Glass cleaner leaving streaks

[mdamore419]

Every time I use glass cleaner on my windows on the outside, I always get streaks and the glass looks terrible. I never use "a lot" of cleaner when i clean them and I've tried almost every towel and always get the same results. Anyone have any idea why that is happening?

[Beemer]

I can't help much. I never get streaks.

 

Are the windows VERY dirty?  It may take a couple of applications to get all the stuff off - or a full-on wash.

 

Have you recently used something else that may leave a residue behind? RainX?  You might try wiping with Isopropal Alcohol first to get rid of anything that is already on there.

[Dan@Adams]

Hey Matt, when I'm using our Adam's Glass Cleaner, I will use maybe 2 sprays per side window, a little bit goes a long way. I will then take one of our microfiber Glass Towels folded into fourths and wipe the window with one side of the towel, then I will flip the towel over and wipe it again for a perfect streak free finish almost every time.

 

Have you tried using a clay bar on the exterior glass first to remove any possible film, tree sap, or other contaminants that might be built up and causing the streaking?

 

Edit: If I'm still having problems after that, I will reapply some Glass Sealant, or even a quick coat of Brilliant Glaze, for exterior glass.

 

With all of our chemicals, we recommend that you keep them in a temperature controlled environment for best results. Prolonged exposure to very cold and very hot weather can affect the chemical makeup of some of the products...but this winter has been unusually warm so far in Pittsburgh, which I'm not complaining about one bit!

[Ricky Bobby]

This was brought up recently in another thread - its not the glass cleaner, or Detail Spray, or diluted Rinseless, whatever you are cleaning windows with most likely.

 

What happens is the humidity or temperature change happens too quickly and it shows up as streaks on the glass.  I just had this happen to me on the house windows this weekend, looked perfect when I first did them, a couple hours later it was showing streaks.

 

Its extremely humid in our neck of the woods and unseasonably warm this time of year (I see you're in Pittsburgh, I'm in Jersey), so you are dealing with the pressure in the air plus the excess humidity. 

 

Now if it was doing this on a normal and dryer day, it might be different.  Just my opinion but I think the problem here is the temperature/humidity.

[Chris@Adams]

What I have found to work well (after you clay like Dan mentioned) is use one Glass towel for the initial wiping of the Glass cleaner then after the glass is wiped dry take another Glass towel and re wipe. I think that you will find this will take care of your streaks.

[mdamore419]

Hey Matt, when I'm using our Adam's Glass Cleaner, I will use maybe 2 sprays per side window, a little bit goes a long way. I will then take one of our microfiber Glass Towels folded into fourths and wipe the window with one side of the towel, then I will flip the towel over and wipe it again for a perfect streak free finish almost every time.

 

Have you tried using a clay bar on the exterior glass first to remove any possible film, tree sap, or other contaminants that might be built up and causing the streaking?

 

Edit: If I'm still having problems after that, I will reapply some Glass Sealant, or even a quick coat of Brilliant Glaze, for exterior glass.

 

With all of our chemicals, we recommend that you keep them in a temperature controlled environment for best results. Prolonged exposure to very cold and very hot weather can affect the chemical makeup of some of the products...but this winter has been unusually warm so far in Pittsburgh, which I'm not complaining about one bit!

I try to use between 1-2 sprays on each window. Usually the streaks come off on the side windows but they always seem to be bad on the windshield and back window. Next time I will definitely try using a clay bar on all of the windows first because I can tell there is a lot of contaminants on the windshield. 

 

I have to agree with you, I'm not complaining too much about the warm weather either. always nice to wash a car 2 days before Christmas around 5 pm and not be cold at all when you are finished.    

[pirahnah3]

I had a similar problem where the area not touched by the windshield wipers always seemed to be oily. I tried the clay and with no results moved on to the following:

 

It was solved by cleaning the windshield with detail spray and some #0000 steel wool (you can find this most likely in the paint department at your local hardware/hd/lowes/whatever) 

 

Used a bunch of detail spray and just proceeded to clean the window with a cross hatch pattern like you would use the glass sealant and perfect glass again! 

 

Give the clay a shot, it does help, if it doesnt solve it try the steel wool. 

[marquez93]

Sometimes I use a single soft for the final dry wipe after using the glass towels and that seems to work well.

[Chris@Adams]

I did the 2 towel method today on my Ram and they turned out great....

[pirahnah3]

Thats a clean window! glad to see you have the right vehicle too not just one of them other things lol 

[Chris@Adams]

Thats a clean window! glad to see you have the right vehicle too not just one of them other things lol

Thanks.....

[Audog]

I had streaking the first time I used the glass cleaner, but didn't have glass towels. Tried it again after ordering some glass towels, one to clean and another to buff. My opinion of the glass cleaner completely changed. With the proper method and towels, this stuff works great. Tested with non-glass towels on wife's car and streaks were back, so it has to be the combination of product and "tool", at least on my cars.

[Guest washemup]

Another thing you might want to do is wear gloves when doing glass. I usually do (interior) glass last, and by then my hands are usually a little sweaty or oily.

 

If you get this oil on the towel, after you flip it, your just rubbing oil back on the glass.

 

I actually don't use the glass cleaner on the exterior. After a 2 bucket wash, a light mist of detail spray helps to remove the water and leaves them streak free.

Edited December 24, 2015 by washemup