When it comes to car cleaning, glass cleaner can often be overlooked. Glass is great for visibility, but any grease or grime will be incredibly noticeable as it has nowhere to hide. This gets even worse during the winter months. A good car glass cleaner needs to be able to shift the grime without leaving any residue behind. We’ve gathered together a selection of the best automotive glass cleaners on the market and put them to the test, so you can ensure your windscreen remains streak-free and sparkling.
While windscreen wipers will be able to clear water and maybe a few other small contaminants from your windscreen, you don’t want to rely solely on them to keep your glass clean as larger bits of dirt (like bird poo) can damage the rubber.
So, why have glass cleaner alongside your usual pre-wash, shampoo and wheel cleaner? Being able to look through your car’s windscreen is a fairly important part of driving safely. In fact, it’s the law that you must have adequate visibility when driving and you could be fined if your windscreen is too mucky. Beyond the fine you could face, it’s a good idea to keep your glass clean to see clearly from behind the wheel, as poor outward visibility can result in collisions.
The best car glass cleaner tested 2025 at a glance
Clean glass will also be kinder to your wiper blades, helping extend their lifespan and ensuring that the glass is properly cleared of rain, streaks, and possibly bird poo.
Can you use any glass cleaner on car windows?
Not every glass cleaner suitable for households are suitable for cars. Quite a few of these cleaners make use of ammonia, a substance that can break down any tint applied to a car’s glass. Beyond that, however, most glass cleaners won’t be strong enough to break down the detritus that you’ll often encounter on a car’s glass – especially the front and rear windscreens.
This isn’t the case when reversed, it’s perfectly acceptable to use a glass cleaner around the home, just be aware that it’s not the most cost-effective or efficient option. You might be thinking throughout this that a dose of car shampoo will be good enough for clearing a windscreen. You’d be right in many respects, but for a quick spray and wipe, glass cleaner is much better for cleaning streaks, bugs, or subtle things that show up when the sun is shining towards your field of view.
How we tested glass cleaners
Using a glass microfibre towel we applied each product to a window on a test car. We cleaned the windows of a BMW 520D Touring and a Citroen C4X both inside and out, as well as the infotainment screens.
We measured the cleanliness of each window and how clear it was by looking deeply at them, examining for any marks, streaks, or smudges. Primarily, therefore, cleaning performance is at the top of the list followed by features (i.e. extra surfaces they can tackle). Other usual aspects such as price, trigger design, and scent were also considered to determine a victor.
The best car glass cleaner tested 2025
The best car glass cleaner
We firmly believe that Gtechniq took a look at its competitors in the glass cleaning game and effortlessly outdid them. It's a difficult task judging the effectiveness of glass cleaner, but we felt the cleanliness of G6 outperformed the competitors substantially. The finish was simply crystal clear. It's great value for money as well at under £10 for 500ml.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- A pretty much perfect finish with no marks or streaks to be seen
- Great value for money at under £10 for 500ml
- You only need to apply one spray on each window
Cons
- Strong chemical smell to some
- Volume isn't as generous as others that offer more than 500ml
| Volume: | 500ml |
| Suitable for: | Glass, Perspex, plastic, acrylic |
| Extras: | Anti-static properties |
Editor's pick
Each time, it performed fantastically. Leaving no streaks and a noticeable difference in the cleanliness of the windows. In many ways, it's just about on par with the Gtechniq G6, but the latter offers slightly better value for money.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Perfect for any glass surface and screen, including large infotainment systems
- Very, very effective cleaner that leaves a mirror-like finish
- Tiny amount is needed for cleaning (one spray per window), so the product will last a long time
Cons
- Didn't quite match up to Gtechniq's product, albeit by a smidge
| Volume: | 500ml |
| Suitable for: | Glass, Perspex, plastic, acrylic |
| Extras: | Works as a rain repellent |
Best for quick clean-ups
Designed to work on a number of surfaces (glass, Perspex and acrylic), it’s an excellent option and always worth considering, especially as it’s also not extortionately priced, which is a neat bonus as well. If you're after a glass cleaner for quick clean-ups which only require one spray, this is certainly one of the best for it.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Good cleaning ability and very quick to generate a crystal clear finish
- Pretty good value for money at just £12 for 500ml
- Leaves a very clear finish on a number of surfaces, never mind just glass
Cons
- Too much product will smear noticeably
| Volume: | 500ml |
| Suitable for: | Glass, Perspex, plastic, acrylic |
| Extras: | N/A |
Best budget glass cleaner
We'd recommend this one on the grounds of its value alone. Good value for money at 500ml, it's a bargain considering just how capable the product is.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Excellent cleaning ability for very filthy windows
- Very affordable price at just £11 for 500ml
- The handle was the most comfortable out of all of those tested
Cons
- The finish wasn't quite as good as the competition
| Volume: | 500ml |
| Suitable for: | Glass |
| Extras: | Biodegradable |
Best for stubborn marks
It was given the toughest window to clean on any car: the front windscreen. While it was efficient in its use and was easy to apply, we didn't feel it was quite on par with Gtechniq's G6 and Gyeon's Q2M cleaners. The difference was very minuscule, but we feel the extra cash is a bit tricky to justify. With that said, you do get a litre quantity and two glass cloths to play with. We should mention that those cloths were used continuously throughout our test, so some bonus points should be awarded there.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Exceptional on water spots and splattered bugs
- Removes stubborn staining, predominently found on the windscreen
- Very efficient in its use, requiring just one spray for each window
Cons
- Doesn't represent the best value for money, although you get a 1L bottle rather than 500ml
- The finish wasn't quite as mind-blowing as the Gyeon or Gtechniq cleaners
| Volume: | 350ml |
| Suitable for: | Glass, mirrors |
| Extras: | Designed to tackle water deposits |
Best for greasy marks
The dirt that usually accumulates on rear windows was gone within seconds. The effortlessness in the lifting of that remaining dirt was so easily lifted and streak-free by the end of the clean. We were greatly impressed by the performance of Car Gods' product, but it couldn't quite match what Gtechniq and Gyeon had brought to the table.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Pretty good value for money at just £11 per 500ml
- Effortlessly cleans glass to a streak-free finish
- Has a nicer scent than the others tested
Cons
- The finish doesn't quite match up to the competitors
| Volume | 500ml |
| Suitable for | Interior and exterior glass |
| Extras | N/A |
Best for cars and home cleaning
It's a tad pricier than the other options on this test, but it does leave a pretty nice finish when you've finished cleaning. We can't be convinced that it performs as well as the Gtechniq and Gyeon, but like the others, it comes pretty close.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Very efficient in its usage, requiring one spray per window
- Leaves a spotless finish, clearing all bugs, tree sap, and streaks
- Ideal for home glass cleaning as well, adding to its versatility
Cons
- Doesn't represent as good value for money at £13 for 500ml
| Volume | 500ml |
| Suitable for | Interior and exterior glass |
| Extras | N/A |
FAQs and things to remember with car glass cleaner:
-
What should I look out for with a glass cleaner?
Visibility is the most important aspect of glass cleaning. This means no streaks, no smears and most importantly, cleared debris. The trigger is integral to a good application. This is important to maximise coverage and minimise wasted product. By using the perfect balance of coverage, you'll get crystal-clear glass and save some cash. Alternatively, some glass cleaners recommend applying the glass cleaner to a microfibre towel and applying it to the windscreen that way.
Organic matter is the largest issue you’ll deal with on the exterior of your glass. Bird poo, tree sap and insects will all leave marks on the glass that can be difficult to lift without resorting to a pressure washer and deep clean involving pre-wash at the minimum. Glass cleaners work to gently lift these deposits without causing any damage and only require a microfibre towel. -
Why use glass cleaner when I've just washed the whole car with shampoo?
We don't necessarily blame you if you've just washed your car including the windows and already cleared the big dirt marks. However, having tested glass cleaners for ourselves, there can be a lot left behind on windows in a regular car wash that you will have missed.
Glass cleaner streamlines effort with a simple spray-once and wipe method, whereby it clears away light streaks and grime that gives your windscreen and vision a crystal clear look. You will thank it when direct sunlight shines on your windscreen, and you're not impeded by it being slightly dirty. Clear glass is not just aesthetically pleasing, but safer as well. -
Is glass cleaner good for cars?
If you're using automotive glass cleaner, it'll do very good to your car. As demonstrated above, glass cleaners make your car windows crystal clear and free of any dirt, bugs and grime that build up overtime.
They also help clear streak marks and water spots leftover from car shampoo, rinsing and so on. It helps to keep a bottle of glass cleaner as part of your car cleaning kit as it makes a neat difference to the quality of the detailing finish. -
What is car glass polish?
Car glass polish differs from glass cleaner slightly. Instead of a deep cleaner for your windscreen, glass polish is a slightly more comprehensive bit of kit. It consists of a cream-like substance that tackles tough stains such as grease, traffic film, and other things that a normal glass cleaner may leave behind.
You apply it in a circular motion using a microfibre cloth across the windscreen before buffing it off again. This achieves a streak-free finish, clear of any marks or residue. -
Is auto glass cleaner different than Windex?
Yes, car glass cleaner is different to products like Windex and other household glass cleaners. Automotive cleaners don't use ammonia as this substance can damage tinted windows and other surfaces.
Instead, car glass cleaners tend to make use of alcohol and other elements designed to break down dirt, bugs and general road grime that accumulates on your windscreen. They're very different to household glass cleaners, and you shouldn't use a home cleaner on your vehicle's windows.
Sign up to the Parkers Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews, news, and recommendations from the Parkers team.
Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.
