Removing the dirt on the outside of your car windshield can be as simple as driving the car through a car wash or giving it a thorough manual-wash, but what do you do when grime and grease on the inside of the windshield start distorting the view of the road ahead and around you? Well this article will hopefully teach you exactly how to clean inside of the windshield!
The car windshield is one feature that most drivers don’t even notice until a scratch or smear appears on the glass, either from a worn-out wiper blade, bird droppings, trapped leaves, or finger smudge. But, it’s an important safety feature and should be kept as clear as humanly possible to provide a good view of the road that’s free of distractions, thereby reducing the likelihood of a car accident.
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know concerning how to easily clean the inside of your windshield for better visibility while driving during any time of the day. Before we dive into how to clean the inside of your car windshield, let’s first figure out what contributes the most to making it dirty in the first place, so we can reduce or eliminate some of these culprits. Here are some of the common reasons:
There are lots of reasons the interior of your windshield may take on a hazy, streaked appearance over time, despite your best efforts to keep it clean. Here are some of the common causes of the dirty windshield:
If you are a smoker, then most of the fine film on the inside of the windshield may come from tobacco smoke. Even if you do not smoke, but drive in a dusty or humid environment, pollutants inside and outside your vehicle will find a way to the windshield, dashboard, and other surfaces in the car. Once you roll down your car windows while driving, you’re basically giving an open invitation to foreign substances to come in and settle on the car interiors including the windshield.
Another reason your windshield gets gross and dirty could be from finger smears, pet noses and paws coming in contact with the glass. When you sneeze, cough, or even while you are breathing in the car, most of the liquid your body releases into the air ends up sticking to the inside of the windshield, especially in the cold and wet season.
The primary reason behind buildup on the inside of the windshield can be traced back to car off-gassing. Starting with the ‘new car smell’, oils and chemicals in car detailing products, and the gases are given off when various plastic and vinyl interior components start to break down. The gases and residual chemicals from these materials become trapped within the car and end up making an oily film on the inside of the windshield, especially in hot, humid weather. Sometimes you might notice a smear on the windshield if you don’t handle the leftover glue from a sticker properly.
Before attempting to fix the grime and smear on the interior of the windshield, you’ll need to clean the exterior of the windshield first so you can easily spot the problematic areas. Let’s take a quick look!
If you want to get the best solution for your dirty windshield, then you should avoid using anything other than a microfiber towel on your windshield. Microfiber towels are good at eliminating ugly streaks that will definitely appear if you use a paper towel or any kind of cloth to wipe the glass. Just ensure that you choose a microfiber towel that is tightly woven and made from high-quality materials that are very absorbent.
You will need to pick a glass cleaner that is specifically designed for cleaning the car windshield and one that does not contain harmful or oily chemicals that might cause more harm than good.
If a glass cleaner is not easily accessible, you can make your cleaning solution with the following
You can either mix 70% of water and alcohol with a generous amount of window cleaner, or you can use 50% of both alcohol and water, then add a capful of white vinegar.
Just make sure that you are not using an ammonia-based cleaner to wipe the inside of the windshield because it can damage the car’s seat, dashboard, and other interior components if it drops on them.
When you’ve gathered all the necessary equipment, begin the cleaning process by giving the exterior of the windshield a thorough wash, then wipe off the excess water with a microfiber towel.
You do not have to use circular motion here, in fact, cleaning it vertically and horizontally will help you differentiate dirt streaks on the outside and those on the inside of the windshield. Once you are done with that, it is time to clean the inside of the windshield.
Wipe off any dirt on the inside of the windshield with a clean microfiber towel. Depending on which arm is more dominant, you can either wipe the entire glass from the driver’s side to the passenger’s side or vice versa, but make sure to reach in and clean the area of the glass closest to the dashboard so dirt and grime do not accumulate here and to create an ugly sight. If you need to use a reaching-tool for this area, then do so without scratching the glass.
Once the inside of the windshield is clean, it’s time to work on the stubborn stains and grease on the glass. One of the best tools for this is the magic eraser. It is actually a kitchen scrubber that breaks down and removes oil, grease, and any stubborn stain that could not be removed with the microfiber towel.
To use it, you simply dip the kitchen scrubber in warm water and wring it a bit so it is damp and not dripping wet, then wipe the surface with a circular motion. Follow up with vertical movement and ensure that you do not let any liquid drop onto the dashboard. You can use a new paper or some scrap paper to protect the dash. If you accidentally drop some on the dashboard, then you have to clean it off immediately with a wet rag to prevent discoloration.
After cleaning, manually wipe off any liquid using a towel. If the weather is too warm and the liquid keeps drying off alone, you should either look for a cooler place or postpone cleaning the glass to the early hours of the next day.
After cleaning with the magic eraser, the next step is to use the glass cleaning solution you made or bought.
Spray or dip another microfiber towel in the glass cleaner, allow the microfiber towel to absorb the liquid, then, with circular motions, start wiping the windshield with the towel. Finish it off with vertical and horizontal motion.
When it comes to keeping your windshield clean and clear, there’s no universal number on how often you should wash it. If you regularly take snacks inside the car, roll the window down when driving, or frequently travel through dusty or polluted environments, then you have to clean it as often as you can. However, there’s no upper or time limit. If you think it is affecting your vision, then you should clean it before it causes bigger problems.
Another important component of a car that needs good care is the windshield wipers. Inspect the wipers at least once a month. If the rubber feels hard, or they begin to rub or squeak when clearing the windshield, then they can scratch the glass.
Make sure to replace your wiper blades as soon as you notice this since they are no longer effective at cleaning the windshield. Ideally, you can replace them before they get to this stage.
Also make sure that the wipers do not run when the windshield is dry, you could end up doing more harm than good if hard debris gets trapped between the wiper blade and the windshield.
The steps outlined above are perfect for maintaining or improving the visibility of your windshield. Irrespective of the methods or the cleaning solution you choose to use, the important thing is keeping the windshield clear of distracting smear and streaks. Failure to do so might result in unexpected consequences.
