Improving windshield visibility usually entails cleaning off bird poop, dead bugs and general grime. But the streaky, filmy gook isn’t always confined to the outside of the car. Where do you think sneeze and cough gunk goes for happy hour?

In addition to human, um, stuff, the inside of the windshield collects things like dust, oils, and/or smoker’s residue. All that grime can impair your ability to see clearly while driving, especially at night. Here to show us how to clean the interior glass of our windshields is car maintenance YouTuber ChrisFix.

To start out, Chris explains that much of buildup can be traced back to off gases. The materials from the dashboard, seats, etc. release gases and evaporate onto the windshield. Cleaning products used to wipe the dash down are another culprit, as they leave oily film on the glass.

Before tackling the interior, ChrisFix suggests cleaning the exterior first so it’s easier to spot the problem inside. With just a few steps, he demonstrates how to clean the inside but notes to avoid this process for rear tints. Let’s take a quick look!

Materials

  • Microfiber towels (paper towels can be substituted)
  • Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or rubbing alcohol
  • Glass cleaner

Instructions

  1. Pre-Wipe

    inside windshield cleanerChrisFix

    With a dry microfiber towel, wipe down the entire windshield in a circular motion. Follow up by wiping it in an up and down pattern.

  2. Degrease It

    If using a magic eraser, saturate it in warm water then wring it out. Clean the glass in a circular motion. Immediately wipe the windshield dry with a clean microfiber towel. This will degrease the glass.

  3. Make it Shine

    Spray glass cleaner onto a clean towel, and then apply it to the windshield in a circular motion. Wipe it again vertically to clear up any streaks or haze.

To get the detailed technique, follow ChrisFix in the video. He outlines several tips to avoid staining the dashboard as well as how to reach the crevice where the glass and dash meet. It’s also important to switch out soiled microfiber towels when handling this job.

If you don’t have a magic eraser handy, rubbing alcohol can be subbed in instead. For step two, pour some onto a clean microfiber towel and then rub it on the glass to degrease it. You will still need to use circular motions to buff on, and vertical strokes to polish it off.

Paper towels can be used but ChrisFix points out that they won’t get the glass as clean as microfiber ones. The little paper fibers can remain on the glass during and after cleaning. Check your local dollar store for budget friendly microfiber towels.

Keep in mind that if you’re a smoker, you’ll constantly need to clean the interior glass. Outgas vapors are also a continual problem, especially when it’s hot. Clean the glass regularly and you’ll notice a big difference like ChrisFix’s before and after shots!

Have you tried ChrisFix’s method on your windshield? What do you use to treat your car’s interior glass and how often do you do it? Tell us in the comments!