Seriously – there are few things that annoy me as much as driving at night and realizing I can’t even see well. Not because of the weather, not because of my headlights, but because of my really dirty windshield streaking the view. The glare reflects off of the smudges – then I’m squinting like I’ve left my glasses behind. Oh, and if the angle of the oncoming headlights hits it just right? That’s blinding. I would wipe the glass a million times, and every time, the streaks would just come right back like they were waiting for me. It makes night driving more stressful than it is already.
But I finally found a solution. It’s simple, does not involve some $40 cleaner from the auto shop, and most importantly it works! I saw this solution on ChrisFix’s YouTube page and after trying it out, my windshield was bright and streak-free for the first time in forever. I think my husband said it best, “Where has this been all our lives”?
So here’s what you need, and I’ll bet you probably already have everything at home.
Supplies
- A couple microfiber cloths (these are key!)
- A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or rubbing alcohol
- Regular glass cleaner (nothing fancy needed)
The Step by Step Method
Step 1: Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe down the inside of the windshield. Start with circular motions taking the dust and loose stuff off first. Essentially this is the reset.
Step 2: Use a Magic Eraser, dunk it in some warm water, then squeeze it out so it’s just damp, not dripping. Use this to clean the windshield. The Magic Eraser will do the heavy lifting here and pull off the greasy film that has been sitting on the glass (yes, greasy film – this is what causes most of the streaks!). When it’s all done, we will finish up with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to remove any residue.
Step 3: Final step, get your glass cleaner, spray a little bit on a clean microfiber cloth (not directly on the glass, especially if you’re in the car – it just makes too much mess), and wipe down your windshield one last time, and you’re done.
A quick note: If you don’t have a Magic Eraser, don’t freak out; just use rubbing alcohol on a clean microfiber cloth instead! The important part here is just breaking down the greasy film – that is what the glass cleaner can’t do, and why you’re seeing streaks come back when you omit this step.
And that’s it! Three steps, a few supplies, and no more squinting at night. It’s honestly one of those fixes that are so simple you almost don’t believe until you try it.
ChrisFix really has something with this one; I’m already thinking I need to redo every window in my car this weekend, just so they match. To see the process in action, you should really check out his video – it makes it all the more easier!
