What is the favorite windshield/"glass" cleaner out there
- Thread starter skukum12
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skagwaypilot
Registered User
Texas
For more that 25 years and many different airplanes , I have used Lemon Pledge and some soft paper towels on plastic windshields. Never a problem.
cubdriver2
FRIEND
upstate NY
Don't use glass cleaner on Plexi, it has ammonia in it.
Cheapest place I have found to by Plexus http://www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/textsearch_result.jcw?sku=plexis&shopid=100001
Glenn
Cheapest place I have found to by Plexus http://www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/textsearch_result.jcw?sku=plexis&shopid=100001
Glenn
Flying Bee
MEMBER
Washington 2S9
arnold bronson
Registered User
Albuquerque, NM
I like Plexus but it is expensive. I've started to use Pledge which also works to clean the bugs off the leading edge surfaces.
sjohnson
FRIEND
Boise, ID
Brillianize from Interstate Plastics. Expensive, but 1 bottle lasts well over a year for me.
https://www.interstateplastics.com/_E.php?category=Cleaning-Polishing&design=Accessories
https://www.interstateplastics.com/_E.php?category=Cleaning-Polishing&design=Accessories
PerryB
FRIEND
Chico, CA
I like Plexxus better than Clear View but have not been able to find it locally. CV seems to leave streaks. I'm going to try Pledge. I have always used a soft deep pile cotton cloth/towel but I have a friend who often uses a micro fiber. Any opinions on this? It concerns me because micro fiber is a poly-something (plastic) based material and might scratch or dull the windshield.
Bill Watson
SPONSOR
Indiana
I like Permatex plastic cleaner, works well on bugs. Used to come in a can now its available in a pump spray bottle.
Clay Hammond
Registered User
Rhinebeck NY (NY94)
+1 for Permatex
I like Wash Wax All by Aero Cosmetics. A helicopter crop sprayer who bases out of our farm shop a while each summer gave me a gallon it meets Boing specs.I cut it 50/50 with water wipe with a clean micro fiber towel and polish with a dry towel, it works great on the whole cub, after a few coats the bugs don' stick as bad.
bob turner
Registered User
Me too on the Pledge, BUT:
A plexiglas specialist from LA gave a presentation at one of our IA seminars. He said "nothing but pure water and the palm of your hand". He did mostly high end windows on larger and more expensive airplanes.
I still use Pledge, but the water trick works just fine, if you can get the tiny droplets off. My windshields seem to get crazing after about four decades. In 52 years I have replaced my windshield once.
A plexiglas specialist from LA gave a presentation at one of our IA seminars. He said "nothing but pure water and the palm of your hand". He did mostly high end windows on larger and more expensive airplanes.
I still use Pledge, but the water trick works just fine, if you can get the tiny droplets off. My windshields seem to get crazing after about four decades. In 52 years I have replaced my windshield once.
irishfield
Registered User
Penetanguishene, Ontario Canada
I've used 210 Plastic Cleaner for 20 years now... still have the same windshield in my airplane, as new. My customer uses Pledge... as habit from the days of being in the bush and stealing the wife's can of duster spray! His is just as shinny after 10 years now.
One thing to note about the 210 product line.. their scratch remover liquid paste product will successfully remove overspray from an acrylic windshield and show no ill effects. (don't ask how or why I know... !)
One thing to note about the 210 product line.. their scratch remover liquid paste product will successfully remove overspray from an acrylic windshield and show no ill effects. (don't ask how or why I know... !)
105 Special
Registered User
Council, NC
I use NOVOUS 1 started using it when I bought my Harley.
Mark_Moyle
SPONSOR
Platinum
Lemon pledge and two bath towels...one dedicated towel for the glass. Second towel for the fabric and sheet metal. Installing a new green tint all around...the old windshield 20 plus years old....still clear and scratch free.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
aktango58
FRIEND
18AA
I used pledge for years. Problem was that I had to use Rain-x to help in rain showers.
Somehow I was given a can of plexus (spelling) to try. WOW! cleaned better than pledge, and would shed water was well as Rain-x for a couple of days, so every cleaning was like a rain-x treatment!
I use a very soft polishing cloth like sold at the auto stores. Paper towels will live microscopic scratches, that when flying into the sun blinds you.
One tip: don't go in circles, use up and down, side to side to reduce the sunburst scratch problem on the windshield.
Somehow I was given a can of plexus (spelling) to try. WOW! cleaned better than pledge, and would shed water was well as Rain-x for a couple of days, so every cleaning was like a rain-x treatment!
I use a very soft polishing cloth like sold at the auto stores. Paper towels will live microscopic scratches, that when flying into the sun blinds you.
One tip: don't go in circles, use up and down, side to side to reduce the sunburst scratch problem on the windshield.
Cub junkie
Registered User
My Moms basement
I use Pledge as it works great. The reason it works so well is it's mostly water.
PerryB
FRIEND
Chico, CA
Excellent tip, I was taught the same thing. Clean up and down. Only use circles when actually polishing.
I use Pledge, and Plexus. Both seem to do the job okay. If I am really wanting to do the job right I like to use water and mild dish soap, and wash up and down the window with my clean hand, or a soft clean cloth. As stated before nothing containing ammonia.
I have also used convective cleaning at times. However that usually requires another cleaning session inside the aircraft later.
I have also used convective cleaning at times. However that usually requires another cleaning session inside the aircraft later.
skywagon8a
MEMBER
SE Mass MA6
I've been using the water and bare hand followed by Pledge with an old "T" shirt method for years. When I bought the plexi for my Cub, I decided to try the cleaner recommended by the dealer. It is Novus #1 in a pump plastic spray bottle. There is also a #2 and #3 for scratches. This seems much better than Pledge for which I had no complaints.
http://www.novuspolish.com/
The water and bare hand method is always recommended first in order to feel any possible grit. If you use a rag with anything you will not feel the grit.
http://www.novuspolish.com/
The water and bare hand method is always recommended first in order to feel any possible grit. If you use a rag with anything you will not feel the grit.
As line boy I had to clean every window of every aircraft I fueled. Used Mirror Glaze by the gallon thinned 50-50 with water and a soft terry towel. I've cleaned a lot of plexiglass! I thought Mirror Glaze was the best until I owned a boat with Eisenglass clear panels. Those things are about as soft a clear plastic as you can get and easily scratched. Salt adherence is also a big problem. Then I discovered "Klear-to-Sea." I discovered during a delivery at Boeing. It is what they use for the acrylic pax windows. It works the best I have ever experienced.
It not only cleans, it is anti-static, anti-fog, and for sea plane guys, anti-salt. Even better it is Boeing approved for plexiglass. I use it with some of those micro-fiber terry towels (the yellow ones) you get at Costco. I like it because it is low viscosity unlike Mirror Glaze, it has no wax like Pledge (Pledge will attract dirt). It quickly cleans and leaves leaving the surface without static or waxes.
It not only cleans, it is anti-static, anti-fog, and for sea plane guys, anti-salt. Even better it is Boeing approved for plexiglass. I use it with some of those micro-fiber terry towels (the yellow ones) you get at Costco. I like it because it is low viscosity unlike Mirror Glaze, it has no wax like Pledge (Pledge will attract dirt). It quickly cleans and leaves leaving the surface without static or waxes.
Bill.Brine
FOUNDER
Massachusetts
+ 1 on Plexis.
I was once a Pledge user but became a yuppie like Glenn and switched to Plexis.
Always with a cotton cloth. Paper towels can be abrasive.
sj
Staff member
Northwest Arkansas
HA!
Speaking of RainX, is there a similar product appropriately compatible with plexi? I have used water and hand method many times, but Lake and Air was selling a product too that was great on Plex, can't remember the name of it!
sj
