Shaving Cream on Windshield – Does It Really Work?

Streak-free glass has vexed amateur and pro cleaners for generations. Companies put out new product formulations constantly, promising to finally give us a flawless shine.

But according to TikTok’s cleaning corner #CleanTok, the answer has been in our bathrooms all along… It’s shaving cream!

Can shaving cream really clean a windshield? Have we been doing this wrong since shaving cream was invented in 1919? I tried it out and talked to cleaning expert Melissa Homer, cleaning consultant at Ecomaids, about this latest TikTok trend. Read on to find out if this DIY glass cleaning hack lives up to the hype.

Here’s the video:

@lifewithrachelrose Easy Cleaning Hack For A Shiny Oven (Or Any Appliance/ Glass Surface) using shaving foam! 🥰 #cleantok #cleantok101 #satisfyingvideo #cleantiktok #cleantokuk #cleantokusa #easycleaning #easycleaningtips #easycleaninghacks #ovencleaninghack #ovencleaning #cleanwithme #cleaningvideo #cleaningtips #satisfyingvideos #cleantoks #deepcleaning #homehacks #cleaningtiktok #homehack ♬ Up & Down – Vengaboys

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Shaving Cream on Windshields

If you intend to try the hack of using shaving cream on the windshield to clean it, then there is not much to figure out here.

• Step 1: Spray a good-sized blob of shaving cream on a clean towel (it looks like they used microfiber in the video).
• Step 2: Vigorously rub the shaving cream on a glass surface, like your oven door window, microwave door or bathroom mirror.

It looks messy, but we’re told to “trust the process.” After an unspecified amount of time, the shaving cream buffs away, leaving the glass streak-free and beautiful.

What Does Shaving Cream Do to Glass?

I tried this hack, and yes, it does work. I have two vanity mirrors in my bathroom, so I cleaned one with shaving cream and one with Windex.

Both mirrors look identically sparkly, but the shaving cream side took three times as long. It was also absurdly messy. As I buffed and wiped the shaving cream on the glass, stray blobs threatened to fall onto the vanity. They often succeeded, especially when I got to the mirror’s edge.

While I was working the shaving cream smelled nice and it cleaned as promised. But was it worth the effort? No.

Shaving Foam for Windows: Does It Really Clean and Prevent Fog?

Homer says shaving cream cleans glass because water, soap and alcohol make up the bulk of both products. Shaving creams also contain moisturizers, like glycerin. (Fun fact: Glycerin is the secret ingredient in bubble juice.) “Glycerin holds water on the mirror to keep it wetter longer and helps the soap cling while you scrub and buff,” says Homer.

Even though shaving cream can clean glass, Homer says, “There’s a huge gulf between can you do this and should you do this.” According to Homer, this trend has three massive drawbacks:

• It’s messy. (I can attest to this.)
• It leaves streaks if you don’t work fast.
• It’s “wildly more expensive” than dish soap or glass cleaner.

So cleaning glass with shaving cream creates more work for more money. Why are we doing this again?

Alternative Methods for Fog-Free Glass Surfaces

“If you want to clean glass cheaply, professional window cleaners will tell you all you need is a few drops of dish soap, water and a squeegee,” says Homer. One ounce of dish soap costs about a dime and makes five gallons of window washing fluid. So, Homer says, “Why would you even use a cheap $2 can of shaving cream?”

Shaving cream residues do have antifogging properties because they destroy water’s surface tension, Homer says. Surface tension causes water to bead on glass, which is why we can’t see through a foggy windshield. If you clean your bathroom mirror with shaving cream, it won’t fog up when someone’s in the shower. (Fun fact: Car wax will also keep your bathroom mirror from fogging up.) However, an antifog product like Rain-X lasts weeks per application, making it much more economical than shaving cream. For a commercial window cleaner that comes off fast and clear, Homer recommends Invisible Glass.

Bottom line? Shaving cream should be a last resort, not a first pick. “If you’re out of window cleaner and Rain-X and you want to clean and defog your mirror right now—and you have a can of Barbasol lying around — it will do you in a pinch,” Homer says.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

FAQ

Can shaving cream help in preventing windshield fog?

Yes, it can! Shaving cream leaves a thin layer on glass that helps prevent windshield fog, but it’s not as long-lasting as dedicated anti-fog products.

How do you clean a windshield without leaving streaks?

If applied and wiped off properly, shaving foam on car windows usually doesn’t leave spots. It creates a temporary anti-fog layer. However if not cleaned thoroughly it can leave streaks or residue. You should wipe it off well with a clean microfiber cloth to avoid any marks after drying.

What’s a quick way to reduce car window condensation?

You can try shaving cream to temporarily reduce car window condensation but anti-fog sprays like Rain-X work better and last longer. But if you are unable to use them properly, then try the conventional ways by turn on the defroster and the air conditioner simultaneously, even in cold weather.

About the Experts:

• Melissa Homer is a cleaning consultant at Ecomaids,  a residential cleaning franchise renowned for their innovative and forward-thinking approach to green cleaning, With 25 years of industry expertise her role centers on propelling Ecomaids to the forefront of eco-friendly cleaning by identifying and integrating the most advanced green cleaning solutions available. 

Sources:

• Ecomaids
• Turn to 23: “Can You Use Shaving Cream to Clear Up That Foggy Windshield and Windows on Your Car?”
• Cleaning Institute: “Clean Windows”
• Barbasol: “Our History”