How to Polish Car Glass

Co-authored by Angel Ricardo and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: August 16, 2021 References

Car glass can get dirty and scratched up, making it difficult to see through. Whenever you get light scratches in your car glass, consider polishing the scratches away. The first step in polishing your glass is cleaning the exterior and interior sides. Then, polish the exterior side of the glass and apply a sealant.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Clean the Windows

1
Choose the right time and place. When washing your car, cleaning and polishing the windows should be the last thing you do. You should also clean the glass while working out of direct sunlight, while the windows are fairly dry. Otherwise, the sun may dry out the glass cleaner, leaving streaks behind.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Angel Ricardo
Auto Technician
Expert Interview. 1 October 2019.}
2
Select the right supplies.^{[2]
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Research source} A glass cleaner specifically labeled for automotive use is better than an ordinary household glass cleaner, which often contains ammonia and other chemicals that can be dangerous for use on cars. A microfiber towel is also a necessity, since it has enough abrasiveness to gently scrub the surface of the glass without scratching it.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Angel Ricardo
Auto Technician
Expert Interview. 1 October 2019.}

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3
Roll down the windows halfway. You need to be able to have clear access to the top edge of the glass.^{[4]
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4
Spray the glass cleaner on the window. Clean the glass by wiping the cleaner onto the window using your microfiber cloth, moving from side to side.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Angel Ricardo
Auto Technician
Expert Interview. 1 October 2019.} Cover both sides of the glass.
5
Use the dry side of the microfiber cloth. Remove any remaining wetness on your windows by drying them with the dry side of the cloth.
6
Roll your windows up and clean the bottom half. Spray with glass cleaner, wipe the cleaner on, and wipe the cleaner off.
7
Clean your front and back windshields. Spray the cleaner on the windshields and wipe it with your microfiber cloth, moving both up and down and side to side. Remove the dampness with the dry side of your cloth.^{[6]
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8
Rinse with water. Once the stubborn grime has been cleaned off your windows, you can remove any streaks or film with clean, plain water. Gently spray the glass, using a hose for the outside and a spray bottle for the inside.^{[7]
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Research source} Wipe the glass dry with a clean microfiber towel.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Polish the Windows

1
Select a glass polish. There are many glass polishers available on the market. You can either select a glass polishing kit, which comes complete with specialized polishing discs that can remove more severe scratches or blemishes, or you can simply choose a high quality glass restorer that removes light spots and scratches.^{[8]
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2
Use a low-speed rotary polisher. The polisher needs to have a speed setting between 1000 and 1200 RPM, and it must have a polishing pad.
3
Apply lubricating oil to the polishing pad.^{[9]
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Research source} The oil helps the polish to spread more, reducing the amount of polish you need to use, thereby reducing the amount of abrasiveness.
4
Apply the polish to the polishing pad. Use as much as directed on the product label, or apply an even spread of polish across the entire pad.
5
Start at the upper corner of the glass. Hold the handle with your dominant hand and use your other hand to guide the polisher. Do not apply pressure, since the pad will apply enough pressure on its own to polish the glass.
6
Cover the entire glass. Move the machine from side to side at a gradual pace. Do not jerk the rotary polisher around, since doing so will increase the likelihood of accidentally damaging your glass. Keep going until the entire surface of the glass has been moistened with polish, and stop the machine once the polish begins to dry.
- Be aware of the fact that the rotary polisher has a specific pattern of movement. When moved to the right, the machine also moves upward. When moved to the left, the machine also moves downward. Do not fight the rhythm of the machine. Instead, learn to work with it.
7
Buff the remaining polish residue away. Use a clean microfiber cloth to buff the residue away using even, gentle pressure and a small circular motion. Continue buffing until no streaks or residue remains.^{[10]
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8
Apply a glass sealant. Your car glass is now completely stripped. A glass sealant helps the glass stay smooth and clear for a longer period of time by sealing the pores of the glass. Apply a small amount of sealant onto an automotive sponge and wipe the sponge across the glass, moving from side to side and up to down. Use as much sealant as necessary to seal the entire exterior surface of the glass.^{[11]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

Why should you avoid cleaning car windows in direct sunlight?

Angel Ricardo
Auto Technician
Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo's Mobile Auto Detail headquartered in Venice, California. With over 10 years of experience in mobile detailing, Angel continues to attend auto detailing trainings to improve his customer service and auto detailing skills.

Angel Ricardo

Auto Technician

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

When you clean your car windows in direct sunlight, the oils on your window heat up and spread easier. When you do it in the shade, the oils are cooled down, so it's easier for them to just stick to the towel instead of spreading around.
Question

How do I remove scratches from porcelain?

Uglymug18

Community Answer

Not sure why you have porcelain on your car, but a good scratch-removing wax or clay bar would help with light scratches.

Warnings

Avoid the use of ammonia-based chemical cleaners or cleaners that contain isopropyl alcohol. These chemicals can release toxic fumes if inhaled inside the enclosed space of your car. Moreover, they will damage the color on tinted glass windows.^{[13]
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Things You’ll Need

Microfiber towels^{[14]
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Expert Source

Angel Ricardo
Auto Technician
Expert Interview. 1 October 2019.}
Automotive glass cleaner
Sponge
Glass polish
Rotary polisher
Lubricating oil
Glass sealant