Glass cleaning in a detail shop is one of those tasks that looks simple but produces more callbacks than almost anything else. Streaks visible at the wrong sun angle, haze from silicone contamination, residue left by the wrong cleaner on tinted film — any of these send a customer back to your bay. The solution is a glass cleaner formulated specifically for automotive glass, not a generic household window cleaner that contains ammonia or surfactants that interact with film and coatings.
Clarify 5 Gallon from Polishing Systems Inc is the bulk-volume format for operations that clean automotive glass at high throughput. Fleet maintenance operations, full-service car washes, dealership delivery prep, and high-volume detail shops all benefit from the cost reduction of purchasing glass cleaner at the 5-gallon level. A drum pump dispenses cleanly into spray bottles for technicians across the operation without waste.
What Clarify Is
Clarify is a professional automotive glass cleaner formulated to remove road film, water spots, fingerprints, silicone haze, and tobacco residue from automotive glass surfaces without streaking. The formula is ammonia-free, making it safe for use on tinted windows and glass with applied ceramic coating. It is concentrated and dilutable — different dilution ratios allow it to work as a spray glass cleaner at normal duty or a stronger degreasing glass cleaner for contaminated windshields.
Key Features and Why They Matter
- Ammonia-free formula — safe on window tint film, ceramic-coated glass, and plastic glazing. Ammonia in household cleaners degrades tint film adhesive and can affect ceramic coating chemistry.
- Streak-free formulation — engineered specifically to leave no residue pattern on glass. The formula flashes consistently without the surfactant film that causes streaking on glass surfaces.
- Removes silicone haze and tobacco film — handles the contamination types that standard glass cleaners cannot fully remove from automotive interior glass.
- Dilutable concentrate — adjustable concentration for light cleaning maintenance vs. heavy contamination removal.
What Clarify Is NOT For
Clarify is a glass cleaner — it is not appropriate for painted surfaces, leather, or interior plastics where a dedicated APC is more appropriate. For automotive paint, always use a dedicated car wash soap or APC, not a glass cleaner. Do not use on polycarbonate motorcycle windshields without testing — some polycarbonate formulations may react with certain glass cleaner solvents.
Who Uses This
High-volume detail shops that clean glass on every vehicle. Full-service car washes adding glass cleaning to their service. Fleet maintenance operations including windshield and glass cleaning in regular vehicle maintenance cycles. Dealership prep operations cleaning glass on every delivery vehicle. For smaller operations, see the 32 oz and 16 oz sizes.
How to Use
- Use a drum pump or pour spout to dispense from the 5-gallon pail into working spray bottles.
- Dilute to working strength: 10:1 to 20:1 for routine cleaning, 4:1 to 8:1 for heavy contamination.
- Apply and buff with clean glass-specific microfiber towels.
Why Buy 5 Gallon vs. Multiple 1-Gallon Containers
For operations going through more than 2 gallons of glass cleaner per month, the 5-gallon format reduces per-gallon cost and eliminates the handling and storage of multiple individual containers. One pail with a pump dispenser is a simpler, more efficient supply solution for a multi-technician operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 5-gallon pail ship with a pump dispenser?
The pail does not include a pump dispenser — dispensers are available separately and are recommended for efficient, spill-free dispensing from a 5-gallon container.
How long does 5 gallons of Clarify last for a busy detail shop?
A shop cleaning glass on 20-30 vehicles per week at typical dilution rates will go through 5 gallons of concentrate in approximately 6-12 weeks of normal operation. Shops doing glass-specific services (windshield treatment, ceramic glass coating prep) may use more per vehicle.
Is Clarify 5 Gallon the same formula as the smaller sizes?
Yes — same professional ammonia-free automotive glass cleaner concentrate in a bulk format. No difference in chemistry or performance, only container size and per-gallon cost.
Can I ship Clarify 5 Gallon by standard freight?
Yes — Clarify is a non-flammable, non-hazardous glass cleaner that ships by standard ground freight. Large orders may qualify for freight shipping — contact Polishing Systems Inc for volume pricing and shipping options.
