Glass Cleaning
Clean glass is important if only because dirt and other problems are more obvious on window glass.
There are any number of glass cleaners available, most of which contain ammonia, that do a good job of cleaning glass. Home made recipes are popular and effective however. A simple one consists of 1/3 white vinegar and 2/3 water, with some people adding a teaspoon of car wash detergent. A more complicated concoction is:
> 1/2 cup sudsy ammonia
> 1 pint 70% isopropyl alcohol
> 1 tablespoon dish washing detergent
> 1 gallon water
Others insist plain water is best, and some go to the trouble to use distilled water or collected rain water. A thorough glass cleaning is actually a three part process. First, wash the glass with soap and water along with the rest of the car. Then use your chosen cleaner to clean both the inside and outside of the glass. Cleaning the inside is particularly important for newer cars, as interior plastics release gaseous materials (popularly known as "that new car smell") that leave a film.
Microfiber towels can work wonders when it comes to glass cleaning techniques.
The last step should be a dry pass, again on both the inside and out. Use a clean cotton cloth or paper towel without any cleaner. If you use paper towels, stay away from any that have a design printed on them. While doing the dry clean step, inspect the glass carefully from various angles for residue and other imperfections. Done properly, you should be able to eliminate all streaking.
