5 Tips for Clean Glass

Our chilly season is here, and that means more time spent inside our vehicles. The more use your car sees, especially with cold weather and defroster use, the more attention we need to pay to our glass and windows. As glass gets cold, moisture clings to it when exposed to warmer air on the other side. As our automotive glass isn't a vacuum dual pane, like our house glass, it condenses water on it, or "fogs up" when cold. This causes us to warm up the car, turn on the defrost, and clear our view.

This procedure allows dirty air and interior particulate to create a film over time on the interior of our windshield and glass. If you have a new car, the off-gassing of the interior materials as they cure leaves films too.  Even breathing, talking ( and sneezing!) leaves deposits on the windshield. And when was the last time you looked up and checked your sunroof? Believe it or not, almost every vehicle we see that has one, has dirty glass. This is also caused by our body sweat and heads as we drive. Just come back from a run or gym workout? Your head will evaporate sweat and it will stick to the coolest, closest thing, the sunroof glass. Who knew detailing was so scientific?!  Did you know that a clean inner windshield fogs up less, and clears quicker than a dirty one? This is because the water droplets have less to grab on to.

We hear from out clients that cleaning the glass is the hardest part of keeping up a vehicle, so we are here to help. Check out our video we made several years back, and follow along step by step. Once you master this, you'll have clear vision all year long. And, your cold mornings will be a little less stressful!


5 Tips for Clean Glass

#1 - Use Automotive Glass Cleaner

cleaning glass

Using cheap household brands for auto glass is a bad choice. These often contain harsh chemicals and additives that aren't suitable for sensitive automotive surfaces, like plastics and window tint.

The ammonia found in products like Windex for example will negatively effect rubber seals and window tint. So stick to a high quality automotive or similar product and you'll be set. We sell cleaner if you need to pick any up.

#2 - Use a Microfiber Towel

The old trick of using newspaper to clean windows is no longer great. Stick to a high quality microfiber towel that traps grease and dirt, and also absorbs cleaners better. These wont scratch, and they're reusable and washable. Better cleaning and better value. Using two towels like in our video is the top way to clean too.

#3 - Don't Clean in Direct Sunlight

Sure, the sun doesn't hide any spots you may have missed. But the heat from the sun can cause the cleaner to dry too soon, and leave streaks. Clean your glass in a shaded, cool spot and you will have optimum conditions for perfect clarity. Use a flashlight if you have to as a check for missed spots.

#4 - Clean Often

Keeping on top of your window cleaning should be done every month at minimum. Your windows are what let you see the world around you. If you only cleaned your sunglasses once a year, do you think they'd be pretty filthy? So keeping up with the glass is a small price to pay for improved safety, visibility and maintenance.

#5 - Use your A/C While Defrosting

This lesser known tip will help dehumidify the interior air of your car while you defrost/defog. By turning the heat and fan on full, and having the AC on (it will still blow hot, don't worry) this removes the excess moisture from the interior, and cuts down on the time it takes to clear your windows.  And, make sure you turn OFF the recirculate setting, as we want less humid exterior air to enter the car and replace the humid interior stuff. Use this tip with clean glass and you'll be the fastest defroster on the street!


What We've Been Working On

This Ducati Supersport 950S came in for a full paint correction and professional Ceramic Coating to help protect it's delicate red paint, and make cleaning and maintenance a breeze! We do all makes and models of bikes!

Product Spotlight

CarPro's new dQuartz is a revolutionary new Installer-only ceramic coating that will be released in early 2023. We will have access to this product soon, and it will be sold as an add on to Cquartz Professional and Cquartz Finest Reserve coatings, paired with a 2 year warranty extension. From CarPro:

" Car paints are getting softer and softer, and we have finally developed technology to combat this. DQUARTZ is the first ever ceramic coating, which utilises Functionalised Detonation Nano Diamond Powder.
How does the magic work?
The carefully controlled size and spherical shape of our nano diamond particles in combination with their activated surface structures allow the diamonds to electrostatically bind to other ingredients of the coating, as well as the surface itself.
Functionalised Detonation Nano Diamond Powder helps create an extremely hard coating, which offers resistance to swirls and scratches.

How To Properly Wash Your Car

Our sunny local weather has definitely been unseasonably late. Our wet and cold Winter, and cooler Spring months have meant that many of us have opted to leave the car unwashed for longer than normal. We hear the line "It's just going to get dirty again" every week. And we totally get it. But, regular washing of your vehicle is just as important as changing the oil and rotating the tires, as it preserves the appearance and aids in the longevity of the exterior components. Leave it too long, and you'll regret it down the road.

So now that the weather is getting warmer, and the sun is sticking around more, we thought it would be fitting to release our new video on the Proper Way To Wash Your Car. This covers every step from start to finish when it comes to a wash, so you can feel comfortable doing so in your own driveway.

Check it out, learn from it, and let us know what you think!


What We've Been Working On

This newly built 1953 GMC pickup received a full polish, spot wet sand, and durable CarPro Professional Ceramic Coating.

Product Spotlight

DLUX is CarPro's wheel and plastic specific ceramic coating designed to protect all wheel finishes and plastics. UV protection and easy cleaning mean your surfaces stay looking better for longer! Works on calipers too.

Glass Cleaning

Tips for cleaning glass

Don't use ammonia cleaners (Windex). They can harm rubber, window film, and plastics.

Always clean in cool, shaded areas. Heat is not your friend!

Use multiple towels to clean with. The dirtier they get, the harder it is to achieve a clean finish.

Use products that are free of dyes and scents if possible. These are unnecessary and are what cause streaking sometimes.

Use high-quality towels. Low pile ones are best as they don't lint.

Wash your glass towels separately from other chemical towels.

Spray onto the towel, not the glass!

Make sure to roll down the windows to get the top edges too.

Dash plastics naturally off-gas and cause haze, and so does the defroster vent. Keep on top of the cleaning. Just because you haven't touched the glass doesn't mean it isn't dirty.

Cold Weather Maintenance is Important!

t's frosty, dark, and sometimes miserable out. Why on earth would I wash my car during these times? Why not just wait until a sunny day or the Spring?

These are all questions that go through our heads when the weather turns and we now feel that maintaining the car is a massive chore, instead of a delight as with the warmer months. Rest assured, we have some tips for you to get the most out of your regular Fall/ Winter maintenance that won't induce frostbite! Remember, these upcoming months are the hardest on a vehicle both inside and out, so keeping up with their appearance and protection is more important than ever.

Rinse-Less Washes

As we've talked about before, a rinse-less wash is one that doesn't include breaking out the hose and rinsing the car down after soaping it up. In fact, it can even be done indoors during a blizzard and yields fantastic results too. The secret is in the washing solution, and the speed of the process will make you think twice about not washing your car in the colder months. Check out our video below for a full explanation of the process, demonstration, and its pros and cons.

Cold Weather Quick Tips

Optimum No-Rinse Wash Solution

Optimum No- Rinse is the world's favourite Rinse-Less washing solution. Made in the USA, it's been a staple product for detailers for years.

The advanced substantive polymers in the liquid help lift and encapsulate the dirt particles and remove them safely from the surface without scratching. No need to use a hose to rinse off, just towel dry after each section and that's it. Only a 1/2 ounce per gallon of water means one bottle lasts a long time. It's can also be used as a clay lube with proper dilution. Watch our video for a demonstration of this great product.