# Paper Towels and Windshields? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 4, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paper-towels-and-windshields/355454 "2006-05-04T21:26:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paper-towels-and-windshields/355454/1 "2006-05-04T21:26:49Z")
My windshiels always seems to develop a hazy film on the inside-I think it must come from the paper towels I’ve been using. What is the best way to clean a windshield? I’ve been told that old (yellowed) newspapers and windex are the best combination. I’ve also used plain joy and water (with a squeegee)-that works well, but its hard to avoid a waterspot. Is there some kind of sizing in paper towels that comes off? I just cleaned it a few days ago-and this haze is very noticable. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paper-towels-and-windshields/355454/2 "2006-05-04T21:30:57Z")
It’s not your paper towels, it’s fumes from your plastic: [http://www.ehow.com/how\_6653\_keep-windshield-fog.html](http://www.ehow.com/how_6653_keep-windshield-fog.html) ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paper-towels-and-windshields/355454/3 "2006-05-04T21:52:16Z")
What **Gaudere** said. Especially in warm weather the plastic on your dashboard will “evaporate” and condense on the windshield. ---
**Author:** ![Endless\_Flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e480ec/32.png) [@Endless\_Flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Endless_Flight)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paper-towels-and-windshields/355454/4 "2006-05-04T22:05:44Z")
If it ends up on your windshield, it makes me wonder where else it ends up if you have your windows rolled up on a hot summer day. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paper-towels-and-windshields/355454/5 "2006-05-04T22:15:33Z")
Smog is the main issue around here. Crap laden outside air is drawn in and blown across the windshield (and any other window in the direct line of fire of the fan). It is clearly distinct from outgassing which would distribute evenly on all windows. (The windshield being close to the dash means little.) ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paper-towels-and-windshields/355454/6 "2006-05-04T23:56:15Z")
What you are describing sounds like the film that appears on glass from the evaporation of the oils and chemicals that is in the plastic of your interior parts. I work at a new car dealership and see this quite a bit . A foam glass cleaner and paper towels usually do the trick . Foam glass cleaner seems to work the best as it sticks to verticle surfaces better than liquid. ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paper-towels-and-windshields/355454/7 "2006-05-05T09:23:23Z")
Yep, what **Gaudere** and **Omegaman** said. For hot weather evaporation, I find that using a dashboard sunshade when parking in the sun helps a whole bunch. Not only does it protect and lengthen the life of your dashboard, it also reduces the filming problem. If you are experiencing internal misting-up problems in cold weather, try rubbing the inside of the window with a sliced raw potato, or even better, white vinegar.