Getting Your Glass Crystal Clear: The Pro Way to Clean Interior and Exterior Windows

This is non-negotiable. If the glass is hot to the touch, your cleaner will flash off (evaporate) before you can wipe it, leaving nasty streaks. I learned this on a black Commodore in 40-degree heat, never again.

Drop them about 2-3 inches. You need to clean that grimey line that sits inside the weatherstrip at the very top of the glass.

Get them out of the way so you can reach the whole windscreen. It's also a good time to wipe down the wiper blades themselves with a bit of cleaner.

Use your brush to get the loose dust out of the rubber seals. If you don't, your wet cloth will just grab that dust and turn it into mud on your clean glass.

Make sure you have a 'wet' towel and a 'dry' towel ready. Don't mix them up.

Give the glass a good blast with the hose to get the loose grit off. Wash it with your normal car soap to remove the bulk of the dirt.

If your glass feels rough, use a clay bar with plenty of lubricant. This pulls out the embedded metal filings and tree sap. You'll be amazed at how much smoother the wipers move after this.

Apply a small amount of glass polish to a foam applicator. Work it in circular motions. This removes stubborn water spots and old product buildup.

Rinse off the polish residue and dry the glass thoroughly with a clean microfibre.

Spray your glass cleaner DIRECTLY onto your first waffle-weave towel, not the glass. This prevents overspray getting on your paint or trim.

Wipe the glass in a 'S' pattern, ensuring you hit the edges first. Use a bit of elbow grease here.

Immediately take your second, bone-dry microfibre and buff the glass. Do this before the cleaner air-dries. This is where the magic happens.

Move your head around to catch the light from different angles. If you see a smudge, hit it again.

Chuck a clean towel over the dashboard. You don't want glass cleaner dripping onto your leather or plastic and leaving spots.

Use a clean, dry microfibre to wipe the glass. This removes the loose 'off-gassing' film that builds up on the inside of the windscreen.

If the glass is really greasy (maybe you're a smoker or the car is new), use a 50/50 mix of IPA and water first to cut the grease.

Again, spray the towel, not the glass. Inside the car, overspray is a nightmare to clean off the dash and headliner.

Reach into the corners. Use the back of your hand to push the towel into the tight spot where the glass meets the dash. (Or use that reach-tool I mentioned).

Here's a tip: Wipe the exterior horizontally and the interior vertically. That way, if you see a streak, you know exactly which side it's on by the direction of the mark. (Learned that from an old-timer in Geelong!)

Use a fresh, dry cloth for the final buff. Keep turning the cloth to a clean side.