(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best glass care products

For the exterior, here is a copy and paste of a previous post of mine. Everyone may give you slightly different advice as there are many valid ways to do this. This routine has worked very well for me for many years.

• Clean well with soap and water and a good microfiber cloth. (removes all dirt and oil build up.)
  
• Dry it with another cloth. I like a big cotton towel.
  
• Clean with a good oxalic acid based cleaner such as Star Bright hull cleaner, or The works tub and tile cleaner(NOT THE TOILET CLEANER) Applying with a one gallon pump up sprayer works great for me. Rinse well. This removes any rust stains.
  
• Dry again.
  
• Buff with an oxidation remover. I like this one. I apply with a 10 inch random orbital buffer and application bonnet, and remove while still slightly wet with the same buffer and a wool bonnet. In heavily oxidized areas you may need to do this more than once. If you do not have oxidation, feel free to skip this step.
  
• Next buff again with a cleaner wax. I like this one same process as above, but let it dry to a haze before removing.
  
• This will leave you with a clean hull and a nice shine, if you want an even deeper shine, make one more buffing pass with a nice marine wax. I like this one
  
  It sounds like a lot of work, but once I got the process down, I found I could do all of these steps on a entire 23' boat in less than 4 hours, and it leaves it looking like new.
  
  Edit: I forgot to mention, for the outside of the windows I like this stuff. It cleans as well as a normal glass cleaner, and causes any water that hits the windshield to bead up and run off. This is a nice bonus for many boats as they often do not have windshield wipers.

I do something similar, here is my process:

1. Score glass with http://www.amazon.com/Generation-Green-g2-Bottle-Cutter/dp/B004ZRV3AU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344673890&sr=8-1&keywords=wine+bottle+cutter
   
   
2. Heat score mark with tea candle.
   
3. Use very cold tap water to cool down, wipe excess water off with paper towel (the towel will have tiny shards of glass so don't use a towel you will use again).
   
4. Repeat until the glass breaks all the way. If you use very cold water it will break clean about 90% of the time, sometimes glass just does what it wants.
   
5. I take the glass and attach it to a drill. I use a thick strip of cardboard across a buffing back-plate. A hole through the center of the cardboard allows you to use the screw that normally attaches the buffing pad.
   
6. I wrap the cardboard around the sides of the glass and use a lot of rubber bands to keep it in place. Sounds flimsy, but I've never had the cardboard break on me, just keep it dry.
   
7. Buy some diamond sanding pads http://www.amazon.com/3M-6002J-Diamond-Hand-Pads/dp/B004R4KUMI/ref=pd_sim_hi_1 put it in a waterproof plastic container with a low edge.
   
8. Wet down the sanding pad with some water, glove up a hand with a disposable glove, hold the glass in place and grind until you have a perfectly flat surface. Now angle to create a smooth outer edge. Prop the pad up on something in the container and use a corner to grind the inner edge.
   
9. Polish with Cerium Oxide http://www.amazon.com/CRL-Cerium-Oxide-One-Pound/dp/B000KZWDTG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344674583&sr=8-1&keywords=cerium+oxide on a wet sponge.
   
   I started looking at videos like the ones linked on this page and ended up at this process. The tea candle and water method works pretty great, the wet grinding is better as there is no glass dust, the cerium oxide removes all the frosting and makes the glass look very clear.
   
   I hope this helps you get started if you have the desire.
   
   http://imgur.com/TcRgu,bkwEd
   http://imgur.com/TcRgu,bkwEd#1
   http://imgur.com/B3XDy
   
   Sorry I don't have better examples, this is all I have lying around. The good ones I given to friends and family.

Leather cleaner: Chemical guys i think this stuff. You dilute it down a whole lot and it lasts FOREVER.

Interior cleaner: Meg's APC. You can dilute it to different concentrations for a variety of surfaces.

Gauges: Same as interior

Carpets: I got a stiff brush from<parts store> and use that with a vacuum.

Exterior wash: I use some old CG citrus wash clear that i have laying around, but you can't go wrong with anything made for a car (NO DAWN SOAP THAT SHIT STRIPS YOUR PAINT)

Exterior wax: CG XXX is cheap and good. I use Zymol Glasur because I had amazon money available and decided to splurge. Don't use a liquid wax. You should use a sealant before you wax, but after you clay. It wil last longer than any wax can. You can also seal your windows and it will cause water to bead off. I dont use my wipers almost at all.

Tires: this, dilute 1:1 and put in a spray bottle. Use with an applicator.

Wheels: Use a FRESH 2 BUCKETS BOTH WITH GRIT GUARDS! I like raceglaze (or similar) brushes for the faces, and some wheel woolies for the barrels. Seal your wheels with sealant when they're clean. Won't last as long as on paint because of the heat though.

Next time you get glass cleaner, get something else. I use some old cg glassworkz since it can be diluted to 25% or so. Lasts forever.

LMK if you have questions.

I was in your exact spot two weeks ago.

I tried literally everything in this thread except for the razor blade. We found this on amazon: Driven Extreme Duty Glass Cleaner, 16 oz Bottle, and I was skeptical, but it totally worked. It required two applications with the rough side of a sponge (your doors are a little worse than mine, so maybe more?).

It’s expensive, but it does work. Don’t forget to wear gloves.

The products I tried:

• Vinegar by itself
  
  
• Vinegar and dawn soap
  
  
• Hot vinegar and dawn soap
  
  
• Scrubbing bubbles
  
  
• Bar Keeper’s Friend
  
  
• CLR bathroom cleaner
  
  
• Lime away bathroom cleaner
  
  
• The Best Glass Cleaner
  
  
• Glass cooktop cleaner
  
  
• Generic and Mr. Clean melamine sponges with each of the above products and by itself
  
  Edit to include products I’ve tried.

Ok, so if I were to look at the "Ultimate Interior Care Kit", the Glass Sealant and the Window Cleaner, what would you recommend as alternatives and why?

[Edit: Just to make sure we're thinking in terms of purchasing, I do not have a lot of storage space at my condo and I do not have a garage, so no power tools, unfortunately. Heck, I can't even take a vacuum outside because I would have to run the cord through my patio. As much as I like reddit, whatever I use, I would like to be confident it can be backed by some degree of testing by a reputable source. If you have any links, they would be appreciated.]

go buy weathertech or husky floor liners right now


buy some leather treating stuff from a good company like meguira/adams/griots/etc

there is much better stuff than rain-x such as aquapel https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NFU300/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 or this http://adamspolishes.com/shop/exterior/waxing-and-glazing/adam-s-4oz-glass-sealant.html

if you are worried about taking good care of the paint, make sure to visit /r/AutoDetailing and read the wiki about how to properly wash your car without scratching it all up.

Looks like a vape film. You can remove it with a blow torch but the safest way is to use a glass compound sth like this.

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G8800-Perfect-Clarity-Glass/dp/B06XDFRZ81

This works, but only temporarily. There are better and cheap coatings available like rain-x or this very cheap one.

I bought this as a joke gift for my car nut dad years ago and he never touched it. It definitely makes the struggle a bit easier - I just use it with Windex.

It's all in the details....

Get it? Detail your car inside, under the hood, and outside. Make it look new or as close to it as you can get.

Here is a great product to remove hard water spots from exterior glass: Driven Premium Acid Gel (https://www.amazon.com/DRIVEN-Extreme-Duty-Glass-Cleaner/dp/B0021YZER2/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473349298&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=driben+premium+acid+gel)

Our 2006 Scion xB lived its first two years in Los Angeles, CA and was subjected to automatic car washes. Its windows, looking at an angle, showed thousands of water spots. We tried many methods of removal but it was Driven that did the trick. Remember it is acid based so wear gloves and hose it off the window and paint as you go along.

What a difference it made! Glass looks new AND unbeknownst to us, markedly improved our outward view.

I'm not a manical detailer so sure that others have more to offer.

If the seal is still airtight its salvageable. Slather some Clear Epoxy on or some of this. Just make sure it gets into the cracks but not into the inside of the tube.Good luck

>Should I clay bar and/or wax windows?

Yes. I clay my windows, especially my windshield, every 2-3 weeks. I use Stoner's Invisible Glass cleaner. And I use Aquapel instead of wax on my windows because it last much much longer.

>Should I wax plastic (unpainted, rough texture, black) exterior trim? If not, what product to protect this?

No. I like to use 303 Aerospace Protectant

>Should I clay bar and/or wax headlights? I'm pretty sure I've read that this is a yes, and I did this time, but just checking.

Yes. I would be a little hesitant about the clay marring plastic headlights though. Since they are much softer than paint/glass.

>How do I know when a clay bar needs replacing?

When it starts to look dirty. After you finish claying a section fold the clay over on itself then start the next section. When are you reshaping between sections and you aren't able to find a clean spot of clay, it's time for a new piece. And if you drop it on the ground pick it up and throw it right in the garbage.

I have fought the headlights on the wife's 02 for a while now and tried several cleaners and abrasive kits. The issue I have was keeping them looking clear afterwards. Interesting enough I cleaned them up with Rain X Glass Cleaner and after a couple weeks they still look good.

Better yet, try Aquapel. It lasts ways longer than RainX, and does a better job in my opinion.

I was thinking something like this https://www.amazon.com/Kole-Imports-GM-281-2-Windshield-Cleaner/dp/B00KB5G0EO but instead of a square a triangle to get the very small corners clean, so far havent found anything.

I love Adam's glass sealant.

https://www.amazon.com/Adams-Glass-Sealant-4oz-Concentrated/dp/B00JNIYDR6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2RCCCZ27G8QVB&keywords=adam%27s+glass+sealant&qid=1555622938&s=gateway&sprefix=Adam%27s+gl&sr=8-3

Aquapel is better, imo. Works at least as well and a treatment lasts months instead of weeks.

My current kit...

For the interior, I'm a fan of Sonus Cockpit Detailer

For glass, I used something called Invisible Glass, although I'm thinking of picking up some of the CG's Glass Cleaner in the future!

PoorBoy's Leather Stuff has some great reviews too, I'd try it out but I don't have leather anymore haha..

My wipers were fantastic before I applied this, and once it wore off, the wipers were fantastic again. I tried rain-x as a suggestion from reddit and was extremely disappointed.

Is there an online vendor you trust for it? The Amazon reviews are peppered with claims of rip-offs

Hello
Can I use a glass fiber filler like this?

U-Pol Products 0700 FIBRAL Glass Fiber Filler - 3 Liter by U-Pol https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00NOIJW7W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_jaoKBbXFSK39K

I've I just put this only on the channel zone is it enough?

theres special rayon pads for this lookup ceriglass polish and glass polish pad.

http://www.amazon.com/CarPro-Ceriglass-Glass-Polish-150/dp/B006LO118O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462203797&sr=8-2&keywords=ceriglass


http://www.autopia-carcare.com/glass-scratch-pad.html#.Vyd2Y_krK70

Use [CarPro CeriGlass] (http://www.amazon.com/CarPro-CP-126-Ceriglass-Kit/dp/B006LO3B3C?ie=UTF8&colid=28XYGYZEEI9GN&coliid=I231FW7SSKXJNB&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl) or just get the [polish] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006LO118O/ref=s9_dcacsd_bhz_bw_c_x_2) since you have a polisher. Make sure to use glass polishing pads

Cleaner and rain-x: http://www.amazon.com/Rain-X-5071268-Glass-Cleaner-Repellant/dp/B000NWJJLG/

Just rain-x: http://www.amazon.com/Rain-X-Glass-Treatment-Trigger-oz/dp/B000BVRZ74/

Thanks for the response, I'll give those a try. Didn't really consider a dirty windshield as being the cause. It's probably a bit dirty and I've been using this Rain-X Cleaner/Repellent 2-in-1 spray stuff on the windshield, I wonder if it leaves behind any sort of residue.

Neverwet

Does your buddy have a birthday coming up?

Also invest the few bucks and few minutes to apply some RainX. It really works. When it wears-off I think "how does anyone drive without it?"

Get yourself a windshield microfiber wand, like this one

Rust-Oleum 287337 Neverwet Rain Repellent 11 Oz

Price: $13.95

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-287337-Neverwet-Rain-Repellent/dp/B01ECCXQSE

Is this it?: https://www.amazon.com/Adams-Glass-Sealant-4oz-Concentrated/dp/B00JNIYDR6/
How long does 4oz last?

Aqaupel does just that. http://www.amazon.com/Aquapel-Glass-Treatment-Single-Applicators/dp/B004NFU300/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372723040&sr=8-1&keywords=aquapel

amazon's got it for 6 bucks per application but you've got to buy 4.

are you talking about this? or this?

If it doesn't have to look good you could use an epoxy or rubber cement to fill the chip or coat the offending edges of the chip.

If you don't mind spending 20 on something that isn't a dub, try this:
http://www.amazon.com/Stoner-95141-Invisible-Windshield-Repair/dp/B001T9CG94

There's a theory that it's the off-gassing from the dashboard sitting the sun that leads to that greasy, ugly, nasty film on your windshield. I use Invisible Glass and rubbing alcohol. I also keep something like this in the glove box because I obsessively clean my car windshield like every two weeks.


https://www.amazon.com/XINDELL-Microfiber-Windshield-Cleaning-Detachable/dp/B01CA0OVCU

https://www.amazon.com/Aquapel-88625-47100-Glass-Treatment/dp/B000CDAEVK

use this fluorinating product instead. apply it once and it lasts the entire winter. as soon as you're going above 40 mph you don't need to use your windshield wipers as the rain just runs off. no skipping wipers or smears.

This It is what we used at Safelite in the warehouse when we accidentally scratched a windshield.