I hate to clean car windows. I hardly ever get them clean. I have tried 100% cotton towels and water but the cotton towels leave little pieces of lent all over the interior of the car. I have tried paper towels. I have tried newspaper. I have had fairly good luck with Griot’s window cleaner and Griot’s special paper towels. The Griot's paper towels don’t leave lent but I still see some (but not many) streaks on the windows.

Yesterday my wife told me to try her kitchen towels. She said that they are “special” cotton/microfiber kitchen towels that she got from QVC.

Well, I’ll try anything once . . . . so I took her “special” towels and some Duragloss 751 Clear Glass cleaner and went to work. My windows look great – better than they have ever looked.

This morning I told my wife that she is not getting her towels back and I just bought two more sets.

If anyone is interested, the towels are Don Aslett’s Microfiber Kitchen Towels for $18.75. (Item Number V23282) They are a 56% Cotton/44% Microfiber blend. I like the addition of 56% cotton because I think the towels are more absorbent with some cotton in the mix. The towels come in green or yellow. Yellow is sold out right now but you can go on a waiting list.

I do not work for QVC. I do not own stock in QVC . . . . though I wish I did based on my wife's shopping there.

After visiting auto detailing forums for a few months and reading about Stoner Invisible Glass, I finally tried it. I could not believe how great it works. I think you could use it with an old sock and your windows would come out perfect! Invisible glass is the last window cleaner you'll buy.

Don't worry. You didn't burst my bubble. (If you really hated to burst my bubble you wouldn't have posted. ) I was just trying to pass along something that worked for me. If you aren't interested I could care less.

But for the sake of argument, I will say again that the microfiber towels that I bought from QVC are 56% cotton and 44% microfiber. (Microfiber is Polyamide and/or Polyester.) The cotton/microfiber combination absorbs much better than 100% microfiber. I haven't found the cotton/microfiber combination at Sam's or Target. (Maybe they are there. I just haven't found them.)

But just to keep the discussion going . . . there are microfiber towels and then there are microfiber towels. Most of the microfiber towels that I have picked up at Sam’s or Target are junk. If I am going to buy good microfiber towels I buy them from Griot's.


Cotton fibers can scratch your clearcoat? Where in the world did you "learn" that? Dirty cotton fibers might scratch your clearcoat. Polyester/cotton blends might scratch your clearcoat. Brand new cotton towels that still have sizing might scratch your clearcoat. Cotton towels that have polyester binding might scratch your clearcoat. But (FYI) 100% clean cotton towels are not going to scratch your clearcoat. And cotton fibers sure as hell aren't going to scratch glass . . . which is what I was talking about cleaning.


Blackbird, I've got Stoner Invisible Glass. It's good stuff. I have just had better results with Duragloss.

Wow, I can't imagine anything better than IG, I'll have to try the Duragloss!

I'm not saying that Duragloss is better. I'm just saying that I personally get better results from Duragloss. (I like and use many of the Stoner car care products.)

Duragloss actually makes a whole list of great products for cars (and motorcycles and boats). I know about the company because they are from Burlington, NC. For quite a while they were not known nation wide. Lately however many detailers are picking up on their products and using them with good results.

Invisible Glass is excellent and an aerosol can fits perfectly in the cubby behind the seats. Another equally good glass cleaner is Eagle One 20/20 which is available in most auto stores.

Good quality MF are more absorbant than cotton or cotton blend. They are also lint free and won't cause streaking. Clean 100% cotton towels will not scratch clearcoat, but will leave lint. I prefer waffle weave MF for drying.

__________________
Dan

Count me as someone who dislikes Invisible Glass. It leaves streaks and I think it is due to the lack of humidity here. I do get great results with Sprayway glass cleaner. And of course 50/50 vinegar/water is pretty good also.

(I have 5 cans of IG I'd like to get rid of by the way. I foolishly bought a case on faith).

Really? So you start out by saying, "Hate to burst your bubble . . " That was real nice.

$18.00 for 6 towels. That's $3.00 each. That's expensive?

Well . . . . if you have been investigating then you know that towels which are a combination of terry (which is another word for cotton) and microfiber will absorb even more. (I have only been in textiles since 1969. )

Yes, raw cotton is coarse and abrasive. But by the time cotton is in a towel it is processed cotton!

I would not use cheap cotton towels on a car of mine either. Cheap "cotton" towels might not be all cotton. I will use old bath towels that have seen years of washing. By the time they are on my car they are as soft as a baby's butt. As you wash and bleach towels they become more absorbant and softer and they will not scratch anything.

So you have been in the cleaning business for 17 years. Congratulations. I have been detailing cars for 40 years. I'm no professional but I am serious. Check my car in "New Wax Thread" if you want to see what I can do.

And maybe you will post a picture of your car? I'm anxious to see your work.

Moderators, this probably isn't going anywhere useful so you can close the thread if you want to.

Yes guys cool it or it is closed and you will be forced to eat some New Mexico hot peppers to atone.. Now does anyone want my five cans of Invisible Glass? You pay shipping.

Okay, folks. You heard it here. I'm passing along bad information. Don't take any of my suggestions. Douge is in the "cleaning business". He knows!

By the way, what kind of cleaning business are you in, Douge? Most people who work on cars call themselves "Detailers". You're not going to put a pressure washer on my Porsche are you?

Six towels from Griot's Garage cost $29.99. That's $5.00 each. That's outrageous. (Autopia sells six towels for $38.00! That's really outrageous.) Griot's must be ripping us off. Stop buying Griot's towels now! Wait a minute. Autogeek sells them for $29.99 for twelve. But that's still $3.00 each and still "expensive". Buy from Douge. He can save you a bundle.

I will put Griot's $6.00 microfiber towels on my car before I put $.50 microfiber towels on my car. Just like cotton towels there are different grades of microfiber towels. I won't use the junk that you get at your local auto parts store. Douge's are cheaper than what you get at your local auto parts store. You decide.

Well, you probably got me there, Douge. Microfiber towels will absorb more water.

Score one for Douge!

But I still like a little cotton in my towels.

Griot's Garage sells 100% Cotton Buffing Cloths. If you have them quit using them. Throw them out! Get rid of them!! They will scratch your car. You heard it from Douge.



Just a reminder, in my initial post I was talking about cleaning GLASS. I never said anything about using cotton on your hood. (But I use cotton on my hood! )

By the way, Doug. I'm still looking for a picture of your car. I want to see your work.

I'm done. Moderators, please close this thread down. I don't want to spread any more misinformation. I don't know what I'm talking about. I've only been detailing cars for 40 years.