Windshield Cleaning

Share bits of wisdom you have picked up along the way and links to the good sites.

Windshield Cleaning

Postby STATMATT » Fri Aug 29, 2014 11:01 am

I traveled a 4,000 mile loop a few weeks ago, And going through the grasslands in southwestern Kansas, I got a blistering of grasshoppers.(picture would be nice, but I didn't take one)
When I arrived at my brothers house in Dallas, he swore by the Mr Clean Eraser. I took it with a grain of salt, but in the morning when I went to leave he had covered my windshield with a few wet paper towels and left a slightly soaked Eraser on my tank bag. I wiped up what rehydrated grasshoppers I could with the paper towel and started with a grimy windshield, both inside and out.
Small swirls of the Magic Eraser and the grime turned into wet smudges, when I wiped them with a clean paper towel I had an unbelievably clean windshield.

It was so amazing it seemed worth relaying the tip here.

STATMATT
STATMATT
Frequent Poster
 
Posts: 219
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:49 am

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Postby Unity » Fri Aug 29, 2014 11:32 am

Ooo, don't use paper towels on plastic. Paper towels will scratch plastic. Use microfiber or a soft cotton cloth (like a piece of an old t-shirt).

--John
2002 R1150RT, Silver
Silver, the "cool and aloof" color.
(Road & Track Vol. 56, No.2, p. 19)

1971 Triumph Bonneville, Gold
Gold, the "paying the restorer" color.
(Trust me.)
User avatar
Unity
Shaman
 
Posts: 7170
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:26 am
Location: Reston VA

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Postby ERC Scott » Fri Aug 29, 2014 3:12 pm

Big fan of the yellow microfiber towels (~ 1 ft sq) sold at Costco in a bundle of maybe 50. Always have a couple stowed in my tail bag.
2016 R1200RS
2005 R1200 GS
2015 1290 SuperDuke-R

You don't choose your life, you live it.
User avatar
ERC Scott
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 2727
Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:58 am
Location: Catoctin Mountain

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Postby STATMATT » Tue Sep 02, 2014 3:09 pm

Paper towels stay fairly clean on the road. I cannot seem to keep microfiber clean. and once the bug parts become inpreganated in the material, you basically have sand paper anyway. Those are my thoughts...
STATMATT
Frequent Poster
 
Posts: 219
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:49 am

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Postby Unity » Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:24 pm

Your choice, of course.

Here's a grab-sample from the first page of google search results. They agree, no paper. Also, no glass cleaners such as Windex.

http://www.ceebaileys.com/cycle/windshieldcare.html
http://www.allamericanprod.com/hints.html
http://www.clearviewshields.com/blog/ke ... iew-clean/
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/motorc ... e-cleaning

Specialized plastic cleaners and detailing sprays such as Plexus or Original Bike Spirits Spray Cleaner & Polish are what I use, along with some terry-like polishing cloths that they sell in bundles at auto parts stores. Windscreen cleaning towels stay clean in a ziploc-type bag.

--John
(Household cleaning products are for household cleaning. Reminds me of when I asked a guy at Home Depot if I couldn't just use drywall screws. He said, "Drywall screws are for drywall.")
2002 R1150RT, Silver
Silver, the "cool and aloof" color.
(Road & Track Vol. 56, No.2, p. 19)

1971 Triumph Bonneville, Gold
Gold, the "paying the restorer" color.
(Trust me.)
User avatar
Unity
Shaman
 
Posts: 7170
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:26 am
Location: Reston VA

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Postby stevebmw » Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:36 pm

Never use Windex or anything else with ammonia on plastic windshields. Most of these windshields are composites and the ammonia will cause the layers to separate, leaving the appearance of spider cracks between the layers. Once that happens, there's nothing you can do but replace the windshield.

The problem with paper towels is the very nature of the material. It's pretty abrasive and can easily scratch plastic, even when the paper towel is brand new and nearly sterile. It can leave marks like the swirly lines you see frequently on black paint from overly enthusiastic rubbing.
Steve Anderson
2002 R1150GS
Morton's BMW Motorcycles
Your HQ for GS fun!
Fredericksburg, Virginia
540-891-9844
steve@mortonsbmw.com
http://www.mortonsbmw.com
User avatar
stevebmw
Board Viking
 
Posts: 2645
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2003 11:48 am
Location: Locust Grove, Virginia

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Postby ERC Scott » Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:26 am

Wunderlich has a visor cleaner packet/wipe that you can pick up as a freebie at MC shows, rallies, etc. I haven't used on a wind screen, but i don't think there is any reason not to do so (unless you have a barn door size screen, which might require a few packets). The major problem is I've yet to find the product available in bike shops. Maybe because the directions, etc. are strictly in German. I know I'd buy a couple dozen if I could find a source at a reasonable price.
2016 R1200RS
2005 R1200 GS
2015 1290 SuperDuke-R

You don't choose your life, you live it.
User avatar
ERC Scott
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 2727
Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:58 am
Location: Catoctin Mountain

Re: Windshield Cleaning

Postby Vroombroom » Fri Jan 02, 2015 4:40 pm

ERC Scott wrote:Wunderlich has a visor cleaner packet/wipe that you can pick up as a freebie at MC shows, rallies, etc. I haven't used on a wind screen, but i don't think there is any reason not to do so (unless you have a barn door size screen, which might require a few packets). The major problem is I've yet to find the product available in bike shops. Maybe because the directions, etc. are strictly in German. I know I'd buy a couple dozen if I could find a source at a reasonable price.


I think these are what you're talking about? http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/motorcycle/9001277.html
Vroombroom
Newbie
 
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:17 pm


Return to Tips, Tricks and Links

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests

cron