In Search Of Clarity – A Glass Cleaner Shoot Out!

[DFB5.0]

Like many other detailing categories, I seem to have accumulated a selection of different glass cleaners over the last few years. Most automotive glass cleaners are alcohol based, being safer on interior plastic surfaces and window tinting. For that reason, it’s important to not use ammonia formulations or you risk damaging your window tinting and staining plastic trim. Most Windex products fall into that category. For the most part, all glass cleaners are much of a muchness, with a few minor deviations to differentiate them from each other.

Here are the products I have used in the past and the ones I grab the most, all being alcohol-based formula’s unless otherwise stated and all delivering streak free performance when used correctly.

Gyeon Q2M Glass – This is the first “premium” glass cleaner I bought and one that I highly rate. I really like the Gyeon bottles, very comfortable to hold and spray, hooking nicely to my pocket while I’m working. The scent of Q2M Glass it’s high point, not having that “heady” aroma alcohol products tend to possess. It’s also super slick to wipe. Probably my favorite glass cleaner and the one I like to grab the most often.

Tint Safe – Yes
Scent – Pleasantly sweet
Bottle Sizes – 500ml or 4 lt
Rating – 10/10

Stoner’s Invisible Glass – This is one of the best glass cleaners you can buy, one of the cheapest too. This product doesn’t come in a fancy bottle or have an alluring scent, it just works! Invisible Glass is readily available and is a true workhorse product. Highly recommended.

Tint Safe – Yes
Scent – Unscented
Bottle Sizes – 643ml, 945ml and 5 or 55 gallon (USA)
Rating – 10/10

P&S True Vue – This glass cleaner comes in both ready-to-use and concentrate forms. The concentrate form is an extremely economical solution and is able to be adjusted for winter and summer usage. I tend to use this not just for detailing, but also for general around the house cleaning too. No scent with this product and like Invisible Glass, a great workhorse.

Tint Safe – Yes
Scent – Unscented
Bottle Sizes – 473ml RTU or 1 gallon concentrate.
Rating – 10/10

Carpro Clarify – The main drawcard I see with this product is the pleasing banana scent, desirable if you find other glass cleaners “heady”. It also has a nicely slick feel to it. Certainly a nice product, one I have just because I like the smell.

Tint Safe – Yes
Scent – Banana
Bottle Sizes – 500ml and 1 lt
Rating – 7.5/10

Carpro Eraser – While this products main role is as a panel prep spray, it can also be used quite successfully as a glass cleaner. Which means more chance to enjoy the delightful scent this product is known for. You could also say the same for Gyeon Prep, it too makes a brilliant glass cleaner.

Tint Safe – Yes
Scent – Hard to define, but very pleasant
Bottle Sizes – 500ml, 1 lt or 4 lt
Rating – 7.5/10

NV Clarity – This is another panel prep spray that is also used for glass cleaning. As a prep spray, I really don’t like Clarify as its high IPA content is extremely grabby. On glass though, it’s actually very good. No scent here, very much an IPA type smell to it.

Tint Safe – Yes
Scent – Unscented, slightly pungent
Bottle Sizes – 500ml, 1 lt or 4 lt
Rating – 8/10

Koch Chemie Speed Glass –
Koch offer a few different glass cleaners, this being the RTU version. Another high quality glass cleaner, one that I found easy to use and offers good slickness. This is a scented product, one that is not easy to place, Koch Chemie describing it as “fresh fragrance” and is similar to their other interior products.

Tint Safe – Yes
Scent – “Fresh”
Bottle Sizes – 750ml RTU
Rating – 8/10

Angelwax Vision – This is a product I call a “sledgehammer for glass”. Vision is alcohol based but does contain ammonia, so it’s best used with caution. It also has an extremely pungent aroma to it, so be careful using it in confined spaces. And certainly don’t give the bottle a whiff or you will knock yourself out! Vision though has more grunt to clean neglected glass, especially so on windscreens. Never spray this directly onto glass, always into a towel. Vision is said to be tint safe despite the ammonia content, but I would only use it as needed rather than a regular maintenance product.

Tint Safe – Yes, but use with caution
Scent – Unscented but extremely pungent
Bottle Sizes – 500ml
Rating – 9/10

Autoglym Fast Glass –This was my main glass cleaner for a very long time, ultimately replaced by Stoners Invisible Glass and Gyeon Q2M Glass. Fast Glass is very easy to use and available in most automotive stores (Australia at least). Autoglym also say it can be used as a spot cleaner on bodywork.

Tint Safe – Yes
Scent – Unscented
Bottle Sizes – 500ml
Rating – 7/10

Optimum No Rinse – ONR is primarily used for rinse-less and waterless washing, but I do know people use this for glass too. I personally have not, but it can deliver streak free results while also being useful for other tasks as well, adding to it’s versatility.

Tint Safe – Yes
Scent – Berry
Bottle Sizes – 236ml, 946ml or 1 gallon concentrates
Rating – Un tested by me

Next, glass polishing.

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[DFB5.0]

Glass Polishing

Polishing glass is one of those next-level detailing tasks that can really transform the look of the car overall. Obviously, the main goal is to improve clarity but somehow it can really take a car to another level.

Glass is an incredibly hard surface, making it very durable and hard to scratch. That hardness also means it’s almost impossible to remove deeper scratches. While you may improve the appearance of deeper scratches, you won’t be able to totally remove them, even with the most aggressive of glass polishes and pads. I mention this so that readers can be realistic in what they can achieve with glass polishing. For that reason, polishing glass is more about deep cleaning the surface to improve clarity rather than removing scratches.

With that said, how do you polish glass? Just like paint, glass can be tackled in various forms of aggression. And also like paint, you can polish glass by hand or machine. I would also say that prep is key, so decontaminating exterior glass with iron removers and a clay bar is advisable if the glass is neglected.

Hand Polishing -

The first product that comes to mind in terms of hand polishing would be something like Autoglym Car Glass Polish. This is a non-aggressive option and is a deep cleaning solution designed for use by hand on exterior and interior glass. It is not suitable for use with window tinting, as in the film type, factory darkened glass will be fine. I really like how simple and easy this product is to use, simply apply to a towel and then working in circular motions across the glass. Leave it to dry and then buff away. The only drawback to this product is the dusting.

P&S Clarity Creme is another glass polish able to be used by hand. Use in conjunction with a foam or microfiber applicator.

Machine Polishing -

The next options involve more aggressive forms of polishing and are generally only suited to exterior glass surfaces. Because of the hardness of glass, you can safely skip finishing polishes and pads that you would normally start with on paint. Using more serious cutting compounds and pads will maximise your results, especially when using some sort of DA or Rotary machine.

But first, here are a couple of considerations to make when using a polisher on glass –

-Mask up the rubber and plastic trims surrounding the glass to protect them from staining.

-Another tip I learned from fellow forum member fordomatic is to lay a towel across the windscreen cowl to catch the dust and compound splatter, saving time on the clean up afterwards.

-Keep it moving! Try not to hammer down on one spot for too long, heat is the enemy here and the last thing you want is cracked glass. You don’t really need to be as methodical with your movements with glass either.

-If you don’t have a micro or nano polisher, you may need to cut in around the edges by hand so that you get an even, consistent finish.

If your glass is not heavily water spotted or is in otherwise decent shape, you can use a medium grade compound like Scholl S20 Black, Sonax Perfect Finish, Sonax Cutmax or the above-mentioned P&S Clarity Creme on a foam or wool cutting pad. Think Shine Mate yellow or green foam, Lake Country SDO Blue foam or Rupes Fine yellow wool. Using these combo’s will easily deep clean glass, removing minor water spotting and improve clarity.

The next level of glass polishing is to use a cerium oxide based product like Carpro CeriGlass, which is able to remove heavy water spotting, heavy contamination and heavier marks. These are best used on a Rayon glass pad which are thinner and help limit heat build-up.

From experience, CeriGlass is definitely a product that can be tricky to use. You need to mindful of supplemental water applications to keep the pad and glass cool, it dusts and splatters a lot and can be a pain to remove from the glass once you are done. The work is worth it though, CeriGlass will deliver the most improvement to neglected glass.

A couple of CeriGlass tips –

-Have a spray bottle with water handy to mist the glass before starting and after your passes. This helps with heat management and the removal process.

-CeriGlass can be used on a rotary or DA machine, or by hand using the Carpro polishing block supplied in the kit.

-To get the corners, edges or hard to reach areas done, you may need to do this by hand or with a micro/nano polisher.

-Masking is not optional with CeriGlass, the product is messy and will damage rubber trims if not protected by masking. Do your best to avoid getting it onto the surrounding paint.

-When removing the residue, I used a damp dowel and water to wipe off the bulk, followed by a second wipe over with Carpro Eraser or glass cleaner.

Having used CeriGlass a few times now, I can say that It’s a pain to use. Think of it as a sledgehammer, useful to have when nothing else will get the job done. For most, a regular polishing compound or P&S Clarity Cream will be sufficient to get glass looking great.

Now that you have the glass polished and deep cleaned, you are now ready to apply some sort of sealant or coating.

 

[Nodster]

Great stuff! If you ever get the chance also try out Gtechniq G6 Perfect Glass. I alternate between that, Q2M and Stoner. I often use Stoner with Rain Repelant on the exterior and then Q2M or G6 for the interior glass and touch screens.

 

[20ducks]

If the interior glass isn't prepped with a mixture of IPA/RODI water before cleaning then destiny will control the quality of the outcome.

 

[aham23]

great stuff and fantastic quality pics.

i found the the towel combo made the biggest difference in myself. so far the RAG Co combo of Dry Me a River (to clean) then Edgeless Pearl to buff is currently working well.

 

[DrZed]

Appreciate you posting all this! I tried 99% iso alcohol in a spray bottle and where has that been all my life! Have you tried just that? I couldn't believe how effective and almost no streaking. Plus it is so cheap!

 

[DFB5.0]

Appreciate you posting all this! I tried 99% iso alcohol in a spray bottle and where has that been all my life! Have you tried just that? I couldn't believe how effective and almost no streaking. Plus it is so cheap!

Would you believe I am currently struggling with foggy interior windows on my daily driver? See, glass can be a pain even for the "experts".

I'm actually going to use straight IPA next time I clean the car, for whatever reason, my normal go-to's just aren't cutting it.

 

[DrZed]

Would you believe I am currently struggling with foggy interior windows on my daily driver? See, glass can be a pain even for the "experts".

I'm actually going to use straight IPA next time I clean the car, for whatever reason, my normal go-to's just aren't cutting it.

It's incredible how effective it is! I tried just pouring out onto a rag, but the spray bottle works better for me. I did find that I needed to make sure I did a quick wipe of the dash after, IPA seemed to leave spots on some dashes if I didn't wipe it down.

I also wiped down the exterior of the glass with IPA as well. It literally looked like somebody had removed the glass in the car when I first went for a drive after. Amazing how much fog we get used to on the inside.

Thanks for all your work testing stuff out for us. Reminds me of project farm youtube channel.

 

[PC_GUARD]

Would you believe I am currently struggling with foggy interior windows on my daily driver? See, glass can be a pain even for the "experts".

I'm actually going to use straight IPA next time I clean the car, for whatever reason, my normal go-to's just aren't cutting it.

Thats all I use. Ipa blue shop paper towel. I have expensive window film and paranoid to discolor it

 

[aham23]

Adams Brilliant glaze applied to the inside of my windshield made the glass disappear. Amazing how clear it is now. We get that fog like filth on the windshield from the AZ Heat, but not anymore.

 

[MAGS1]

Stoner Invisible Glass is my go-to. I see they have a glass coating now, anyone tried it? Thinking of giving it a shot

 

[20ducks]

... We get that fog like filth on the windshield from the AZ Heat, but not anymore.

Much of the "fog" comes from the dashboard plastic degassing.

 

[shogun32]

Much of the "fog" comes from the dashboard plastic degassing.

and takes some elbow grease to get off.

 

[DFB5.0]

Glass Protection Products

Cleaned, de-contaminated and polished, it’s now time to add some protection to the glass.

There are practical and functional reasons why it’s nice to have your glass coated and protected. Protected glass improves the cleaning process, reduces the need for the wipers and helps resist contamination. All of that is about improving vision, and therefore safety. Aesthetically, a glass sealant is just another one of those small touches that improves the look of the car overall.

There are three main ways to add a protective coating to glass –

-Spray Sealants like Carpro Reload, NV Nova Jet, P&S Bead Maker or Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Detailer. These are the quickest and easiest to apply and require little technique to install, simply spray and wipe with a towel. Longevity will be minimal, but the ease of application makes these options attractive, especially when used as a drying aid after a wash, killing two birds with one stone if you like. Bead Maker in particular is very good in this arena.

-Mid Strength Glass Coatings like Gyeon Q2 Quick View and Gtechniq G5. These products have 3–4-month durability and offer water repellency on a different level to the above spray coatings. Application is simple and easy, more on that shortly.

-Glass Ceramic Coatings like Gyeon View, Carpro FlyBy Forte or Gtechniq G1. These are ceramic coatings designed to better deal with the abrasion from windshield wipers and offer increased chemical resistance. These coatings last for up to 2 years and application is more methodical.

The success of glass specific products is all down to the prep. If you have followed this series so far, claying and then polishing the glass will lead to an optimal surface for the product to adhere to. At the very least, clay the glass and then clean with an alcohol-based prep spray like Gyeon Prep or Carpro Eraser. How often you use the wipers, environmental conditions and vehicle storage will play a role in determining how long a glass sealant or glass coating will last. You will also notice your chosen product will fail on the windshield quicker than the side glass.

Product Example – Gyeon Q2 Quick View

Gyeon Q2 QUICKVIEW (detailingshed.com.au) (AUS)
Gyeon Q² Quick View | Glass Sealant (cleanyourcar.co.uk) (UK)
Gyeon Q2 Quickview (autogeek.net) (USA)

I have been using Quick View since it was released in late 2021 and really like it’s ease of use and performance. Longevity is said to be up to 6-months, which will be very use case dependent. On a daily driven car parked outdoors 100% of the time and heavy use of the wipers, I observed approximately 6 weeks. On a garage parked daily driver with “careful” use of the wipers and regular topping with a drying aid, I’m clocking up 10 months and counting.

The big plus for Quick View is the speedy and simply application. Prep the glass by claying, polish if necessary. Follow up with a wipe down with a Prep Spray like Carpro Eraser or Gyeon Prep.

The bottle has an integrated felt applicator. Remove the cap, squeeze to release the product and then wipe over the glass in circular motions.

Apply to all exterior glass and leave it to cure for 20 minutes. To remove the residue, soak a towel in water and ring it out until damp and then start wiping. I then follow up with my normal glass cleaning procedure to deliver a streak free finish, using two clean towels and a glass cleaner. (The glass cleaner won’t strip the product.)

The end result is extreme hydrophobicity, reducing reliance on the wipers, and crystal clear vision out. To maintain Quick View, top with your drying aid after each wash.

 

[20ducks]

Much for outside glass, what about the major issue: interiorglass?

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