# Give me your best tips for cleaning the inside of your car's windshield **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2023, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979 "2023-04-20T17:32:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/21 "2023-11-07T11:32:32Z")
Thanks for the details! ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/22 "2023-11-07T13:58:58Z")
Damn, I’ve always just wiped the inside of the windshield with a dry cotton rag (from an old t-shirt), and as long as I don’t miss a spot it comes out crystal clear. Maybe my cars were done with their “gassy” phase since the newest car I’ve ever bought was at least three years old? ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/23 "2023-11-07T18:29:18Z")
I think multiple wipings with solvent or detergent in the early ones and clean dry cotton knit cloth in the last ones works best. It can be helpful to make the last wiping horizontal inside and vertical outside (or vice versa) so that if you see streaks later you know which surface needs work. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/24 "2023-11-07T18:36:09Z")
I’ve long seen discussions such as this, and wonder why I have never experienced filmy buildup on the interior of my windshields. I’ve bought probably 10 new and 3 used cars over the past 40 years, American, Japanese, and German brands, and never had this issue. Any idea why some folk might experience it and others don’t? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/25 "2023-11-07T19:02:39Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > human expulsions When I was in high school, I witnessed a dude puke all over the inside of his car, including the inside of the windshield. I always wondered how he got it clean. I never rode with him. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/26 "2023-11-07T19:04:41Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Any idea why some folk might experience it and others don’t? @Dinsdale, I agree, never had a similar problem with all of the cars I’ve owned. However, I have seen people use their hands to wipe off fog buildup on the inside of their windshield in the winter time, simply because they didn’t know to just turn on the A/C mode with the defroster on. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/27 "2023-11-07T19:40:15Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > It can be helpful to make the last wiping horizontal inside and vertical outside (or vice versa) so that if you see streaks later you know which surface needs work. Vertical on the inside of the windshield since the gas station squeege is typically dragged around the windshield horizontally; however, that’s reversed on the rear window so that you’re wiping along the defroster wires instead of across them. Nothing dumber than trying to clean a streak on the wrong side of the window. . If it’s a sunny day I also move the car so that they windshield is in the sun when I clean the inside of it. It looks amazingly clean when facing the garage but horribly streaky when I reposition it into the sunlight. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/28 "2023-11-08T04:35:49Z")
And just like clockwork, immediately after I’m done shopping for some, here’s a deal on a glass cleaning tool. > **[8" Rain-X Compact Collapsible Car Window Squeegee $4.90](https://slickdeals.net/f/17039962-8-rain-x-compact-collapsible-car-window-squeegee-4-87-free-shipping-w-prime-or-on-35)** > > Amazon has 8" Rain-X Compact Collapsible Car Window Squeegee (9438X) for $4.87. Shipping is free w/ Prime or on $35+ orders. > > Walmart has 8" Rain-X Compact Collapsible Car Window S ... Edit: Oof, I should have read the comments before linking. Lousy squeegee. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/29 "2023-11-08T04:50:35Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Then use a Magic Eraser, I’m totally going to try this. In the past I"ve used fingernail polish remover, which does _eventually_ work but leaves streaks and cleaning the streaks leaves streaks and so on and so forth. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/30 "2023-11-08T05:29:50Z")
Are you sure? Try a tiny spot with a magic eraser and see what happens. It might be more foggy than it appears. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/31 "2023-11-08T06:04:55Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’ve long seen discussions such as this, and wonder why I have never experienced filmy buildup on the interior of my windshields. Maybe local environmental conditions matter? It’s a huge problem for me, but where I live (a) we have very few streetlights, in order to limit light pollution for the Mauna Kea telescopes - meaning that oncoming headlights at night are hugely bright compared to the surrounding light level; (b) it rains a lot, which always makes nighttime visibility more challenging; and (c) we have vog in the air at all times in varying degrees. I don’t know how much the above three factors influence matters, but reduced visibility related to build-up inside the car windshield is definitely an issue for me, when driving at night in the rain. I appreciate the suggestions in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![ColdBrew50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@ColdBrew50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdBrew50)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/32 "2023-11-08T09:10:05Z")
All right, this hits home for me. So, I’m a heavy smoker (cigarettes), especially when driving. And I have the charming habit of throwing a bunch of soaking wet sweatbands onto the front defrost vent to dry them. I know, instead of washing and drying them with laundry, but Holly Hobby I ain’t. Yeah, I get up in the front windshield interior every so often, just paper towels and whatever cleaners and cleansers and shit I have in the car, but isn’t there some kind of orangeish (?) block of putty-type material that car detailers use? Someone remind me of what that is, if possible, please. And for bonus points, a full report. And, pro-tip, using a cordless drill with a soft buffer disc attachment doesn’t really work…angles are all wrong…not worth the effort. Maybe on the rear window, I guess, but (a) loud (b) ineffective (c) annoying (d) ineffective (e) annoying. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/33 "2023-11-08T18:04:45Z")
Clay bar? [https://www.amazon.com/Griots-Garage-11049-Glass-Cleaning/dp/B004UQQT0A](https://www.amazon.com/Griots-Garage-11049-Glass-Cleaning/dp/B004UQQT0A) ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/34 "2023-11-09T00:22:11Z")
I have a new car that’s now about six months old, so there’s some outgassing going on. The glass cleaning clay looks interesting, but the comments all talk about how well it works on cleaning exterior glass. Can it be used on the inside of a windshield? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/35 "2023-11-09T00:57:24Z")
My Prius had terrible problems with film on the inside of the windshield. What worked for me was dish soap in a bucket of water and a microfiber cloth. My Accord hasn’t had any issues for 4 years now, though I don’t drive nearly as much as I did when I commuted. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/36 "2023-11-10T02:54:32Z")
I’m not grabbing a 10 yr. old under any circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/37 "2023-11-10T14:32:06Z")
About 3 months ago I bought the “[E-Cloth Glass Cleaning se](https://us.e-cloth.com/collections/glass-and-window-cleaning-products/products/10615-window-cleaning-pack)t”. A waffle weave cloth for cleaning and a smooth one for drying and polishing. Wet the waffle weave and wipe the glass, then polish/dry with the smooth cloth. Seems to work very well, though at the age of 77 I do find it hard to reach all the corners. Anyone beside me remember Glass Wax? Never used it on windshields, but house windows and mirrors for sure. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979/38 "2023-11-10T15:01:29Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Anyone beside me remember Glass Wax? Never used it on windshields, but house windows and mirrors for sure. Glass wax was incredibly good for car windshields. I can still picture the pink fluid in the metal can. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-best-tips-for-cleaning-the-inside-of-your-cars-windshield/982979.md?page=1)