Whats the best way to clean hazed glass?

So, my glass looks like its completely dirty....no matter how much I clean it. It has a haze that always comes back. I have tired all the cleansers, 3000 grit wet sanded, razor blades....all the stuff that usually works. No matter what, it clouds back up. Its every window on the car. There has to be a trick I don't know....and if anyone does, its on this forum. HELP! Its a 67 Charger that I would love to drive i I could see out the front window clearly!
Dave in Colorado

If it is not the glass itself that is hazed with scratches, i have had issues cleaning the glass and having residue left that looks like smudging. If this is you case, the Mr clean magic eraser works miracles. I didn’t believe it until i tried it. Leaves the glass crystal clean and at night, no hazing or smudges from oils/grease/dirt.

I have the same problem in an 08 charger. Seems some cleaners leave a residue that smears and fogs up bigly.

I haven't had success yet either. Guess I'll try the eraser thing.

Usually the haze in a windshield is the vinyl sandwiched in the middle.

I have a side window where it looks like it de-laminated from the inside.

I have polished / cleaned my windshield with rubbing compound and it worked well.

If it really is a dirty glass and not a scratched glass, then tire bleach and ultra fine steel wool will clean the glass just about as clean as you're going to get it. This is a very effective way to get dried bugs off. The Mr Clean pads might work, too. I use them some, but the steel wool and tire bleach works so well that I haven't tried the Mr. Clean pads on the glass. I use the steel wool and tire bleach on chrome tips with the same results.

my brother swears by just using a damp [water only], used soft T-shirt to "clean", then dry with another used, soft T-shirt.
his windows are always clear. i don't know how he came up with this method. he doesn't smoke, so that helps a bunch.
i have, over the years, found that the plastic in vehicles [going back mucho years] "outgasses". this causes glass to fog, smear, or cause something of a cloudy appearance, requiring frequent cleaning. newest vehicles seem to be worse than older ones, and some do this process [outgassing] more than others. as it will never [seem to] quit, it will slow down [some or a lot] as the plastics age.
i learned about that in a class taught at work, where we were having a problem viewing through a glass lens at internal components made of plastic.

Correct on the out-gassing.
I just use Windex and a couple terrycloth towels.
I've noticed that the paper "mechanic's" stuff leaves a kind of greasy or hazy surface.
Some folks claim using newspaper as a towel leaves a perfectly clean window, but I've never tried it.

Hazy glass is just one of the things that drive me nuts.

Worked as a Commercial Glazier for 20+ years and have cleaned more glass than I care to remember. We always used, exclusively, a readily available glass cleaner called Sprayway. We used paper towels but if you do use paper towels use the blue lint free kind. A squeegee is best if you can find a small one, like for a bathroom shower. And never use a metal razor blade to clean glass unless you have some soap solution on the glass or you will scratch it. Plastic blades are available, they wont scratch glass but are not very durable.

i have used the newspaper trick [?] before. however, it seems i have to wipe it vertically, then horizontally, [or the other way around, it doesn't matter, just so you do it both ways] to make sure it doesn't streak.
and i just HATE the modern dashes that make you need arms half again as long as they are, and hands that need to have your fingers come to a point, so you can reach clear to the junction of the dash or rear shelf, and the glass itself ! GRRRR !

News Paper with Chemicalguys non-streak glass cleaner since the ammonia in spray cans I had tons of is no longer made and I used it all. It worked best if you can find it.
The outside glass if needs water spots etc off Bar Keppers Friend powder type with water added then glass cleaner after. The Bar Keppers Friend works great
I clean the Wiper Blades with Alky as they get stuff on them as well.
If you wipe the blades you will see how much gunk was on them

Newspapers. vinegar and water in a spray bottle.

I gave up on Windex and paper towels.....works like crap. I use a spray foam type window cleaner we have at work with clean micro-fiber towels........incredible difference!

Post a few pics if you can.

Is it on the inside, the outside or in the middle plastic layer? When you try to clean it does it smear around? Does it clean off and then come back later?

I have never used Sprayway but will look for it now.

I like “Invisible Glass” spray better than Windex.

I have used newspapers many times on large 4x8 ft glass sliding doors, but like microfiber towels better still.

I have seen Magic Eraser do “minor miracles” on many surfaces and will try it (cautiously) on glass.

In the family we have many pieces of Steuben Glass to gently clean,
the art glass of animal figures made by Corning Glass Company,
as my grandfather was the longtime company employed Dermatologist burn specialist at the Corning NY glass furnaces from 1931 to 1971

I also use Invisible Glass and microfiber. The one I use has a rainx type effect as well as a good streak free cleaner.

Here is a pic...clear looking side was just wiped down with cleaner and hazed up as soon as it dried...

I think the glass is just cooked. Its not a film left behind that wipes off...it just reverts to cloudy looking. I think a new front windshield is in my future....

That could possibly be polished out, with a angle grinder, pad and rouge. That isn't vinyl haze. Maybe try rubbing compound in a spot by hand. New windshield would be quicker.

Good point with polishing, I was going to recommend just trying a paste wax to see if it offered temporary help

I too would consider trying a polish or buffing compound paste.

Copper

Definitely strange. Can you feel the film?
Kind of looks like a hard water film or it may have been exposed to something for a long period of time that may have etched the glass.?
What's the history on the car ?
Did you just buy it ?
Sorry for all the questions but information is helpful to solve an problem

Several tips on Google
how to clean cloudy glass windows

Another that may not be listed was to soak a towel in white vinegar, place it on the window, cover the towel with something like saran wrap, seal most of it (tape?) to limit the evaporation and leave it overnight.
or try calling GORDON GLASS COMAPNY LINK

Did you try what I posted above?
Her a can of Bar Keepers Friend powder.
It is safe and cleans off deposits and will fix that if it is infact something built up on it and not scratched or etched in to the glass.
In just about any store in the cleaning supply section.
Even Wal-Mart has it. Like 3 bucks,a can.

The dash is cooked. Is that sand laying on the wiper blade? Was this car exposed to desert heat and sand for years? Can you feel roughness like it was blasted with fine sand?

To answer some of the questions...I got the car a couple months ago and it sat outside in Colorado for quite some time. When the glass is wiped down it feels perfectly clean in the inside and outside. I tried a paste type cleaner last night but have not tried a polishing compound...that’s next. Did try barkeepers friend...I actually used paint thinner last night...which is what you see in the picture. Soon as it dried...cloudy again. I will try polishing tomorrow and post the results.

Hint when polishing, use long straight strokes not circles. Also do not focus on one area.

I've used Fast Orange successfully on glass. The mild abrasive and citric acid work wonders on hard water deposits.

Rubbing compound usually has an oil base lube that needs cleaned up afterwards. The oils might make things look better until they get washed off.

You want something with Cerium Oxide in it. (Plenty of products out there) You can use it by hand or put a pad on a drill is a lot faster. If you are not familiar with polishing glass(via power tools) read up/watch videos. You can damage the glass if not done correctly!
https://www.amazon.com/Glass-Polish...epair+Kit&qid=1633180754&sr=8-37
https://www.amazon.com/Windscreen-Polishing-Scratch-Repair-Adapter/dp/B07Q29SGY3

Wondering what happened.

The windshield in my Charger was installed in 2017 but has recently had a strange haze on the outside. I took a clay bar and window cleaner to it and it cleaned up great. It looks like it was black paint overspray. I have a 1600 sq ft shop and even though I try to spray bomb far away from the car, I guess the mist travels a ways before it dries.

What happened was I tried everything that was recommended and nothing seemed to work. I ended up putting the Charger away for the winter, and working on a couple trucks I have that need some attention.
I think I will just replace the front glass, tint the rest, and call it a day. This car is intended to be a resto mod, and was going to get tinted out anyways...However, when the old windshield is removed, I am still going to try
and figure this thing out....
Dave

An update to an older post.....Took a polisher on low speed, covered the pad with Fast Orange hand cleaner and worked it for a bit. It worked and my glass looks amazing now. I didn't have to replace any of it. I know someone suggested it...it just took me this long to pull the car back down to the workshop and get started on it again....

That's what I'm guessing, it's been 'sandblasted' with fine grit. My '95 Neon after decades in ND wind-blown grit had a windshield that looked very similar to that.

thanks for the update.
glad the polishing worked out.

And thanks for posting the solution that is a common one

Yep, dash is cooked, and its just dirt, not sand. Car sat outdoors in Colorado uncovered for years. Its cleaned up now, but a new dash is in my future for sure...