Cleaning cockpit cover plastic windows

[AllanG]

What do you use for cleaning the plastic windows in your cockpit cover?

Thanks in advance!

Allan

 

[Marine Reflections]

Decent microfibre cloth, Autoglym fast glass

 

[kashurst]

I use a small steam cleaner - gets all the grease/oil out nice and gentle. It kills mildew etc as well.

 

[Firefly625]

for plastic windows personally I would not use a "glass cleaner", fast glass great on glass, but acrylic needs different care IMHO.

I would use Mer Polish if dirty and marked (with 2 micro fibre cloths, 1 to apply & 1 to remove, apply with circular motion, allow to dry and buff off, obviously make sure you don't get on canopy fabric)

http://www.merproducts.com/Products/Product/20

This can restore old acrylic windows to really good order.

as a maintenance clean I then just use Autosmart Stardust Eclat, spray on & polish and buff, be generous if dirty, this has no silicon and so is idea on acrylic ;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autosmart-Stardust-Eclat-Car-Instant-Polish-Dressing-BN-/40024495684

 

[Bloater]

Halfords sell 'soft top window cleaner' I think it is made by Turtlewax? It is a silver spray bottle with a green spray handle. It works really well and doesn't harm the plastic.

 

[SolentPhill]

Gave my 4 yr old covers to my local canopy maker £100 later I had 3 new windows,

Good as the day she arrived

 

[Firefly625]

Gave my 4 yr old covers to my local canopy maker £100 later I had 3 new windows,

Good as the day she arrived

sounds OK, but must get expensive every time you want them clean...

 

[SolentPhill]

sounds OK, but must get expensive every time you want them clean...

I dunno £25 per year, about same as couple bottles polish without the shoulder ache

 

[Marine Reflections]

for plastic windows personally I would not use a "glass cleaner", fast glass great on glass, but acrylic needs different care IMHO.

I would use Mer Polish if dirty and marked (with 2 micro fibre cloths, 1 to apply & 1 to remove, apply with circular motion, allow to dry and buff off, obviously make sure you don't get on canopy fabric)

http://www.merproducts.com/Products/Product/20

This can restore old acrylic windows to really good order.

as a maintenance clean I then just use Autosmart Stardust Eclat, spray on & polish and buff, be generous if dirty, this has no silicon and so is idea on acrylic ;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autosmart-Stardust-Eclat-Car-Instant-Polish-Dressing-BN-/40024495684

I have found that fast glass is one of the only "glass cleaners" that works well on the softer, plastic windows.
It will rid the surface of the most stubborn contaminates and leave a perfect streak free finish.

Most 'glass cleaners' are not that great on the softer, flexible material, some are even not safe for the surface, so you are correct to give it some caution.

Auto glym fast glass is different.
Used for years with correct results and is the only glass cleaner I carry/use on a daily basis and I have got through quite a few brands, 3M, Megiuars, even Nanolex do not compare with the quick streak free results the AG provides.

If we are talking restoration, then it is a different ball game.

For restoration of flexible windows, scratch / blooming removal etc, I would go for Meguiars Plast RX and polish via machine, the only reason I would not use Farecla's Mer polish is because it contains 10% petroleum that may react some time after application, it will lose it's flexibility and age faster in the sun.

 

[Firefly625]

I have found that fast glass is one of the only "glass cleaners" that works well on the softer, plastic windows.
It will rid the surface of the most stubborn contaminates and leave a perfect streak free finish.

Most 'glass cleaners' are not that great on the softer, flexible material, some are even not safe for the surface, so you are correct to give it some caution.

Auto glym fast glass is different.
Used for years with correct results and is the only glass cleaner I carry/use on a daily basis and I have got through quite a few brands, 3M, Megiuars, even Nanolex do not compare with the quick streak free results the AG provides.

If we are talking restoration, then it is a different ball game.

For restoration of flexible windows, scratch / blooming removal etc, I would go for Meguiars Plast RX and polish via machine, the only reason I would not use Farecla's Mer polish is because it contains 10% petroleum that may react some time after application, it will lose it's flexibility and age faster in the sun.

you are the expert, next time I will have a go with fast glass. Have used mer for some years without any detrimental effect...

 

[Marine Reflections]

Give it a go, it will certainly be quicker than applying polish and rubbing off and it really does work well.

Not saying that the Mer will destroy it in a puff of smoke, just that I would avoid the petroleum.

No expert, just found out what works and what doesn't over time.

 

[AllanG]

Many thanks for the suggestions/recommendations!

Allan

 

[Whopper]

I've used 303 uv protectant spray with microfibre cloths and it works well. Slightly off point but 303 is a great all round product that can be used on vinyl cushions etc. I've used it on red gel coat and I beleieve its better than any other wax I've tried for protection against UV damage/fade.