For clear glass, we recommend a dedicated cleaner such as Stjarnagloss Glas, two clean glass cloths such as FibreKing Gold Label Korean Glass Cloths, and a cool surface out of direct sun. Use one cloth to lift the film and the other to finish dry. Work on the inside and outside separately, using only enough cleaner to do the job.
How do you clean car windows without streaks?
With a proper glass cleaner, cloths kept only for glass and a dry buff. Clean glass is the part of a detail you notice every time you drive, and streaky glass is the part you notice most, especially at night or into a low sun, so keep wax and dressing off your glass cloths.
We explain how to remove interior haze and road film, then compare glass cleaners and glass cloths by the job they need to do. A clean cloth and a careful final pass often solve more than another spray of cleaner.
Why do car windows streak?
We would check the cloth and the working conditions first. A contaminated cloth spreads residue instead of removing it, while hot glass dries the cleaner too quickly. Common causes include:
- Hot glass or direct sun, which dries the cleaner before you can wipe it off.
- A cloth that has picked up wax, polish, tyre dressing or fabric softener and now smears it around.
- Too much product, which leaves more residue than the cloth can lift.
- The oily film that builds up on the inside of the windscreen, which takes more than one pass to clear.
What you need
Choose a plain glass cleaner for routine cleaning or diagnosis of smears. A hydrophobic formula adds a water-repellent finish, so check compatibility with your glass, tint and any existing treatment.
A glass cleaner
A glass cleaner that Stjarnagloss designed for glass and clear plastics.
A dedicated glass cleaner that cuts through grime without damaging a hydrophobic glass coating or rain repellent. It is made for traffic film, oils, fingerprints, dirt and contamination, inside and outside the glass.
An instantly hydrophobic glass cleaner. It leaves a highly hydrophobic layer that improves visibility and reduces wiper chatter, on coated glass to top it up or on uncoated glass as part of regular cleaning.
A cleaner with an added hydrophobic finish. Check the current product and surface-care instructions before applying it to tint, mirrors or plastic.
A solvent-based glass cleaner that leaves automotive glass streak-free.
Glass cloths
Glass cloths have a tighter, flatter weave than general cloths, so they lift residue instead of pushing it around:
FibreKing Gold Label Korean Glass Cloths
40 x 40cm, with a 2mm sponge layer inside. The high density, pile-free weave removes moisture, dust and fingerprints without leaving streaks or lint.
40 x 40cm, 350 GSM, woven with carbon fibre threads that give better static control.
40 x 40cm, 300 GSM, made for glass.
Our guide to the best microfibre cloths for cars explains how to wash and look after them.
How do you clean the outside of car windows?
Wash the car first, then work in the shade with the cleaner on the cloth and buff dry. Washing car windows without streaks comes down to clean cloths and cool glass.
- Wash the car first: so you are not dragging grit across the glass. Our guide on how to wash your car safely covers it.
- Find some shade: work on cool glass.
- Spray the cloth: put the cleaner on the cloth rather than the glass. For CarPro Clarify, use 1 or 2 sprays onto a glass cloth.
- Wipe firmly: clean the glass with the damp cloth using firm pressure.
- Buff dry: flip the cloth to a clean, dry side, or use a second dry cloth, and buff away any residue.
- Check the wipers: follow the vehicle's lifting or service-position instructions, then gently remove loose dirt with a damp cloth. Do not scrub away a blade's surface coating. Replace damaged or worn blades if cleaning does not resolve the smear.
How do you clean the inside of the windscreen?
To clean the windscreen without streaks on the inside, spray the cloth, work one half at a time and buff dry. Cleaning inside car windows is harder because of the angle and the oily film that builds up behind the dashboard.
- Spray the cloth, never the glass: so no cleaner runs down onto the dashboard.
- Work in halves: clean one half of the windscreen at a time, reaching in from each front door.
- Change direction: wipe one way on the inside and the other way on the outside, for example across inside and up and down outside. If a streak is left, its direction tells you which side it is on.
- Buff dry: use a dry glass cloth, and a second pass with fresh cloths clears any film that is left.
Should you use a hydrophobic glass cleaner or screen wash?
A hydrophobic product changes how rain behaves on the glass, but it is optional and must suit your existing treatment and wipers. We recommend resolving dirt, residue and worn blades first. If you want added repellency, choose a compatible glass treatment or screen wash and follow its application instructions:
A concentrated screen wash with an added hydrophobic finish. We recommend checking vehicle, tint and coating compatibility, and using the dilution and temperature rating on the current label.
A 1:100 screen wash concentrate, so 25ml makes 2.5 litres and the 250ml bottle makes 25 litres. It is intended for summer road film and insects. We would switch to a suitably frost-rated winter fluid when freezing temperatures are possible.
Before winter, check that the screen wash in your reservoir protects against frost.
Glass products compared
| Product | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stjarnagloss Glas | Glass cleaner | For glass and clear plastics |
| CarPro Clarify | Glass cleaner | Safe on coated glass and rain repellent, inside and outside |
| CarPro Clarify Phobic | Hydrophobic glass cleaner | Leaves a hydrophobic layer, reduces wiper chatter |
| VP-UK Glass Cleaner | Glass cleaner | Hydrophobic seal, safe on tint and plastic |
| VP-UK Ceramic Washer Fluid | Screen wash concentrate | Hydrophobic coating, safe on tinted windscreens |
| Sonax XTREME Clear View | Screen wash concentrate | 1:100, 250ml makes 25 litres |
Common questions
What if window streaks won't come off?
First establish which side the streak is on, then try a compatible glass cleaner with fresh cloths. We recommend a second light cleaning pass rather than more pressure. Persistent marks may be mineral deposits, worn wipers or an uneven glass treatment, each of which needs a different solution.
Can you clean car windows without glass cleaner?
Plain water and a clean glass cloth will lift light dust, but water alone does not cut through the oily road film and interior haze that cause most streaks. A cleaner made for car glass gives the streak-free finish.
How do you dry car windows without streaks?
Buff with a clean, dry glass cloth straight after wiping, before the cleaner dries. After a wash, dry the glass with a glass cloth or waffle weave towel rather than a towel that has been used on wax or dressing.
If a clear screen smears again as soon as the wipers move, work through our windscreen-smearing checks.
Compare plain cleaning formulas and water-repellent options in our car-glass cleaner guide.
Need help choosing?
Tell the TDHQ team what you need to clear, from road film to an oily inside screen, and we will point you to the right products. You can also browse every glass cleaner, screen wash and glass cloth we stock, or read the correct order to detail a car, where glass comes last.
Last updated 16 October 2026.
