In the last issue of The Dispatch, The 80 Percent Effect, I discussed one of the easiest high-impact habits: just cleaning the glass – especially the windshield. But not only does having a crystal-clear glass give you the sense of a freshly detailed car, it more importantly gives you clarity. And clarity on the road means safety. Clarity is the one detail that always pays you back.

Why Glass Care Matters More Than People Think

Dirt, road grime and film, bug splatter, sap – they all reduce visibility and, over time, give your windshield a hazy film that reduces visibility more than drivers realize.

Even a lightly hazy windshield can increase eye strain, glare, and, ultimately, reaction time if left unaddressed.

Glass care is one of the easiest ways to maintain your car's appearance regularly, yet it remains one of the most overlooked aspects of detailing. It also pays the most significant dividends when it comes to comfort and safety.

In this article, we'll discuss the following:

• How visibility degrades without you perceiving it until it's cleaned.

• Why that filmy haze on the inside of your windshield builds up.

• How to keep glass clear longer with simple habits.

The Two Steps of Glass Care

Exceptional glass clarity is a two-step process.

Cleaning the Glass

Cleaning the glass is our foundational step. With regular cleaning using a quality ammonia-free glass cleaner, you remove smudges, water spots after washing, sap, and bird droppings. On the inside, it means removing the haze buildup that every car owner notices but can't stand.

Where does that film come from? It comes from plasticizers in your dashboard and from your HVAC system. For this reason, it's essential to use a dashboard cleaner like nextzett Cockpit Premium that doesn't break down the dashboard and accelerate the off-gassing of chemicals that cause that cloudy film.

However, over time, even regular glass cleaning is not enough. For absolute clarity, using a glass polish like Einszett Glaspolish will give you clarity you didn't realize you were missing.

Glaspolish and similar automotive glass polishes contain special abrasives made explicitly for glass that remove stubborn grime and hard water spots. It'll eliminate the film that builds up so slowly that you don't even notice it – even when you think your glass and mirrors are clean. Using Glaspolish or any glass polish is the most effective way to remove windshield haze and water spots, restoring a streak-free windshield.

Use a glass polish at least once a year to revive and restore the glass, then maintain it with glass cleaner. You can apply most glass polishes by hand or machine.

While driving, use a high-quality windshield washer fluid that won't leave smears, streaks, or residue. The correct fluid should enhance visibility, not worsen it. We recommend nextzett Kristall Klar Washer Fluid Concentrate or, for winter, nextzett Anti Frost Washer Fluid Concentrate.

A quality washer fluid won't degrade your view of the road but rather enhance it, especially during heavy rain or nighttime driving.

Protect the Glass

After all that work, it's worth keeping your glass clean for as long as possible, which is where protecting it comes in.

Apply a hydrophobic layer using a glass coating, such as nextzett Glass Sealant, to improve visibility in rain and reduce reliance on wipers. As a bonus, its self-cleaning effect will keep your glass looking cleaner, longer.

Here are other benefits of using a glass coating:

• Water repels at speed: especially beneficial during heavy downpours when wipers can't keep up, even at the highest speed.

• Minimizes cleaning: Creates a slick surface on the glass so bugs, sap, and road film have a harder time sticking.

• Prevents film buildup: The coating acts as a barrier between the glass surface and the elements. In most cases, maintaining cleanliness with glass cleaner is sufficient. It also helps reduce nighttime glare.

A coating like Glass Sealant is one of the best tools for improving visibility in the rain and achieving a truly safe windshield-cleaning routine.

Where Safety Comes In

With all the technology in your car, the windshield has to be the least technological device, yet the most important. It's your view of the world and the multitude of information you take in as you drive. Seeing road signs, traffic lights, pedestrians, cyclists, and even the lane lines is crucial – day or night.

When the film on your windshield distorts your vision or the rain sheets instead of beads, reaction times can degrade significantly. It's situations like this where a hydrophobic layer earns its keep.

If it hasn't rained in a long time, the buildup of oil and other fluids collects on the road. A fresh rain will pool it up, and road spray from vehicles ahead will kick it onto your windshield, making for a difficult view.

These are just a couple of hazards that impair visibility.

Even a slight drop in visibility can affect how quickly we react. The cleaner the glass, the more information you can process in less time.

The Simple 3-Step Routine Anyone Can Do

Step 1: Deep Clean (optional but highly recommended)

Use a glass cleaning polish like Einszett Glaspolish for etched water spots or well-worn windshields — this step is key if you're tackling how to clean a windshield that's severely hazy or contaminated.

Step 2: Daily/Weekly Maintenance

Use a quality, ammonia-free glass cleaner like nextzett Windscreen Clear to clean glass by hand. Cleaning the glass with glass cleaner is the step most people skip, but it makes the biggest difference day to day. For cleaning during driving, use a quality, methanol-free/ammonia-free windshield washer fluid like nextzett Kristall Klar washer fluid while driving to remove haze, bugs, and sap.

Step 3: Protect

Apply a glass coating such as nextzett Glass Sealant for long-lasting repellency and safer wet-weather driving.

Pro Tip: Prep glass with Einszett Glaspolish before application for the best adhesion and longest-lasting results.

When Should You Do This?

• At the change of seasons – Spring and Fall are ideal for deep cleaning and protection.

• Before road trips – Make sure washer tanks are topped off and bring glass cleaner with you.

• Before stormy or winter months – A hydrophobic coating massively improves visibility.

• Anytime your wipers smear – Replace wipers and ensure the glass is polished and clean.

• After washing the car, the Glass should always be the finishing step. It's the last 5% that makes the whole car look 30% better.

Closing Thought

Cleaning glass might feel like a hassle or a step you can skip. But glass with excellent clarity not only impacts the look and feel of your car as you drive, it also directly affects your driving safety.

Products Mentioned:

nextzett Cockpit Premium

Einszett Glaspolish

nextzett Kristall Klar Washer Fluid Concentrate

nextzett Anti Frost Washer Fluid Concentrate

nextzett Glass Sealant