How to clean your car windows

First off, you don't need expensive glass cleaner from an automotive store. It's quite simple and effective to make a cleaning solution from simple household ingredients. Take about 4 parts water, 1 part vinegar, and a little bit of dish soap and mix together in bowl or spray bottle. Optionally, adding a dash of lemon juice can provide a slightly better scent. A lint free micro-fiber glass rag is best for cleaning and polishing glass, but a simple cotton rag and some newspaper will do fine.

* Wet one of your rags with your cleaning solution. Avoid spraying directly onto the windows as overspray will cause spotting and smearing on plastic trim, paint, and discoloration of interior parts in your car. Getting onto fabric can leave an odor for a bit too.

* Work one section at a time, rub gently on your glass and allow solution to soak and loosen grease and dirt, but do not let dry. Then clean that area again to remove dirt particles. Immediately wipe off excess and buff clean with your polishing rag or wadded up newspaper.

* It's a good idea to clean the outside of your windows using a horizontal motion and clean the inside of your windows with a vertical motion. If there is any residue or smears left over after your cleaning, you can easily detect if it's on the inside or outside of the glass.

* When cleaning your side windows, it's best to roll the windows down and clean the top portion of your window first. Rolling down your windows after you've just cleaned them will cause dirt, water, and your cleaning solution that dripped down your glass to be put back on your clean surface. And forgetting to clean the top can leave a dirt strip on your clean windows when you roll them down later.

* It's also best to work in a shaded area, as direct sunlight can cause your cleaning solution to dry quickly and leave a haze which may be a bit more difficult to polish off. If you have trouble with streaks make sure your newspaper or polishing rags are clean and dry. Also lessen the amount of vinegar in your solution by adding a bit more water and soap.