can you use paper towels on car windows

[McLuna]

It's best to avoid using paper towels on car windows for regular cleaning. While they might seem convenient for a quick wipe, paper towels are abrasive and can cause fine scratches on glass, especially when dealing with hardened dirt or debris. These scratches can scatter light and reduce visibility over time.

The primary issue is the material itself. Paper towels are made from wood pulp, which is relatively rough compared to specialized automotive cleaning cloths. When you rub a dry or even a damp paper towel across the glass, you're essentially grinding any tiny, hard particles (like road dust or sand) into the surface. Modern car windows are made of laminated or tempered safety glass, which is durable but not impervious to scratching from abrasives.

For a truly streak-free and safe clean, use a dedicated automated glass cleaner and a soft, lint-free microfiber towel. Microfiber towels have thousands of fine fibers that trap dirt and lift it away from the surface instead of dragging it across the glass. Here’s a quick comparison of cleaning materials:

Cleaning Material	Risk of Scratching	Lint Left Behind	Streak-Free Result
Paper Towel	High	High	Poor
Newsprint	Medium	Low	Fair
Cotton Rag (old t-shirt)	Medium	Medium	Fair
Microfiber Towel	Very Low	Very Low	Excellent

The correct technique is just as important as the tool. First, use a dedicated automotive glass cleaner to loosen the grime. Then, gently wipe with a clean, damp microfiber towel to remove the dirt. Finally, use a second dry microfiber towel to buff the glass to a perfect, streak-free shine. This two-towel method ensures you're not just reapplying dirt.

[LaAaliyah]

I learned the hard way. I used paper towels on my windshield once and it left behind a bunch of tiny scratches that you can only see when the sun hits it just right. Now I always use a spray bottle with a little white vinegar and water and a couple of good microfiber cloths. One for washing, one for drying. It’s cheaper in the long run and my windows are crystal clear. Paper towels are just too rough for glass.

[Alyssa]

From a practical standpoint, paper towels are inefficient for this task. They often disintegrate when wet, leaving bits of lint and paper all over the window, which creates more of a mess. Their absorbency works against you, often just smearing the dirt and cleaning solution around instead of lifting it off. For a quick, effective clean that doesn't risk damaging your glass, a microfiber cloth is a far superior and equally accessible tool.