Windshield Cleaning

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JoeS

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By far, I consider cleaning the inside of its windshield to be the most onerous maintenance task on the i-MiEV. I never appreciated how wonderfully tiny and accessible is the windshield of my venerable '67 Saab. When I got the Tesla with its even-more sloping windshield, I groaned, but at least it's smaller than the i-MiEVs. I figured that perhaps Tesla owners are a bit more cosmetically-obsessed than I am, so I attacked their monster website where, sure enough, found a bunch of threads on the subject with a brilliant solution - I tried it, it works!, and simply must share...

The tool that does the trick is this thing, as it allows one to reach everywhere without too much contorting:

http://www.invisibleglass.com/Products/automotive/tool

Some evidently have two of these tools: one for application and one for buffing the windshield.

The spray liquid those guys swear by is this (comes in spray can or bottle), with evidently the same product in different packages also marketed for home and commercial use:

http://www.invisibleglass.com/Products/automotive/trigger

Brand name is Stoner. Both the tool and cleaner are available online or Walmart or auto stores (I never paid attention).

I lay an old towel over the dashboard before I spray the windshield. Although there are some instructions in the box with the tool and even if you're not compulsive, the Tesla people have some procedures outlined on the Tesla Owners Club forum, with the only caveat being to apply the stuff when it's cool and not out in the warm sun. Those guys are even worse than us at starting new threads, with this one being perhaps the best:

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/windshield-so-difficult-to-clean.66655/#post-1440030

For cleaning the outside of the windshield or rear window, I've never had any problem with this quick and simple technique: wash the window with a wet soapy towel and squeegee off with a Silicone T-bar Water Blade (used to be called a California Squeegee), with a dry cleanup towel to catch the residue and a microfibre cloth for touch-up. I had used this squeegee for years while cruising on my catamaran and its expansive windows. This squeegee is also great if you leave the car outside and need to clear off the dew in the morning. For the car, I got the one with a short handle.

http://originalwaterblade.com/us/product-category/waterblades/

Disclaimer: I have no financial stake in any of these products.

At least, this maintenance task is now less-onerous. Never thought I'd open a thread on this simplistic topic... ;)
 
All the windows are easy to clean, except the inside of the windshield, but that applies to just about any relatively modern car.

Invisible Glass is one of the better cleaners I've used. I haven't tried any of their tools yet, just the spray can window cleaner. And yes, a cooler windshield makes it easier as the stuff doesn't evaporate nearly as quickly.

What I do is wash and wax the car really good at the start of summer and clean the windows inside and out with Invisible Glass, then further washings consist of only water and either a mini-fiber towel (not really a micro fiber towel and not sure what else to call it) or a very soft bristle car brush, depending on how thorough I want to be or how much time I have. I then towel dry the entire car. As long as I dry the windows before the water evaporates, I don't get spots, and when it rains, the water beads up and runs off the windows similar to how Rain-X treated windows behave.

I will be checking out the tools you posted. I already use the cleaner, but haven't tried any tools and instead lean over so far as to be almost upside down and clean the windshield that way.

(I get annoyed when reading some of the threads on TMC. They are ridiculously long, and it's mostly the different members going back and forth on stuff that's barely on topic or has been covered several times earlier in the thread. On top of that, there's only a few pages that actually contain the info I'm looking for. The last thread I read on there only contained about a dozen relevant posts, and the other 26 pages was back and forth nitpicking. Makes me really grateful that we mostly agree on this forum and don't go back and forth endlessly repeating each other on every thread.)
 
Wait . . . Tesla owners clean their own windshields? I would have thought all they have to do is call the company on the 800 line and someone would fly out in a helicopter to the location and do it for you! :lol:

But seriously . . . The trick I use on window glass (car or otherwise) is crumpled up old newspaper and over-the-counter household glass cleaner. It seems counter-intuitive, but the old newsprint will address spots and streaking better that a clean fabric cloth. I may try that triangular pad applicator wand on the inside of the i-MiEV's windshield , though, as getting into the tight spots there is always the tough part. Any Armour All that happens to get on the glass when treating the dashboard can also cause a lot of extra glass cleaning work in that area.
 
I found myself a small plastic storage tub that is about the size of the wells on the sides of the trunk, and this glass cleaner https://wheelstips.com/best-windshield-cleaner-for-inside-car which is where I keep it. In it I is a spray bottle of straight water, bottle of ammonia-free windex, roll of paper towels, several microfiber cloths, and a small squeegee. That gives me the supplies to do most any clean-up job, including paper towels to clean up my hands when I'm done. Plastic storage tub helps keep everything secure and not slipping down into the lower center well, etc.

I also have a very fine weave microfiber cloth that I keep inside the car and use for removing fingerprints/smudges from the main display. Is material like used for most eyeglasses cleaning cloths, although much larger. I find I can use it without any liquid and typically polish away any accumulation of finger prints every couple weeks.
 
JoeS said:
The tool that does the trick is this thing, as it allows one to reach everywhere without too much contorting:

http://www.invisibleglass.com/Products/automotive/tool

Some evidently have two of these tools: one for application and one for buffing the windshield.
Good idea, but if ever there was a $5 'tool' being mass marketed at 4X the price it should sell for, this has got to be it! - I'd wager a weeks pay these were less than 99 cents when they left China

Don
 
Here you can buy the tool for 99 cents (with free shipping) . . . . or, for 4 bucks, you can get the tool and 6 different colored microfiber covers to go with it, so you won't have to spend $40 to have one to apply and another one to polish!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microfiber-Windshield-Clean-Cloth-Car-Auto-Wiper-Cleaner-Glass-Window-Tool-FEJ/323199307091?hash=item4b402e0d53:m:m_4S-i054gq6K6lfOsUqkkw:rk:20:pf:0

There are dozens of similar tools on eBay from 99 cents on up = Search 'Windshield Cleaning Tool'

Don
 
Don said:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microfiber-Windshield-Clean-Cloth-Car-Auto-Wiper-Cleaner-Glass-Window-Tool-FEJ/323199307091?hash=item4b402e0d53:m:m_4S-i054gq6K6lfOsUqkkw:rk:20:pf:0

There are dozens of similar tools on eBay from 99 cents on up = Search 'Windshield Cleaning Tool'

Don

I believe that's the price for cloth only, without the tool.
 
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