Glass Surface Cleaning
04-12-2007, 07:09 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: London,UK / Florida US State- Dazed & Confused
Posts: 863
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Glass Surface Cleaning
One of the most often asked questions “How do I clean Glass and not leave streaks”? (Second is Leather care)
Glass Cleaning Cloth:
This Microfiber 18” x 18” (Norwex) glass cleaning cloth has a super tight knit, lint free, cross-weave construction traps and collects water and is so effective (use damp) at cleaning glass that often a glass cleaner chemical (Stoner’s Invisible Glass) isn't even necessary. It features a very low-pile cut in a zigzag pattern, which literally attracts and removes off gassing, residue, smudges and oily fingerprints. Its efficient cleaning action is truly a time saver Norwex Glass Cleaning Towel
Alternative Product:
a) Cobra Waffle Weave Glass Towel - http://www.autogeek.net/ww1627.html
b) Lint-Free Surgical Towels http://towelsbydoctorjoe.com/5.htm:
c) Ultra-51 Glass Towel- It has no nap, making it very similar to a huck towel but with the added benefit of Microfiber technology - http://www.towelsbydoctorjoe.com/3.htm
Paper towels and most newspaper are currently recycled, and most are formulated with adhesives, which class cleaners will break down leaving a tacky reside and paper ‘lint’ on the glass surface. The inks used and some chemicals can allow ink transfer to the glass. Newspaper inks are now water-based (unlike the older oil-based they will not polish glass) But they will stain your hand black (they dissolve with body heat) so be careful what surfaces you touch after handling newspaper (fabric, leather, plastic, etc) as they may stain.
Caution: do not use products that contain ammonia, as it is very harmful to vinyl, plastic and rubber. It will cause plastic to ‘yellow’ and become clouded and it will also turn Mylar (plastic) window tint purple.
Some people prefer to use plain water to clean their windows. While this is a very safe method, water is not enough of a solvent to cut the protein base of stubborn grease / grime spots
Glass Surface Conditions:
a)Stage One Corrosion [: defined as glass with light corrosion, with little or no damage to the glass]
b)Stage Two Corrosion [: definition when the corrosion deposits are no longer on the surface of the glass, but have started to break down the molecular structure, leaving an etched or white haze on the glass after the stain has been removed
Cleaning Exterior Glass (Stage One Surface Corrosion):
Methodology (a):
•Wash glass surface to remove dirt, dust and etc, then use Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) or Stoners Invisible Glass™ and fine grade bronze wool (http://www.briwax-online.com) will quickly and efficiently cut through the toughest dirt
•Apply clay (Magic Clay®) and lubricant solution (WooliteTM / Water 5:1) onto the glass surface (Do not apply to plastic as dulling may occur.)
•Before cleaning door glass, open the widow half way. Clean the top and the leading edge of the glass as these usually sit in the door window tracks.
•Wash off any residue from glass and dry with a damp waffle weave towel
•Before you clean the vehicle exterior mirrors use a `shot' of canned air to remove any water from the rear of the mirror housing and avoid any water running on to the paintwork. Use a non-abrasive glass cleaner (Stoners Invisible GlassTM) on the mirrors
•Apply 303 Wiper TreatmentTM to the wiper blades to clean, restore suppleness, eliminate wiper noise or `skipping' and to avoid glass smearing
•Use a California Water Blade or a clean damp 100% cotton Microfiber towel to remove water from glass or plastic surfaces
•Apply a polish / chemical cleaner (Klasse All-In-One or Zaino PC Fusion) to exterior glass
•Drying Pattern- use a different drying pattern for interior / exterior glass surfaces (i.e. horizontal for interior and vertical for exterior) utilizing this technique you can easily determine the location of any streaking.
[I]MaintenanceStoners Invisible GlassTM, Iz Einszett Glass Cleaner (Scheibenklar), BTI Chemicals Plexus® Glass Polish & Cleaner, Z-12 Clear-View Glass Polishor Iz Einszett Glass Cleaner (Scheibenklar) are all safe for use on tinted (Mylar) glass A Norwex glass cleaning cloth collects water and is so effective (use damp) at cleaning glass that often a glass cleaner chemical isn't even necessary.
Cleaning Interior glass:
Wipe glass with a damp waffle weave towel; apply Stoners Invisible GlassTM, to 100% cotton Microfiber cloth and rub glass surface with a light to medium pressure (it will dry streak-free / lint-free)
Use Plexus to polish and protect the tint. It will seal the tint material (Mylar) and keep it clean, Plexus is non-static, non-streaking, and it dries crystal clear.
Rear window (Glass)
Use a Glass Master™, it has two swivel paddle heads that fit on to a handle and comes with three bonnets, terry, and Microfiber and bug scrubber, allowing access to sloped rear window glass. Apply Stoners Invisible GlassTM with a light to medium pressure to the glass surfaces (it will dry streak-free / lint-free)
Windshield Haze or ‘Fog’:
The vinyl used on vehicle dashboards contain plasticizers, these low molecular weight compounds maintain semi-rigid vinyl’s flexibility. The vinyl used in modern vehicle interiors vent (out-gassing) these are the plasticizers evaporating (more prevalent on newer vehicles or a dash with freshly applied vinyl dressing) Crack open vehicle windows when parked to allow the gasses to vent.
UV and heat radiation will also cause the plasticizers to dry out, resulting in a chemical film that when combined with road oils, dirt and grease introduced via by the vehicles a/c system results in a stubborn haze or fog that forms a cohesive bond with the interior glass surfaces.
Glass cleaning Methodology
•Use Stoners Invisible Glass TM in a trigger spray bottle and mist the entire glass surface
•Allow the wetted surface dwell time, to enable the chemicals to break down the deposits that have out gassed from the vinyl, any smoke residue, or road dirt/grime that has entered via the AC system
•Use two glass cleaning towels (or clean surgical towels) folded into quarters, use one to agitate the wetted surface, the second to dry the surface and pick up any residue.
•Always use the second towel in the opposite direction that you agitated with, this small difference reduces a lot of problems.
•If after cleaning there is still a persistent ‘fog / haze’ pour some Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) on to a clean dry cloth and agitate the surface film, fold towel to a clean surface and remove residue
Alternative Glass Cleaning Process:
Use dedicated Lint-Free Surgical Towels, they have a tight cotton herringbone weave that is ideal for hard surfaces like glass (http://towelsbydoctorjoe.com/5.htm:) Fold both towels (one for washing, one for drying) in half and then half again Mist the glass surface with 1:1 ratio of distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
As with all chemicals they must be allowed a certain amount of time to work (dwell) so leave area to soak for a few minutes and then start on the next glass surface, agitate the first area with the towel, dry the glass with the second towel by agitating in the opposite direction than that used in the cleaning, and repeat for second glass surface and etc. For each section of glass use a clean side of the folded towel
Always wash Lint-Free Surgical Towels separately and do not use fabric softeners but add a teaspoon per towel distilled white vinegar in place of a softener, the vinegar doesn't coat the fibres but instead works to eliminate detergent residue and the acid counteracts any alkaline minerals in the water supply. Vinegar (Acetic acid, pH=2) works well in the rinse cycle to make your towels softer. Detergent is an alkaline (pH=12, the opposite of acidic on the pH scale).
Glass Cleaning Cloth:
This Microfiber 18” x 18” (Norwex) glass cleaning cloth has a super tight knit, lint free, cross-weave construction traps and collects water and is so effective (use damp) at cleaning glass that often a glass cleaner chemical (Stoner’s Invisible Glass) isn't even necessary. It features a very low-pile cut in a zigzag pattern, which literally attracts and removes off gassing, residue, smudges and oily fingerprints. Its efficient cleaning action is truly a time saver Norwex Glass Cleaning Towel
Alternative Product:
a) Cobra Waffle Weave Glass Towel - http://www.autogeek.net/ww1627.html
b) Lint-Free Surgical Towels http://towelsbydoctorjoe.com/5.htm:
c) Ultra-51 Glass Towel- It has no nap, making it very similar to a huck towel but with the added benefit of Microfiber technology - http://www.towelsbydoctorjoe.com/3.htm
Paper towels and most newspaper are currently recycled, and most are formulated with adhesives, which class cleaners will break down leaving a tacky reside and paper ‘lint’ on the glass surface. The inks used and some chemicals can allow ink transfer to the glass. Newspaper inks are now water-based (unlike the older oil-based they will not polish glass) But they will stain your hand black (they dissolve with body heat) so be careful what surfaces you touch after handling newspaper (fabric, leather, plastic, etc) as they may stain.
Caution: do not use products that contain ammonia, as it is very harmful to vinyl, plastic and rubber. It will cause plastic to ‘yellow’ and become clouded and it will also turn Mylar (plastic) window tint purple.
Some people prefer to use plain water to clean their windows. While this is a very safe method, water is not enough of a solvent to cut the protein base of stubborn grease / grime spots
Glass Surface Conditions:
a)Stage One Corrosion [: defined as glass with light corrosion, with little or no damage to the glass]
b)Stage Two Corrosion [: definition when the corrosion deposits are no longer on the surface of the glass, but have started to break down the molecular structure, leaving an etched or white haze on the glass after the stain has been removed
Cleaning Exterior Glass (Stage One Surface Corrosion):
Methodology (a):
•Wash glass surface to remove dirt, dust and etc, then use Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) or Stoners Invisible Glass™ and fine grade bronze wool (http://www.briwax-online.com) will quickly and efficiently cut through the toughest dirt
•Apply clay (Magic Clay®) and lubricant solution (WooliteTM / Water 5:1) onto the glass surface (Do not apply to plastic as dulling may occur.)
•Before cleaning door glass, open the widow half way. Clean the top and the leading edge of the glass as these usually sit in the door window tracks.
•Wash off any residue from glass and dry with a damp waffle weave towel
•Before you clean the vehicle exterior mirrors use a `shot' of canned air to remove any water from the rear of the mirror housing and avoid any water running on to the paintwork. Use a non-abrasive glass cleaner (Stoners Invisible GlassTM) on the mirrors
•Apply 303 Wiper TreatmentTM to the wiper blades to clean, restore suppleness, eliminate wiper noise or `skipping' and to avoid glass smearing
•Use a California Water Blade or a clean damp 100% cotton Microfiber towel to remove water from glass or plastic surfaces
•Apply a polish / chemical cleaner (Klasse All-In-One or Zaino PC Fusion) to exterior glass
•Drying Pattern- use a different drying pattern for interior / exterior glass surfaces (i.e. horizontal for interior and vertical for exterior) utilizing this technique you can easily determine the location of any streaking.
[I]MaintenanceStoners Invisible GlassTM, Iz Einszett Glass Cleaner (Scheibenklar), BTI Chemicals Plexus® Glass Polish & Cleaner, Z-12 Clear-View Glass Polishor Iz Einszett Glass Cleaner (Scheibenklar) are all safe for use on tinted (Mylar) glass A Norwex glass cleaning cloth collects water and is so effective (use damp) at cleaning glass that often a glass cleaner chemical isn't even necessary.
Cleaning Interior glass:
Wipe glass with a damp waffle weave towel; apply Stoners Invisible GlassTM, to 100% cotton Microfiber cloth and rub glass surface with a light to medium pressure (it will dry streak-free / lint-free)
Use Plexus to polish and protect the tint. It will seal the tint material (Mylar) and keep it clean, Plexus is non-static, non-streaking, and it dries crystal clear.
Rear window (Glass)
Use a Glass Master™, it has two swivel paddle heads that fit on to a handle and comes with three bonnets, terry, and Microfiber and bug scrubber, allowing access to sloped rear window glass. Apply Stoners Invisible GlassTM with a light to medium pressure to the glass surfaces (it will dry streak-free / lint-free)
Windshield Haze or ‘Fog’:
The vinyl used on vehicle dashboards contain plasticizers, these low molecular weight compounds maintain semi-rigid vinyl’s flexibility. The vinyl used in modern vehicle interiors vent (out-gassing) these are the plasticizers evaporating (more prevalent on newer vehicles or a dash with freshly applied vinyl dressing) Crack open vehicle windows when parked to allow the gasses to vent.
UV and heat radiation will also cause the plasticizers to dry out, resulting in a chemical film that when combined with road oils, dirt and grease introduced via by the vehicles a/c system results in a stubborn haze or fog that forms a cohesive bond with the interior glass surfaces.
Glass cleaning Methodology
•Use Stoners Invisible Glass TM in a trigger spray bottle and mist the entire glass surface
•Allow the wetted surface dwell time, to enable the chemicals to break down the deposits that have out gassed from the vinyl, any smoke residue, or road dirt/grime that has entered via the AC system
•Use two glass cleaning towels (or clean surgical towels) folded into quarters, use one to agitate the wetted surface, the second to dry the surface and pick up any residue.
•Always use the second towel in the opposite direction that you agitated with, this small difference reduces a lot of problems.
•If after cleaning there is still a persistent ‘fog / haze’ pour some Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) on to a clean dry cloth and agitate the surface film, fold towel to a clean surface and remove residue
Alternative Glass Cleaning Process:
Use dedicated Lint-Free Surgical Towels, they have a tight cotton herringbone weave that is ideal for hard surfaces like glass (http://towelsbydoctorjoe.com/5.htm:) Fold both towels (one for washing, one for drying) in half and then half again Mist the glass surface with 1:1 ratio of distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
As with all chemicals they must be allowed a certain amount of time to work (dwell) so leave area to soak for a few minutes and then start on the next glass surface, agitate the first area with the towel, dry the glass with the second towel by agitating in the opposite direction than that used in the cleaning, and repeat for second glass surface and etc. For each section of glass use a clean side of the folded towel
Always wash Lint-Free Surgical Towels separately and do not use fabric softeners but add a teaspoon per towel distilled white vinegar in place of a softener, the vinegar doesn't coat the fibres but instead works to eliminate detergent residue and the acid counteracts any alkaline minerals in the water supply. Vinegar (Acetic acid, pH=2) works well in the rinse cycle to make your towels softer. Detergent is an alkaline (pH=12, the opposite of acidic on the pH scale).
TOGWT Copyright © 2002-2007. Jon Miller, all rights reserved
