man and woman resting on vehicle's windshield

How To Clean Your Car’s Windshield In 3 Easy Steps

May 2022

Knowing how to clean your vehicle’s windshield might not seem like a big deal, but the truth is that it takes just a few minutes and can make a big difference when it comes to safety. That’s why it’s essential to keep your windshield clean and clear all year long. This may be especially important during winter when snow and ice can quickly turn your windshield into a mess, or if you drive around sunrise or sunset, when the sun’s reflection can make vision pretty much impossible.

Apart from safety, another good reason to have a clean windshield is to keep in tune with the rest of your car. You can’t have a vehicle that just had a ceramic coating-fix feature a windshield with bird droppings, bug guts, and whatever else would stick on it.

As with anything else, the best way to clean a windshield is to take it step-by-step while also ensuring you have the proper materials and tools at your disposal.

Here are three easy steps you can follow if you want to learn how to clean your windshield the right way:

3 Easy Steps To Getting Your Windshield Sparkling Clean

1. Prep The Materials

Before getting down to the nitty-gritty, let’s take a look at the kind of tools, products, and materials you’ll need to turn your car’s windshield into invisible glass. Here’s what you’ll need to master how to clean the windshield like a pro:

Microfiber cloth - A premium cloth is a must when cleaning all car surfaces. It will not remove the wax or paint from the car, but it will protect it from any scratches that might happen during the cleaning process.

A professional glass cleaner - Nexgen Glass Cleaner is ammonia-free and does a great job removing dirt, fingerprints, rain spots, residue, grime, bird droppings, and bug guts. Ammonia-based cleaners will typically damage your car’s surface.

Rubbing alcohol - Just like vinegar, rubbing alcohol has the power to break down any greasy streaks found on your windshield.

2. Cleaning The Interior Windshield

When it comes to cleaning the interior windshield, there are quite a few different things that you can do. First and foremost, it’s important to get rid of any dirt and debris that has collected in and around its edges.

This is particularly true if you have kids or pets, as there’s a good chance that they'll end up leaving behind some crumbs or hairballs. Once you’ve removed all of the dirt and debris from around the windshield's edges, you can turn your attention to cleaning the glass itself.

Start by wiping the windshield down with a microfiber towel to ensure there isn’t any dirt left — an essential step for anyone looking to learn how to clean a windshield.
If there’s any grease or oily residue left on the glass, the best way to remove it is to wipe it down with rubbing alcohol, using a different dry microfiber towel.
Spray Nexgen Glass Cleaner on the clean side of your microfiber towel and use it in circular motions to clean the glass.
Make sure to completely dry the glass, so no streaks are left behind. This is it. The last step of the process — you should now have a squeaky clean inside windshield.

You can go through this process by taking turns. Sit in the passenger seat and do that side of the window, and then switch to the driver's seat and repeat.

3. Cleaning The Exterior Windshield

When cleaning the exterior of your windshield, it’s important to avoid excessive pressure and/or using abrasive cleaning products or tools.

woman applying the best way to clean a windshield

Start by lifting both windshield wipers and have them pointing up.
Rinse off excess dirt and grime with a hose or pressure washer. If using the latter, be sure to use the low-pressure setting to avoid damaging your windshield. If you don’t have access to a pressure washer, a hose will work fine. Just be sure to avoid using extremely cold or hot water so as to not crack the glass.
Then, use a rag or paper towel to wipe off any remaining dirt and grime.
Spray one half of the windshield with your Nexgen Glass Cleaner and then wipe down vertically. Repeat the process and wipe horizontally this time — this ensures maximum efficiency in clearing the glass of any contaminants.
Let’s not forget about the wipers as well, since the grooves in their rubber can accumulate quite a lot of dirt. While still in an upward position, wipe them really well using a glass cleaner.
Finish by using another dry microfiber towel to dry out the entire windshield. Use small circular motions and avoid touching your fingers on the glass.

Now that you know how to clean the windshield of your car, you can go through these exact steps each time you need to repeat the process. While you’re at it, you can use the same materials and techniques to clean all your car's windows.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, learning how to clean your windshield isn't that complicated. It can be done in a few easy steps and will help you keep your vehicle looking its best. So next time you're out and about, take advantage of this simple DIY guide and enjoy a safe ride.

When it comes to choosing the right tools for cleaning and detailing your car, at Nexgen, all our products are engineered to provide only the best results and ease of use. Browse our best-sellers and interior and exterior car care ranges.

If you try and love our products, you can easily become a VIP and enjoy free 2-day shipping. If you have any questions, get in touch, we’ll be happy to help.