Glass cleaner?

[RogueWarrior65]

What do you use to clean the window glass? I just hand washed the vehicle and there are water spots all over the glass. The glass cleaner spray you can buy at Costco doesn't do a very good job on those. From the inside, the windows look really dirty.

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[Rellims]

This works great for me. Just used it getting bugs off while on a 1800 mile road trip, took them off with no effort. I regularly use it after washes to get rid of the water spots.

https://invisibleglass.com/collections/automotive/products/invisible-glass-19oz-aerosol

 

[RogueWarrior65]

Heh, the description actually says "pet slobber". Love it!

 

[brumey]

I am just going through this myself. I previously (many years) had a good method but on my new 4R, I added new variables into the mix.

IMHO - Glass cleaner alone will not remove water spots or other contaminates on the windscreen. I have used a 50/50 mix of distilled water and household vinegar. That works okay for water spots.'

The best method I have previously used it stop polish the glass with an optical grade glass polish. I used #36 then #38 Chemical guys polish but it was from years ago. I am not thrilled with their products now.

If you rub your fingernail across the glass, even and especially a new vehicle you will feel contaminates more that see them. A polished windscreen will allow your nail to run smoothly across the glass. When polished, it's best to seal the glass. I used a sealer from Chemical guys but was not impressed. I have applied Rain-X after polishing and that was okay for a while.

The new variable for me was a product from Chemical Guys called HydroView. It's supposedly ceramic based. I polished the glass than applied the HydroView per instructions, using multiple weaved glass cloths and separate buffing off cloths. All was good when done, clear glass, smooth, etc. The next morning, The windscreen glass and others on the sides were all hazy. Buffing off again... I called Chemical Guys and they said I need to polish off the HydroView as it did not apply properly. Using a DA Polishing tool, I did it again (hours of work). Same issue. Overnight, hazy windows in the morning. I am done with Chemical Guys and their products and will remove again with polishing and apply another non-ceramic sealer.

Another issue is cloths used. Weaved microfiber clothes are supposed to be best. I was finding even they left microfibers stuck the the glass inside with normal glass cleaners.

Another symptom after polishing and hydroView was after using the wipers for an hour a build up of contaminate or Ceramic) was on the area at the end of the vertical wiper stroke. Both sides. This hard studs made the wipers noisy and judder at each stroke.

So, in summary, I found polishing with a good optical polish and DA polisher to be the best to clean. I am still looking for something to seal after cleaning.

 

[RogueWarrior65]

Yikes! That sounds like a lot of work after only had the vehicle for a week. Makes you wonder if anything was done to the glass at the factory.

 

[6GRunner]

I agree. I’ve had success with the Invisible Glass product for years. It does a great job inside/outside and will not harm or discolor window tint.

 

[Archer]

For a quick spray on, wipe off, I've found this to work well for me.

P.S. you need a water softener...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hope-s-...an-Streak-Free-Glass-Cleaner-32PG12/202718750


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[828findadventure]

While Invisiglass is good I started using this and I am happy. https://amzn.to/443bPLS

 

[papadop88]

I've used Sprayway for decades and it works great for me. Many tint shops also use Sprayway. For deeper embedded water spots, can;t help you there as I've never had an issue.

 

[RogueWarrior65]

So, I tried Invisible Glass. It helps but clearly, no pun intended, there's something else going on as you can see in these photos. When I sprayed the Invisible Glass on there, it beaded up as though there was something like Rain X on there. Wish I knew what the detailers at the dealership used.

 

[alpa_chino]

Chemical Guys water spot remover might help

 

[Twisted]

As someone who used to install glass and mirrors in high end houses and has a thing for clean vehicle glass, here is what I know.

There are a lot of good off the shelf cleaners. I have various ones throughout the garage and house but this is what I've been using for the last year: https://amzn.to/44jp6kY

Meguiars Professional Glass cleaner concentrate. It is about $30 for a gallon which is enough to make 10 gallons. Mix it with deionized water from the store in a nice spray bottle from Home Depot. Pair this with some new/clean microfiber and rags and it will blow you away. I often mix small bottles and give to my friends as well. Smells great to boot.

You've also got to realize that if the glass is super dirty it will take steps. I typically spray it down heavy and clean with plain paper towels. This pretty much removes everything but the smudges. I clean again with light spray and either some glass specific lint free paper towels or a clean microfiber. I always do inside and out. I love having clean windows on my rig.

 

[CO/ZA]

Absolute best glass cleaner is Sonax Glass Cleaner.

It's not a usual alcohol soup, but rather surfactant based which allows for more working time.

For water spots on the exterior, you'll need a hard water spot remover like Chemical Guys.

Can also try Windex + Vinegar to melt some of the easier stuff, but it you parked next to a sprinkler go ahead and buy the Chem Guys HWSR.

 

[Nodak]

invisible glass + small hand squeegee (silicon) for inside for streak free glass.

6in width squeegee, easier to use than trying to clean with a fiber cloth and leave streaks.

sorta like this ...

 

[jcash25]

Took delivery of 4runner last thursday. Zero rain on the drive down to Houston from Dallas, No rain in Houston until Saturday and it stays in garage at night. I wash it Saturday and notice the water spots like OP has on my windshield and 3 of the 4 passenger windows back is fine for some reason. I took the invisible glass cleaner to it...NOTHING it actually looked like it smeared it and didnt take any spots off. Okay next up Sprayway glass cleaner NOTHING but was able to get the glass clean looking but still had hard water spots. Yesterday i went and bought Invisible glass's GLASS STRIPPER. Im going to do a test on the windows to see if it removes the spots.
I will report back here with my outcome hopefully the stripper will take them off.
I have owned 6 trucks and 2 yukons never have i had my windshield and windows have water spots like this or water spots at all. Hopefully this is the only issue with my first toyota

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