How do you clean your windshield?

OK, enough of these opinions. Cleaning a windshield isn't an opinion-based thing. You can't just do "whatever works for you". No, you shall follow Federal Government guidance when cleaning your windshield. Windshields shall be cleaned in accordance with (IAW) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 104, Laboratory Test Procedure for Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems.  As identified in Section 13, Wiped Area Test, paragraph A, "Clean the exterior and interior surfaces of the vehicle windshield prior to testing with a commercial nonabrasive glass cleaning agent to provide an oil and grease free surface for marking the dimensional area as required." 

When I was an OEM washer nozzle engineer in the 90's, we used Bon Ami, which, despite the "nonabrasive" requirement above, was the preferred choice of all the domestic OEM's. It gets everything off the glass, and leaves all the glass (no scratches). These days, I just use a decent-quality glass cleaner spray, and it works fine.

Vinegar and water mixture in spray bottle with good microfiber towel, not one that's been washed a hundred times with fabric softener. Works great.

Ive tried it all and it seems like I can never get proper good clean glass.

So I asked a few detail buddies and they said a dish washcloth thats been washed with a touch of simple green and then use foaming glass cleaner.

And it works.  

For those struggling with persistent haze on the inside of the windshield, it has come from either the chemicals coming out of the plastic dashboard as it slowly reverts back to petroleum ooze, or the chemicals we buy and spray on it to accelerate the process (armor-all, etc). Sprayway and Invisible Glass are both good, but not aggressive enough to get thru that film. Hit it with denatured alcohol or acetone first.

Playing with solvents in a plastic environment is a recipe for disaster.

In reply to Uncle David (Forum Supporter) :

Good advice–thanks. So just this?

On a similar note: 

^ the Magic Eraser accomplishes the same thing with less mess.  Abrasive enough to cut through goo but not enough to scratch the windshield.

A friend of mine who directs a lab for Corning told me about the Bon-Ami cleaner.  I have been using it on exterior glass for years with fantastic results.

1. Clean windows with Bon-Ami.  Use lots of water and rub liberally.
2. Rinse really, really well.
3. Clean with rubbing alcohol using a paper towel or microfiber cloth.  Do this twice!
4. Apply RainX as directed on the bottle.

This can make that RainX last over a year.  It sounds unbelievable, but it works!

Anything over 45 mph and you don't even need windshield wipers.  The water just beads up and roll off the windshield.

Traveling on a rainy day

If you like RainX, wait until you try Aquapel. It last much longer, in my experience.

Sprayway glass cleaner for me. Works great and is cheaper than most other glass cleaners to boot! That and a microfiber cloth or two. Clean it, and then clean it again if it's real bad, and then buff with a dry part of the cloth. 

I use Bon Ami when I am washing the car.