Crystal Clear Glass: The Professional's Guide to Streak-Free Vision

Never, ever clean glass in direct sunlight or when the glass is hot to the touch. The cleaner will evaporate before you can wipe it, leaving nasty streaks that are a dog to remove.

Don't start on the glass while the rest of the car is dirty. You'll just kick up dust or accidentally wipe a dirty mitt onto your clean glass. Give it a proper two-bucket wash and dry it off.

Roll your side windows down about an inch. You see that line of grime at the very top? Most people miss that. Clean that edge first before doing the rest of the pane.

Put your wipers in the 'service position' or lift them up. Clean the wiper blades themselves with a bit of glass cleaner, you'll be shocked at the black gunk that comes off.

Give the glass a quick squiz for any stone chips. If you find one, don't press too hard or use heavy chemicals near it, or you might turn a chip into a crack.

If you've just come back from a trip and the glass is covered in bugs, don't just scrub. Lay a wet towel soaked in warm water and a bit of car soap over the windscreen for 5 minutes. It softens the bug guts so they slide off.

Use a clay bar and plenty of lubricant (soapy water works fine). Glide it over the glass until it's silent and smooth. This removes the 'crunchy' bits you can't see but can definitely feel.

If you see white rings that won't come off, it's mineral deposits. I use a dedicated water spot remover or a light glass polish. Work in small sections, about 30cm x 30cm.

Spray your cleaner onto the FIRST waffle weave towel, not the glass. This prevents overspray hitting your plastics. Wipe the glass in a grid pattern, up and down, then side to side.

Immediately take your SECOND dry microfibre (the suede one) and buff the glass. Use fast, light circular motions. This is what removes the remaining residue before it dries.

Run your towel along the rubber seals. Use a finger inside the cloth to get right into the corners where the 'gunk' builds up.

Move your head around to catch the light from different angles. If you see a streak, don't add more cleaner. Just use the dry suede cloth to buff it out.

Lay a large microfibre or a clean towel over the dashboard. You don't want glass cleaner dripping onto your leather or vinyl, it can leave spots or dry out the material.

Take a clean, dry microfibre and wipe the whole interior windscreen first. This removes the loose dust and a bit of that oily film before you even use a liquid.

If the car has been sitting in the Aussie sun, the plastics out-gas an oily film. Use the IPA/water mix on a towel to cut through this grease first. This is the step most people skip, and it's why they get streaks.

For the bottom of the windscreen, sit in the passenger seat and use the back of your hand to press the towel against the glass. Or better yet, use that 'Reach and Clean' tool I mentioned earlier.

Pro tip: Wipe the exterior glass vertically and the interior glass horizontally. That way, if you see a streak, you'll know exactly which side of the glass it’s on. Genius, right?

Be bloody careful with the rear demister lines. Wipe *along* the lines, never across them, or you risk breaking the circuit. And if you have aftermarket tint, stick to water and a tiny bit of soap or a tint-safe cleaner.