Windshield Cleaning

[STATMATT]

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

[Unity]

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

[ERC Scott]

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.

[STATMATT]

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...

[Unity]

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.")

[stevebmw]

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.

[ERC Scott]

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.

[Vroombroom]

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