The Best Glass Cleaner Isn't a Glass Cleaner - Here's The Secret To Streak Free Glass
About this episode
Streak-free windshield glass doesn’t come from buying a dedicated glass cleaner—it comes from using deionized or distilled water and controlling how you wipe and dry. The host keeps it simple: “my favorite glass cleaner is very very simple it's a 16 ounce bottle filled with deionized or distilled water that's it that's it.” He explains streaks are usually residue from using too much product or foam that dries too fast on hot glass. For best results, reposition for sun visibility and use consistent towel technique.
I keep getting asked why I don't offer a dedicated glass cleaner… or what my favorite glass cleaner is.
The truth is simple: most of the time, the best glass cleaner is not a glass cleaner at all.
In this episode, I'm breaking down my simple method for getting streak-free car glass using DI water or distilled water in a spray bottle. No foaming glass cleaner. No overcomplicated system. No heavy residue left behind.
Just the right process, the right towel, and a simple approach that works.
I'll also cover why so many glass cleaners streak, why foaming glass cleaners can make the problem worse, how I handle smoker cars or heavy buildup on interior glass, and the towel trick I use when cleaning hot glass in direct sunlight.
In this video, I cover:
- Why I don't currently sell a glass cleaner
- Why DI water or distilled water works so well on car glass
- Why foaming glass cleaners can cause streaking
- How to clean interior windshield haze
- What to do on smoker cars or heavy buildup
- When I use Complete Cabin Cleaner first
- Why the final wipe matters more than the cleaner
- My hot-glass towel trick for direct sunlight
- How to get simple, streak-free glass without overthinking it
Most people don't have a glass cleaner problem. They have a towel problem, a residue problem, or a process problem.
Keep it simple. Clean the glass. Don't leave anything behind.
PRODUCTS TALKED ABOUT:
Bundles: https://jimbosdetailing.com/collections/bundles
The Gloss Boss: https://jimbosdetailing.com/TGB
Tough As Shell Ceramic Spray: https://jimbosdetailing.com/TAS or on Amazon https://amzn.to/4r5UxYr
The Super Soaper: https://jimbosdetailing.com/TSS or on Amazon: https://amzn.to/49KEM2d
Picture Perfect Polish: https://jimbosdetailing.com/PPP or on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4sQWpWu
Microfiber towels: https://jimbosdetailing.com/products/orange-wash-microfiber or https://jimbosdetailing.com/products/everyday-microfiber
Cut & Finish Pad: https://jimbosdetailing.com/products/cut-finish-pad or on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LsxJ69
Finishing Pad: https://jimbosdetailing.com/products/black-finishing-pad or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJNDCPTG
SHOP ALL JIMBO'S DETAILING ON AMAZON: https://amzn.to/3LX3mVE
car glass cleaner, best glass cleaner, clean car windows, streak free glass, windshield cleaning, interior windshield haze, car detailing glass tips, DI water glass cleaner, distilled water glass cleaner, foaming glass cleaner, how to clean car glass, car detailing podcast, auto detailing podcast, Jimbo's Detailing, Complete Cabin Cleaner, Tough As Shell, detailing tips, streak free windshield, glass cleaning hack
Porsche 911
"“I had a customer really nice Porsche 911 he daily drove it… only thing is that I want that my front windshield has to be spotless spotless inside and out…”"
A Porsche 911 is a famous sports car. Here it’s just the example car the host uses to explain why keeping the windshield spotless matters for seeing clearly.
The Porsche 911 is a rear-engine sports car known for its iconic shape and driver-focused design. In this episode, it’s used as a real-world example of a daily-driven car where the owner cares most about having spotless windshield glass for clear visibility.
deionized
"“...the answer is usually the simplest thing and it really doesn't get any simpler than just deionized”"
Deionized water is water that’s been cleaned so it doesn’t leave mineral spots. Using it helps glass dry without streaks.
Deionized water (often shortened to DI water) has had charged minerals removed, so it leaves far fewer mineral deposits behind. That’s why it’s commonly used in detailing for glass and paint rinses to reduce streaking after drying.
distilled water
"or distilled water and you use so little of it it's crazy the problem I know a lot of people have success with..."
Distilled water is water that’s been purified by boiling and re-condensing it. It’s low in minerals, so it’s less likely to leave streaks behind.
Distilled water is produced by boiling and condensing water vapor, which removes many dissolved minerals. In detailing, that low-mineral water helps prevent residue that can turn into streaks on glass.
foaming aerosol
"and then especially with a foaming aerosol you apply like way too much product onto the window and so the streaks are coming from the residue of the product right..."
A foaming aerosol is a spray product that expands into foam on contact. In glass cleaning, too much foam/product can leave residue as it dries, which then shows up as streaks.
hot glass
"and good luck trying that on hot glass right because then the foam is drying up too quick and then you're really getting streaks..."
If the glass is hot, cleaner dries too quickly. When it dries before you wipe it off well, it can leave streaks.
Hot glass dries faster, which can cause cleaners to evaporate before they’re properly wiped off. That rapid drying increases the chance of residue drying in place, leading to streaks.
towel becomes too saturated
"and then your towels building up with material and once your towel becomes too saturated you get even more streaks..."
If your towel gets overly wet, it can smear the cleaner around instead of soaking it up. That can make streaks worse.
When a microfiber towel becomes too saturated, it can start redistributing cleaner/residue instead of absorbing it cleanly. That can worsen streaking because the towel is no longer effectively picking up and holding the product.
to towel method for glass
"and that's where people develop like this to towel method for glass..."
The two-towel method means using one towel to spread and wipe the cleaner, then a second dry/clean towel to buff it off. That helps stop streaks from leftover cleaner.
The “two-towel” method is a glass-cleaning technique where one towel is used to apply/wipe the cleaner and a second towel is used to buff off residue. The goal is to prevent the same towel from re-depositing product and causing streaks.
ceramic coating
"I don't want you to be worried about you know is the ceramic coating not going to work right or I'm afraid to scratch my car..."
A ceramic coating is a protective layer put on a car’s surfaces. People worry about using the wrong cleaner because it could damage the protection.
A ceramic coating is a protective layer applied to a car’s paint or glass to improve chemical resistance and make dirt easier to remove. Detailers often worry about using the wrong products because some cleaners can degrade coatings or reduce their performance.
microfiber towel
"my first option for a towel when it comes to that is a brand new Costco microfiber towel right so for whatever reason a brand new Costco microfiber towel mixed with deionized water is the best glass cleaning method I've ever found"
A microfiber towel is a special cloth with tiny fibers. It grabs onto grime and oils and helps the glass dry more evenly, which reduces streaks.
Microfiber towels are made of very fine fibers that trap dirt and oils and help spread and lift residue without scratching. In glass cleaning, the towel’s ability to pick up film and then dry evenly is a big factor in avoiding streaks.
two towel method
"I usually don't use a two towel method my first option for a towel when it comes to that is a brand new Costco microfiber towel"
The two towel method is a common detailing workflow where one towel is used to apply or remove cleaner and a second towel is used to buff/dry to prevent residue from being smeared. It’s often used to reduce streaking on glass and mirrors.
heavy buildup
"there is an option if you have like heavy buildup maybe you're dealing with like a smoker ... where you like there's a film on the glass if there's a film on the glass you're gonna have to clear off the film first"
Heavy buildup means there’s a noticeable layer of gunk or film on the glass. If you don’t remove that first, even the best cleaner can still leave streaks.
Heavy buildup refers to a thick layer of contaminants on glass (like residue or film) that can’t be removed effectively just by wiping with cleaner or water. If there’s a visible film, you typically need to remove it first before using a streak-minimizing method like deionized water.
film on the glass
"maybe you're dealing with like a smoker ... where you like there's a film on the glass if there's a film on the glass you're gonna have to clear off the film first"
Film on glass is a thin layer of residue—often from smoke or oils—that sticks to the surface. If you don’t get rid of it first, the glass can still look streaky.
“Film” on glass is a thin, invisible-to-semi-visible coating of oils, smoke residue, or other contaminants. These films can bond to the glass surface, so you often need to remove them before using a low-residue rinse like deionized water.
streaking
"then I always work in different directions so a lot of times what I found is when you're fighting this streaking it's because you're actually wiping the wrong side of the glass"
Streaking is when glass ends up with visible lines or smears after cleaning. It can happen if you wipe in a way that spreads residue instead of removing it.
Streaking is the visible lines or haze left when cleaning glass, usually caused by residue, uneven wiping, or re-depositing contaminants. The host suggests streaking can happen when you wipe the wrong side or direction, not just from the cleaner.
flashes too quick
"this is again where most cleaners will fall apart the product flashes too quick residue bakes into the glass it's just overall really really bad"
“Flashes too quick” means the cleaner dries almost instantly. If it dries before you wipe it off properly, it can leave streaks.
In detailing, “flashes too quick” means the cleaner evaporates (or dries) almost immediately after application. When that happens, it can leave streaks behind because there’s not enough dwell time to lift and then wipe away residue.
residue bakes into the glass
"the product flashes too quick residue bakes into the glass it's just overall really really bad so this is where most cleaners will fall apart"
This means leftover stuff from the cleaner dries onto the glass and sticks there. When it’s heated, it can become much harder to wipe off cleanly.
“Residue bakes into the glass” describes leftover cleaner or contaminants that dry and bond to the glass surface. Heat accelerates this, making the residue harder to remove and more likely to cause persistent streaks.
Costco
"so this is where the Costco brand new again has to be a brand new Costco microfiber not washed not used fresh out of the pack"
They’re saying a microfiber cloth you can buy at Costco works especially well for cleaning glass without streaks. It’s part of their recommended setup.
The speaker recommends a Costco microfiber for streak-free glass cleaning. In this context, the brand is being used as a practical product source that pairs well with deionized-water-based cleaning.
DI water
"I don't know what it is but the DI water combo with the Costco microfiber is perfect it's literally undefeated"
DI water is very “pure” water with minerals removed. Because it doesn’t leave mineral spots behind, it helps glass dry cleaner and clearer.
DI water (deionized water) has had ions removed, so it leaves far fewer mineral deposits behind when it dries. That’s why it’s often used in detailing to reduce spotting and streaks on glass and paint.
ceramic spray tire dressing
"with that if you do want I what I think is the world's best ceramic spray tire dressing wipe on ceramic coating"
This is a product you spray on tires that’s meant to protect them and make them look good longer. “Ceramic” here means the coating is designed to be tougher and more durable than simple shine products.
A “ceramic spray tire dressing” is a tire coating that uses ceramic-based chemistry to create a durable protective layer. Compared with basic dressings, ceramic formulations are often marketed for longer-lasting shine and better resistance to grime.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.