# inside car window cleaner **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623 "2010-08-27T03:24:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gone2thedogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@gone2thedogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gone2thedogs)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/1 "2010-08-27T03:24:26Z")
OK, read the requirements for this area and think i am in the right place. I can NOT get the inside of my windshield clean. I used Rainex, was that the problem? Have Windex in my car. Also paper towels, microfiber cloths. I am at my wits end. Should I try vinegar? Please help as this is going to be hell once winter and driving in the dark starts. TIA, ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/2 "2010-08-27T04:08:30Z")
I use Windex and yesterday’s newspaper. I don’t know _why_ newsprint is better than any other paper, but it sure does seem to be best. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/3 "2010-08-27T04:39:36Z")
You used Rain-X on the _INSIDE_? It’s a coating, not a cleaner, so yeah, that would be a problem. Try cleaning it with acetone using fine steel wool, wipe dry, then clean with acetone using a cloth, and wipe dry again. Many plastics can tolerate acetone, but to be safe I’d test or cover the dashboard and any other plastic that might get wet with it. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/4 "2010-08-27T05:57:25Z")
I used RainX treatment on the outside of the windshield of a truck I used to own. It caused such bad glare at night that I was actually happy when a rock broke the windshield and I had to get it replaced. I tried it once and based upon that experience I will never again buy any product with RainX on the label. I mean, their windshield cleaner might be good stuff but I will never know. If you used the actual RainX treatment on the inside and your insurance covers windshield replacement, I would recommend a rock. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/5 "2010-08-27T06:38:34Z")
RainX sucks in the winter. Road salt imbeds into it requiring more use of the washing fluid. ---
**Author:** ![sharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@sharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharding)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/6 "2010-08-27T07:00:03Z")
Stoner’s Invisible Glass. The only stuff I use on the glass in my cars. I also have absolute confidence that [any of this stuff](http://www.detailersdomain.com/glasscleaners.aspx) is also good. But Stoner’s is widely available, works well and won’t do damage. ---
**Author:** ![Terry\_Kennedy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@Terry\_Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terry_Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/7 "2010-08-27T08:59:43Z")
> [@sharding](#): > > Stoner’s Invisible Glass. The only stuff I use on the glass in my cars. Stoner’s is good (and comes with stickers on the cap that say “Another quality Stoner product” :D), but Bon Ami 36000 “Glass & Surface Cleaner” is better. Don’t mind the “hospital smell” when you spray it - that dissipates rapidly. Helpful hint: When wiping the glass, go side-to-side on the inside and up-and-down on the outside. When you see streaks, you’ll know which side they’re on. ---
**Author:** ![qpw3141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/6bbea6/32.png) [@qpw3141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qpw3141)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/8 "2010-08-27T09:08:37Z")
The best thing, I discovered, for cleaning car windows, inside or out, is … toothpaste! The standard white variety. Use sparingly to clean the glass and then use newspaper to finish the job. ---
**Author:** ![gone2thedogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@gone2thedogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gone2thedogs)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/9 "2010-08-27T23:07:03Z")
yes, i’m an idiot. i guess the guy at the car store didn’t understand my question for cleaning inside windows and i didn’t check the product. No more of this for me. Thanks for all the help guys! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/10 "2010-08-28T03:23:35Z")
Replace your windshield. You’ll be fine. mmm ---
**Author:** ![sharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@sharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharding)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/11 "2010-08-28T03:24:40Z")
Even better, get a motorcycle. No windshield to clean. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/12 "2010-08-28T03:31:51Z")
> [@ghardester](#): > > I used RainX treatment on the outside of the windshield of a truck I used to own. It caused such bad glare at night that I was actually happy when a rock broke the windshield and I had to get it replaced. > > I tried it once and based upon that experience I will never again buy any product with RainX on the label. I mean, their windshield cleaner might be good stuff but I will never know. If you used the actual RainX treatment on the inside and your insurance covers windshield replacement, I would recommend a rock. There’s a secret trick to applying Rain-X… Clean your windshield REALLY REALLY well with Windex. Apply Rain-X in small circles, wait a few minutes for the haze to show up, re-apply, wait again for the haze to show up and make sure you got the entire windshield. Now for the trick. The instructions (last time I read them) say to wipe it off with a dry or damp rag. Don’t do that. Clean it again with Windex and a paper towel. This will completely get rid of the haze and you’ll be good to go. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/13 "2010-08-28T03:35:59Z")
> [@Terry\_Kennedy](#): > > Helpful hint: When wiping the glass, go side-to-side on the inside and up-and-down on the outside. When you see streaks, you’ll know which side they’re on. This is really, really good advice, though so obvious I’m kind of dumbfounded I’ve never thought of it. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > There’s a secret trick to applying Rain-X… > Clean your windshield REALLY REALLY well with Windex. Apply Rain-X in small circles, wait a few minutes for the haze to show up, re-apply, wait again for the haze to show up and make sure you got the entire windshield. Now for the trick. The instructions (last time I read them) say to wipe it off with a dry or damp rag. Don’t do that. Clean it again with Windex and a paper towel. This will completely get rid of the haze and you’ll be good to go. Let’s wait 'til the OP gets which side of the glass to apply it to before getting fancy, eh? Lighter fluid will take Rain-X off (wipe it liberally over the entire glass surface, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub off with paper towels). \*\*Gary T’\*\*s steel wool idea sounds like a sure-fire way to make your windshield opaque, although his car advice is always right on the mark. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/14 "2010-08-28T04:24:51Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > \*\*Gary T’\*\*s steel wool idea sounds like a sure-fire way to make your windshield opaque… Not at all. It’s a longstanding method for glass cleaning. Use clean, new, fine steel wool and keep it moist. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/15 "2010-08-28T04:32:20Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > \*\*Gary T’\*\*s steel wool idea sounds like a sure-fire way to make your windshield opaque… > [@Gary\_T](#): > > Not at all. It’s a longstanding method for glass cleaning. Use clean, new, fine steel wool and keep it moist. give the grade of steel wool you use so people will do it OK. ---
**Author:** ![gone2thedogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@gone2thedogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gone2thedogs)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/16 "2010-08-28T04:37:49Z")
Interestingly enough when I was in grad school we used RainEx to silinize our DNA sequencing plates. We would squirt some on, use a paper towel to spread it, let dry to a haze and then wash with copious amounts of tap water. Worked great. After you pour the gel, run the sequence, the top glass plate popped off with no stickiness. Even gel, great sequence. OTOH, I have never had any luck with it on the outside of my windshield much less the inside now \. I’ll do the experiment tomorrow and try out the various methods and report back. the lighter fluid is intriguing… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/17 "2010-08-28T04:46:31Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > give the grade of steel wool you use so people will do it OK. 00 or finer. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/18 "2010-08-28T05:02:37Z")
Do not use Rain-X on the inside of a windshield. It promotes fogging. Use Fog-X on the inside, or just clean the damn window. ---
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/19 "2010-08-28T15:22:08Z")
Using newspaper is the key, I think. Anything else will leave visible streaks. ---
**Author:** ![sharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@sharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharding)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623/20 "2010-08-28T17:08:02Z")
I just use clean microfiber towels. No streaks. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inside-car-window-cleaner/551623.md?page=2)