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How to Clean Inside Car Windows

Follow these steps to clean glass on the inside and get rid of fingerprints, smudges and the dust generated by your dashboard and upholstery.

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How to clean inside car windowsPhoto: Shutterstock

How to clean inside car windows like the pros

The inside of a car’s windshields and windows are just as worthy of a good cleaning as the outside, especially if your windshield fogs up regularly. Fortunately a good cleaning is pretty simple to achieve, in just a few steps.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Two or more microfibre cloths or a reversible cleaning cloth, with a thick cleaning side and a fine drying side.
  • A reaching tool with a curved head (optional), such as the Xindell extendable windshield reaching/cleaning tool with a 14-1/2-in. reach.
  • Interior glass cleaner. Choose a cleaner that specifies it’s safe for interior use, such as Meguiar’s Perfect Glass, to avoid exposure to chemicals like ammonia while inside your car.
  • Or make your own glass cleaner with equal parts distilled water and isopropyl alcohol, plus a capful of white vinegar.

Here’s how to clean inside car windows in four steps.

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how to clean inside car windows - dry clothPhoto: Veronica Graham/Family Handyman

Step 1: Dry wipe

Wipe the inside car windows with a dry microfibre cloth, working from top to bottom in an up-and-down motion. (Paper towels also work, but microfibre cloths won’t leave pesky fibres behind on the glass.) This prep step removes that nearly invisible filmy layer of dirt and dust particles that stem from the plastic, vinyl and rubber inside the car.

Psst—here’s why car windows have those little black dots.

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how to clean inside car windows - sprayPhoto: Veronica Graham/Family Handyman

Step 2: Add cleaner

Spray the cleaning solution directly onto another microfibre cloth. Just a few spritzes at a time should do the trick. Avoid spraying the cleaner directly onto the glass. Too much cleaner can make the glass hazy.

Learn how to clean your rubber car mats, too.

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how to clean inside car windows - wipePhoto: Veronica Graham/Family Handyman

Step 3: Wipe on cleaner

Rub the cleaner-dampened microfibre cloth in a circulation motion, again working from top to bottom.

Can you guess where the dirtiest part of your car is?

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how to clean inside car windows - reaching toolPhoto: Veronica Graham/Family Handyman

Where a reaching tool comes in handy

The lower corners of the windshields can be tricky and nearly impossible to reach, so a reaching tool may prevent some awkward gymnastics on your part.

Giving your whole cabin a deep clean? Follow our handy car interior cleaning guide.

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How to clean inside car windows - woman wiping windshieldPhoto: Shutterstock

Step 4: Dry glass

Wipe the glass dry with the other side of your dry microfibre cloth, or a fresh one, for a streak-free finish. Repeat steps 2 through 4 until sparkling.

Now that you know how to clean inside car windows, find out 13 cleaning tricks car washers won’t tell you.

The Family Handyman
Originally Published on The Family Handyman