Windshield Cleaning

[saddlebum]

I was told by a company that makes plexi glass windshield for bike boats and all sorts of other things to never use regular glass cleaner on plexi glass. Boaters do it alot and apparantly this causes there windshields to turn yellow. he recomended clear water only.

With respect to rain-x I have used it on my car and hated it, could not wiat to get it off. I found it was cause headlights from on coming cars to glare as though i had a greasey windshield.

[timgray]

Cant remember where I got this.... but it was in my snippets file and the reason why I stopped buying plexus and switched to Lemon Pledge.

------

Lemon Pledge Ingredients:

 

Naphtha, petroleum, light alkylate 5%-10%

Polydimethylsiloxanes (Silicon oil) 5%-10%

Water 70%-85%

Butane 1% -5%

Isobutane 1% - 5%

Propane 1% - 5%

 

Source: Consumer Product Information Database

 

Silcon based cleaners(silicon oil) are said to be O.K. for Lexan, but not alcohol or ammonia-based cleansers. At this point I was not sure whether any of these ingredients contained alcohol or ammonia, or were safe for Lexan—until I compared them to those chemicals found in Plexus.

 

Plexus ingredients:

Alipathic petroleum distillates 23%

Isobutane 12%

Propane 3 %

 

Source: Plexus Plastic Cleaner MSDS Page 1 of 3 Material Safety Data Sheet

 

I think the rest is water, just like lemon pledge. Another Pledge similarity is listed Under “Appearance and Odor”. It states, “White/Off White creamy emulsion with Lemon Odor in an Aerosol can.”

 

However, there are those “Alipathic petroleum distillates” listed for Plexus in this MSDS, but I believe I found what those are in another MSDS listing for Plexus :

 

Solvent Naptha(Petroleum) light Aliphatic, 23 % - also found in Pledge(5%-10% Naptha/Petroleum & 5%-10% Silicon Oil)

 

In terms of cost, Plexus can go for $16 aerosol can, while Lemon Pledge is about $5 -$7 can.

------

 

 

 

[bamico]

Dealer told me that the Ammonia in Windex will discolor the shield. I use Plexus on mine. Returned the clarity of the shield so I can now see through it at night. $8 Plexus was a lot cheaper that the new ClearView shield I was expecting to have to buy.

[gunboat]

novis #1 is all i use, and a soft terry cloth towel soaked in warm water. the novis products are recommender by the makers of clearview shields. also in the aircraft field.

don c.

[ctraylor]

Lemon pledge for me and has always worked great.

[Rosie]

Yep... Pledge to the rescue ... I been using it for years.

 

 

I realize this is an old string but just came across it and found it very interesting... I have used windex but never used pledge. It sounds great and I would like to give it a try. However... there are many types of Pledge ????? multi surface, clean & shine, protection plus, extra moisturizing, revitalizing oil, natural beauty, and lots of wipes.

My guess is the multi surface that you experienced riders refer to, would that be the right choice ??

 

Terry

[SilvrT]

I realize this is an old string but just came across it and found it very interesting... I have used windex but never used pledge. It sounds great and I would like to give it a try. However... there are many types of Pledge ????? multi surface, clean & shine, protection plus, extra moisturizing, revitalizing oil, natural beauty, and lots of wipes.

My guess is the multi surface that you experienced riders refer to, would that be the right choice ??

 

Terry

 

I've always used Lemon Pledge Furniture Polish.

 

Any window cleaner such as Windex that contains ammonia will, over time, damage plexiglass by etching it. You can; however, use a Windex product that does not contain ammonia from what I understand.

[maindog]

I have tried a lot of things, but if its good enough for million dollar jet aircraft , its good enough for me. might cost a couple bucks more than the pledge but its engineered for this type of windshield. it works great on all the plastic too. IT rocks on my sons pocket bike.

[bstjohn]

Best thing I've ever used to clean any of my windshields has been Honda Polish (sold in a spray can at the Honda motorcycle dealers).

 

Sorry if this is a duplicate answer, I didn't read all replies before throwing my 2 cents in...

[dunvilsteev]

I had my windshield cut down a plastics store in Hamilton. The guy there told me "mild soap and water, but always use an old cotton t shirt" .... that has worked for me.

[steve crossley]

HEY EARL !! WELCOME BACK !!

[motorcycle_1300]

I just use water to clean my windshields on all my bikes past and present. I too use the soak a few min method, warm works best but cold works too. I use the nice soft lint free towels they sell at most bike events, I have never needed to use any kind of polish and my windshields always look like new. Remember soak don't scrub. Water is cheap and easy to find, is as close to a universal solvent as you can get, just takes time

 

Al

[Condor]

I know that somewhere in this site is a thread about how to properly clean a windshield and what to use but I can't find it. I have read about the use of Pledge cleaner and a 210 cleaner are these good products and are there others? Has anyone used Rain X to let the rain run off. I worry about getting a rainbow effect when the Sun hits it. What does everyone carry with them in there bags for cleaning?

 

I'm curious. Since you know about Pledge why are you looking for something else?? I've cleaned a lot of bugs, off a lot of difference windshields with Pledge, and have never gotten any type of 'halo' effect...just as long as a micro fiber towel is used to clean it off. Are you saying that after using pledge you get a 'halo'??

[SilvrT]

Are you saying that after using pledge you get a 'halo'??

 

In my case, I had the halo before I started using pledge.......

[FuzzyRSTD]

I am going to look for this "Kit" at Wall-Mart. Thanks for thread.

 

Fuzzy

[dunsonaventure]

I have always used plexus. you can usually pick it up at most motorcycle shops for about ten bucks. It is amazing. I use it on my windshield and the entire front of the bike. takes the bugs right off and reacts like a wax.

[Condor]

In my case, I had the halo before I started using pledge.......

 

Nah... that's just a reflection....

[Ryana7769]

I use Honda spray Cleaner and Polish on my windshield and everything else on my bikes.

 

I'll wash my bikes every now and then, but usually just clean everything with the spray.

 

Just make sure you buff it up good. I love the stuff.

http://www.kneedraggers.com/image_storage/c/54/c542788c404be7ba9b2bf6e39afbf1c4_refined.jpg

 

 

:sign yeah that::sign yeah that:

[SilvrT]

Nah... that's just a reflection....

 

Reflection or not, apparently YOU could SEE IT LOL!!

[GaryZ]

I've recently heard that if you mix three portions of Hydrogen Peroxide to one part of water it does a great job cleaning the windscreen and costs practically nothing.

[Preacher Dude]

I just went to Wally World and they did not have KIT. I went to Auto Zone found it there. Tried it. I can believe the difference it made on my windscreen. I just told my wife on the way back from Daytona I was going to have to buy a new one. I am going to try it on my face shield on my helmet now. Thanks for putting this on here.

Edited October 20, 2011 by Preacher Dude

[Yamamike]

DO NOT USE RAIN-X ON PLASTIC SHIELDS. Rain-x is only good on glass. Will discolor the plastic.

 

I did use the $8 a small can plexus, but now use the $2 a large can furniture polish. Smells the same (unless you get lemon scented, which doesn't hurt anything), looks the same, wipes the same, does the same job.

 

HUH...I've been using Rain-Ex on my windsheild for 5 years and don't see any discolouration.

Ride safe,

Mike

[a1bummer]

I picked up some "Kit" scratch remover for autos and in smaller print also good for plexiglass (yellow bottle).

This stuff actually cleaned my windsheild better than anything I had used, Maguires, Plexus, pledge and a dozen or so others. I think it was under $2.00 at Walmart.

 

The stuff truly amazed me:thumbsup:

So what area of Wally World did you find this stuff in? I looked in the Auto section and couldn't find it anywhere. Do you have a picture of it or at least have the the product name? Who know, I may have walked right by it and not have known.

 

Thanks

Bill

[Solodadof2]

I use a damp hot towel after a ride to loosen bugs, then clean with Novus. I have used plexus but would rather buy a bottle of novus at $4.95 and the honda cleaner @ 6.95 tha one can of plexus at $21.95. I have been told not to use alcohol products on the windscreens, because of discolorization and peeling.

[Howard B]

Whats work?