How To Clean Your Car Windows With Vinegar and Newspaper

Have you ever tried cleaning your car windows with nothing more than vinegar and newspaper? Sometimes simple stuff brings more results. Here is how to do it:

Dilute vinegar with water to a ratio of 1:5 and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray your windows with the mixture and wipe them with a newspaper. Choose a newspaper that is black and white. Avoid using pages with color images.

I use this technique and I am very satisfied. Here is how I clean my windows:

Key Takeaway

Step	Description
1. Prepare the Cleaning Solution	Choose from the three options: Vinegar Wash (2 cups water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/2 tbsp soap), Forever After Wash (1 cup water, 1 cup white vinegar), or Vinegar for Grimy Windows (1 cup warm white vinegar). Combine ingredients in a spray bottle.
2. Clean the Exterior Windshield	Lift windshield wipers, spray half of the windshield with solution, and wipe with straight vertical and then horizontal wipes. Repeat on the other half. Buff the windshield with a clean microfiber rag.
3. Clean Interior Windshield	Cover the dashboard with rags or newspaper, spray cleaner onto a rag, and wipe the windshield with vertical lines, starting from the upper corner. Repeat on the other half.
4. Clean Tinted Windows	Park your car in the shade, clean windows last, and choose safe products (avoid ammonia-based cleaners). Spray a diluted liquid cleaner and wipe with a microfiber rag. If bubbles appear, use a credit card wrapped in a soft cloth to push them toward the edges.
5. Remove Grime	Use 3.5 ounces of detailing clay on lubricated windows, moving it in vertical lines from bottom to top. Wipe the glass with a microfiber towel in circular motions to remove any excess clay.

How To Clean Your Car Windows With Vinegar and Newspaper

First, you need to make the vinegar-based cleaning solution

There are 3 options:

1st Vinegar Wash:

• 2 cups of water
• 1/4 cup of white vinegar
• 1/2 tbsp of soap
• Combine all ingredients into a spray bottle and mix well.

Forever After Wash:

• 1 cup of water
• 1 cup of white vinegar
• Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and mix well.

Vinegar For Grimy Windows:

• 1 cup of white vinegar
• Warm up the solution and use it directly on the car windows.

Clean The Exterior Side Of Your Windshield

1. Lift up your windshield wipers: Before spraying any cleaning solution(homemade or bought), make sure that you lift your windshield wipers up so you can clean all of your windshields.
2. Spray half of the windshield with cleaning solution: Start with the left side. Spray 2-3 times and make sure you cover the broadest area possible.
3. Wipe with straight vertical wipes: Start wiping with your microfiber rag in hand. Start with the upper center and bring it straight down. Make sure to keep a vertical line. Get your hand back at the top and wipe another vertical line. Move from the center toward the ends of the windshield.
4. Wipe with straight horizontal lines: After completing the vertical wipes, now it’s time to do a horizontal wipe. Again, start from the upper center and wipe toward the edge.
5. Other Side: Repeat the process on the other dirty half of the windshield. If your rag got very dirty from wiping one half, make sure you use a clean one for the other half.
6. Buff the windshield: First vertical and horizontal wipes were to clean the glass. Now it’s time to buff the glass by moving your hand in a circular motion. Make sure your microfiber rag is clean. Start by buffing one half and then switch to the other.

Clean The Interior Side Of Your Windshield

1. Cover the dashboard: Lay down some microfiber rags or newspaper on your dashboard to ensure that your dash won’t have glass cleaner dripped on it.
2. Spray cleaning solution(homemade or bought): Spray the glass cleaner onto your microfiber rag and start cleaning one-half of the windshield. Start with the upper corner and move with vertical lines.
3. Switch sides: Continue cleaning the other half of the windshield. Start in the upper corner and wipe downward with vertical lines. Make sure you get into the corners too.

Cleaning the Interior Windows

Cleaning the interior side of your windows follows a similar process.

However, instead of spraying the solution directly onto the glass, it’s better to spray it onto your newspaper or rag first to prevent the solution from getting onto other parts of your car interior.

Wipe the window using vertical strokes to effectively remove any grime or residue.

Cleaning Tinted Windows

1. Park your car in the shade: I always try to find a shade to park my car when cleaning my tinted windows. This enables me to actually spread the cleaning solution without getting dry before I even have the chance to. If it dries too fast it can leave spots and the windows will look dirty.
2. Clean the windows last: I always leave the windows last. Because if I clean them and then accidentally spray some water or soap, they will get dirty again. I start off by cleaning the interior first, then the outside, and the windows last.
3. Choosing safe products: You need to identify the enemies of window tint. There are some products on the market that will just completely destroy your window tint. Avoid using cleaning products that are based on Ammonia. Also, window tint is almost always done from the inside, so be extra careful when cleaning the interior side.
4. Get your supplies ready: There is no rocket science in cleaning windows, but choosing the wrong rag or cleaning product will destroy your tints. So, make sure you use an ammonia-free cleaner, a microfiber rag, and distilled water.
5. Start spraying: If you are using a liquid cleaner, you will have to dilute your solution in a bucket with water. There will be instructions about the ratio of the very product. Have at least two microfiber rags. Use one to wipe while you spray with the cleaning product, and the other one to dry the window. Go easy on the edges so you don’t damage the tint.
6. Fix your tints: If you notice bubbles after cleaning your windows, do not worry. Do not use your fingers or nails, instead use a credit card wrapped in a soft cloth. Push the bubbles toward the edges.

Removing Stubborn Grime

If your windows have a build-up of stubborn grime, you may need to use detailing clay. Lubricate the window with your vinegar solution, then gently rub the clay over the surface in a circular motion.

This should lift the grime off the glass. Afterward, buff the window with a clean microfiber cloth to remove any clay residue and leave your windows sparkling clean.

Remove Grime From Car Windows

1. Get 3.5 ounces of detailing clay: Glass cleaning clay is a product that has the ability to capture grim and remove it from the windows. If your car windows have any grime on them, this is the best way to clean them. Even if there is no visible grime, go over your windows with your hand and locate the area with the fine particulate matter.
2. Lubricate the glasses: Apply some water on your windshield/glasses. This step will help the clay to glide on the surface of the windows.
3. Grip the clay: Place the clay in your hand and hold it as you would normally hold soap. Keep two middle fingers on top, thumb on the side, and pinky on the other side of the clay. Move the detailing clay across the lubricated windows.
4. Moving the clay: Make sure you move the clay in vertical lines from the bottom of the glass to the top. Continue until all of the windows have been covered.
5. Wipe the glass: Wipe the glass with a microfiber towel, in circular motions. This step will ensure you remove any excess clay that might have been left on the windows.

Homemade Window Cleaning Solutions:

1. Streak-Free Cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of white vinegar
• 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 cups of water
• 10 drops essential oil ( your choice )

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients into a spray bottle.

2. Lemon Juice Cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup warm water

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients into a spray bottle.

3. Ammonia&Cornstarch Cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of ammonia
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 cups warm water

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients into a spray bottle.

4. Homemade Cleaner:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup distilled water
• 2 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 cup rubbing alcohol

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients into a spray bottle.

Best Products For Cleaning Car Windows

1. SprayWay Glass Windshield Cleaner: This is an ammonia-free cleaner and a great product. This product can be used for your car windows, home windows, and mirrors. No streaks are left behind after wiping. You can use this product on your tinted windows.
2. Invisible Glass Premium Cleaner: One of the best window glass cleaners, and one of the cheapest. Leaves no streaks behind. With one can you can clean your windows dozen times before running out.
3. Hope’s ”Perfect Glass” Cleaner: I personally have used this product and I can say that it’s very good. Sometimes it’s hard to get a hold of this product because it’s sold out most of the time.
4. Driven Extreme Glass Cleaner: You probably haven’t heard of this product before. This product will remove calcium and mineral buildup and hard water spots.
5. 3M Automotive Glass Cleaner: 3M is a company that specializes in many industrial-strength items. This is the most expensive glass cleaning product. I have used this product and it is delivering the promised results.

FAQs

Do vinegar and newspaper clean windows?

Yes, vinegar and newspaper can be used to clean windows. Vinegar is a natural, non-toxic product that safely deodorizes, disinfects, and cleans most hard surfaces. When your windows need a thorough cleaning, vinegar can help remove stubborn grime and leave your glass sparkling.

Is it OK to clean car windows with newspaper?

Yes, it is generally safe to clean car windows with newspaper. The newspaper can be an effective tool for cleaning the glass on your car windows. The dense fibers in newspapers help to scrub away grime and residue without scratching the glass surface. Plus, newspapers don’t leave behind lint or streaks like some cloth materials or paper towels can.

Is it safe to use vinegar on car windows?

Yes, it is safe to use vinegar on car windows. Vinegar, specifically white vinegar, is a natural cleaning solution that is non-toxic and eco-friendly. It’s known for its ability to cut through tough grime, dirt, and oily residues, making it an effective cleaner for glass surfaces including car windows says Charm City Circulator.

Why does newspaper clean windows so well?

Newspapers can clean windows effectively due to a combination of their physical properties and the ink they contain.

Newspapers are made from dense fibers, which gives them a slightly abrasive quality. This allows them to scrub away dirt and grime without scratching the glass surface.

The density of the fibers also means that newspapers are highly absorbent, enabling them to soak up the window cleaning solution along with the dissolved dirt, resulting in a clean, streak-free finish.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, cleaning your car windows with vinegar and newspaper is an effective, eco-friendly, and cost-effective method.

Vinegar, being a natural cleaning agent, effectively cuts through grime and dirt on the glass. A solution made from equal parts of vinegar and water can be sprayed onto the window and wiped off, leaving a clear, streak-free finish.