How To Clean Your Car Windows With Vinegar and Newspaper

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

Dilute vinegar with water to ratio 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 the pages with color images.

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

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

There are 3 options:

1st Vinegar Wash:

  • 2 cups of water
  • 1/4 cups 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.

How To 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 windshield.
  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 its 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 circular motion. Make sure your microfiber rag is clean. Start by buffing one half and then switch to the other.

How To 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 with cleaning one half of the windshield. Start with the upper corner and move done 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.

How To Clean Your Tinted Windows

Do you have tinted windows but don’t know how to clean them or which product may damage them? Here is how I clean my tinted windows on my truck:

  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 it the windows will look like I never cleaned them.
  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 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 productsOpens in a new tab.
  4. Get your supplies ready: There is no rocket science in cleaning windows, but choosing a wrong rag or cleaning product will destroy your tints. So, make sure you use an ammonia-free cleaner, 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 on 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, it’s an easy fix. Do not use your fingers or nails, instead use a credit card wrapped in a soft cloth. Push the bubbles toward the edges.

Making Your Own Tinted Window Cleaning Product

Ingredients:

  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • Baby Oil
  • Distilled Water
  • Spray Bottle

Instructions:

  1. Add 2 tbsp of rubbing alcohol into the bottle.
  2. Add a few drops of baby soap.
  3. Fill the bottle with distilled water and shake to mix.

How To 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 it. 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 like you would normally hold a 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.

Best Products For Cleaning Car Windows

Having a clean windshield while driving is very important. You can make your own cleaning solutions at home, but if you don’t have the time, and just wanna buy the finished product, I have some suggestions. Here are the 7 best window cleaners that money can buy:

  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.

Here are some more 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 spraying bottle.

2. Lemon Juice Cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 cup warm water

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients into a spraying 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 spraying bottle.

4. Homemade Cleaner:

Ingredients:

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

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients into a spraying bottle.

There. I have provided a lot of information on how to clean your car windows and windshieldsOpens in a new tab.

Igor Iwanowski

I am a certified Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) mechanic since 2018. I specialize in Brake systems, dashboard warning lights, EGRs, general engine problems, EVAP and Emissions issues.

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