During car cleaning and detailing sessions, the right glass cleaner can sometimes 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 as part of your car cleaning kit? 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 2024 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 insects. We decided therefore, to take seven top glass cleaning products and put them to the test. They would be tasked with cleaning the windows of a couple of staff cars.
How we tested glass cleaners and what they can tackle
We took a selection of glass microfibre towels and used those to apply each product to a window at-a-time on our test cars. We used a BMW 520D Touring and a Citroen C4X long termer as our test subjects and cleaned the windows both inside and out, and 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. Price, trigger design, and scent were also used to determine a victor.
The best car glass cleaner tested 2024
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.
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.
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 a quick clean
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.
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.
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 |
Most advanced glass cleaner
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.
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.
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
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.
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
FAQs and things to remember with car glass cleaner:
What should I look our 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.
Can I use household glass cleaners on my car?
Quite a few household 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.
Why use glass cleaners 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.
Who tested the glass cleaners?
Aaron Hussain was at the helm of this test. He’s a commercial content writer specialising in automotive products and has been the pilot of previous group tests on Parkers and its sister site, CAR. He was fairly sceptical of how effective glass cleaner really is, so the best way to find out is to get a group and put them to the full test. With an eye for detail and fastidious about keeping cars in good health, he was the perfect person to conduct the group test.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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