Don’t let alcohol solution fall into your dashboard or other places. Alcohol or ammonia-based cleaner can cause liquid stains or damage the dashboard. In any case, if it happens quickly get a paper towel or any cloth to wipe off the dashboard using some of the best dashboard cleaners.
Best Way to Clean Inside of the Windshield With Glass Cleaner
Last but not least, you’d want to finish off cleaning your windshield with glass cleaner.
Things You’ll Need
- Glass Cleaner
- Microfiber Towels
Steps to Follow
Chronology matters how simple the steps may seem…
Get your Glass Cleaner
Take any of your glass cleaner and a microfiber rag. Spray directly onto the towel and clean in circular motions. Finish off cleaning up and down mentioned before.
Don’t Spray Directly
Don’t directly spray onto the glass as the drops of the cleaner fall all over the dashboard. The cleaner has ammonia-based liquid which discolors and damages it.
Can You Use a Newspaper to Clean the Inside of the Windshield?
Some people claim that the newspaper is an effective glass cleaner. It turns out, the myth is true.
Newspapers are made of dense fibers that contain no solid, scratchy materials. If your newspaper has soy-based ink instead of petroleum-based ink, it’d make a great glass cleaner.
To check if your newspaper contains soy-based ink or not, hold the paper between your thumb and index finger for a few minutes. If your fingers are stained, the paper comprises petroleum-based ink, and it’s not effective for glass cleaning.
So if your newspaper is okay to clean glasses, mix equal parts vinegar and water as your cleaning solution, then apply the newspaper to wipe the windshield like a paper towel.
Keep Your Windshield Clean
Prevention is better than cure. After cleaning your windshield, you’d like to keep it that way.
Keep your car cooler and give gases an escape way. Park your car in shaded places to keep your car cooler to prevent the vaporization of oily components. Let your car windows open for a while to let fresh air in and contaminants out to prevent off-gassing and the buildup of pollutants.
When you’re driving, keep your windows shut to prevent dirt and dust from entering the inside of your car.
To Conclude
The cleansing methods mentioned above can be used with all interior windows, not just the windshield. We strongly suggest using microfiber towels as they are very efficient and also less likely to leave streaks.
When washing your car, finish off cleaning with the windshield. First, wash the body, then the interior, and lastly, the windscreen and other interior glasses or windows.
Also read –
best windshield wipers for jeep wrangler
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