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CVO Technical => Cleaning/Detailing => Topic started by: Dejad on September 29, 2015, 09:32:23 AM
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What do you fellas use on the windshield as an in between washes cleaner?
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For me it is either Bug Slide or Plexus. I like to get it good and wet so I don't scratch the plastic with bug parts.
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Best product for plastic and polycarbonate but pricey: Plexus (http://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/about.html)
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Someone told me once don't ever use anything that came from a tree to clean plastic (glasses or otherwise) with. I've always heart paper towels or anything like it are the worst. So first, use soft cloth materials, like cotton or microfiber. Secondly, don't use elbow grease. Don't rub hard. Third, get it wet first and let it soak for a minute or longer.
I use a pail of warm to hot water and a soft towel wrung out. If a pail isn't available, I use the ice cube plastic square thingy at motels. Lay the wet cloth on the windshield and let it sit while you're cleaning something else on the bike. Then for the stuff that doesn't come off the first time repeat the process.
I also use Meguiar's premium detailer a lot. Spray a fine mist on, let it sit, then gently rub with a microfiber cloth. Repeat (but gently) if needed. I haven't scratched a windshield yet with either process.
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I use plexus however have seen a lot about using hydrogen peroxide lately. Guys swear bugs nearly jump off and are using on fairings and chrome forks. Not commercial grade but the drug store brands. Seen a few that put a sprayer on the bottle and carry in saddlebags. May try it.
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warm water soaked into a microfiber cloth. No hard rubbing required if you let it soak a bit.
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Someone told me once don't ever use anything that came from a tree to clean plastic (glasses or otherwise) with. I've always heart paper towels or anything like it are the worst. So first, use soft cloth materials, like cotton or microfiber. Secondly, don't use elbow grease. Don't rub hard. Third, get it wet first and let it soak for a minute or longer.
I use a pail of warm to hot water and a soft towel wrung out. If a pail isn't available, I use the ice cube plastic square thingy at motels. Lay the wet cloth on the windshield and let it sit while you're cleaning something else on the bike. Then for the stuff that doesn't come off the first time repeat the process.
I also use Meguiar's premium detailer a lot. Spray a fine mist on, let it sit, then gently rub with a microfiber cloth. Repeat (but gently) if needed. I haven't scratched a windshield yet with either process.
X2..Buddy!!!
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Plexus and micro fiber cloth. Spray and gently rub with finger tips, they do not soak up the plexus. Then buff clean with micrfiber. Works like a champ and leavea a wax that helps keep bugs from sticking.
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Bug Slide & Micro Fiber Cloth Done !!!
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i carry a cloth in a ziploc bag(keeps moist &everything else dry) in saddle bag. hot water,soak a bit then "gently " wipe off. also a spray bottle of detailer (your choice) this helps to give a protective coat & helps with removal of unwanted critters.
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IMHO Haird has the only suggestion that really works without causing damage.
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Serious Shine http://shurhold.com/marine/yacht-brite-chemicals
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Hot water soak when available. During rides for the last 15years I have used lemon pledge and micro fiber spray let soak 2 min wipe off
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Easily the best stuff I've ever used... that said I've never tried plexus. In SoCal we don't get too many bugs but that hust means the ones I do get decorate the windshield for a week unless they are really bad. Quick spray and everything wipes off easy.
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Windex and a soft cloth.... but my windshields always look like crap so don't take my advise!
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When at home, I generally use the hot water and soft cloth method...when the buggies are on lightly. However, when getting the heavy/dry/crusty/baked-on after many miles variety of said bug juices, I keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide (household mix) in a spray bottle in the garage. Spray on & wait a bit, then use water & soft cloth to final clean & dry. Then, I use Plexus with a microfiber to finish off which leaves a protection layer on the windshield and makes it easy to clean the next time. Having said this, over the last year or so, I discovered the Bugslide stuff and I like it a lot. I carry a small bottle & microfiber with me when out on the road in a ziplock bag in case the cap loosens. Now, I sort of swap between the Plexus & Bugslide. In my opinion, the Plexus will leave a nicer look-like-new surface by taking care of the little swirls/light blemishes that you pick up on your windshield over time. Never, ever use a paper towel on a bike....it's blasphemy!
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warm water soaked into a microfiber cloth. No hard rubbing required if you let it soak a bit.
On the road this is what I do - warm water & microfiber.
At home I have a spray bottle filled with water - only. Spray the bugs on the bike (every ride for me in this climate), let it soak in for a couple of minutes, respray if needed to made sure all is wet, then wipe down with a microfiber. Works as well as any cleaner, have done this for many years on windshields as well as other bike parts. Helps greatly to have a wax/polish or detailer on these surfaces so they are slick to begin with. I use detailer every couple of months or so.
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Microfiber and pledge. I use pledge on the entire bike, shines like new and new bugs/dirt wipe off with ease.
Spray the windshield let it soak for a minute or 2 then just wipe off.
Got stuff stuck to your Chrome, especially the exhaust?
Carefully spray easy off oven cleaner on it let it sit over night and it easily wipes off.
Don't get it on any paint though.
I've been doing these for years and have never had a problem.
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Spray on Poly-glide polish then softly rub the polish around with my hand and wait a few minutes until bugs/dirt are soaked and loose. Then re-spray and softly clean with micro-fiber.
I do this for the entire front fairing and forks.
http://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/poly-glide-polish-one-gallon.html
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I use Pledge furniture polish-apply with soft cloth and shine with microfiber cloth. I also use it on all the painted surfaces and have been for years on all my bikes-you would be amazed at the results on the cheap! My 2 cents.
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I use plexus however have seen a lot about using hydrogen peroxide lately. Guys swear bugs nearly jump off and are using on fairings and chrome forks. Not commercial grade but the drug store brands. Seen a few that put a sprayer on the bottle and carry in saddlebags. May try it.
Just perusing old topics, but found this one. My brother-in-law turned me on to 50/50 Hydrogen Peroxide and Water for cleaning off the bugs on EVERYTHING! After the days ride just spray it on and let it soak for a bit, then wipe it off with a microfiber towel! The bugs really just disintegrate and what doesn't, comes off with the wipe! Works great on windshields, fairings, forks, lights, EVERYTHING! Cleans the bike for the night and all you need to do in the morning is clean the windshield with your choice of cleaner (Plexus/Novus/etc...) It's really really cheap too! You have to keep the mix in one of the brown bottles the Hydrogen Peroxide comes in otherwise it will loose its potency.
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From someone who earlier in life made Hydrogen Peroxide in my job... You really do not want to use it on painted surfaces with any kind of regularity. You should see the sample points on the lines it comes out of, it literally eats up stainless over a period of time. I understand that most suggestions above are to cut it in strength but there are to many safe products, not to mention water, to take a chance on a industrial chemical.
IMHO.
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From someone who earlier in life made Hydrogen Peroxide in my job... You really do not want to use it on painted surfaces with any kind of regularity. You should see the sample points on the lines it comes out of, it literally eats up stainless over a period of time. I understand that most suggestions above are to cut it in strength but there are to many safe products, not to mention water, to take a chance on a industrial chemical.
IMHO.
I've used the cheap "household" strength in a spray bottle for over 10 years on my motorcyles, 31' Chevy streetrod, a couple of Camaros, my daily drivers and a few cut fingers & thumbs along the way and have seen no ill affects. A large bottle from Walgreens will last me a long time. I've never been around the full strength stuff to know what it is capable of...but, sounds like I shouldn't make an effort to find out.
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I use Pledge furniture polish-apply with soft cloth and shine with microfiber cloth. I also use it on all the painted surfaces and have been for years on all my bikes-you would be amazed at the results on the cheap! My 2 cents.
Lemon Pledge on my windshields too, cleans the bugs nicely, and the wax component seems to make them slide off easier next time.
I use Spraway glass cleaner on chrome, one of the few things a past dumbass manager at work was good for.
Better yet, both of these just seem to show up in my shop if I write them on the wife's grocery list, so I don't have to
expose myself to the dumb-assery out in public.
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If it's just a few bug spatters I rub some spit into them and wipe with a clean rig. You'd be surprised how well it works.
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Anyone ever put Glare Polish on the windshield. I'm chicken to try it, but not to ask.
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I use plexus however have seen a lot about using hydrogen peroxide lately. Guys swear bugs nearly jump off and are using on fairings and chrome forks. Not commercial grade but the drug store brands. Seen a few that put a sprayer on the bottle and carry in saddlebags. May try it.
That's just so they don't get an infection. :P
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I've never had much luck with H2O2. What I've finally settled on is Bugs B Gone by Seafoam. It needs water to activate, but that's not usually a problem. I carried a bottle to Alaska last summer and it took care of those big, REALLY juicy, Canadian bugs pretty nicely - even when they'd been baked on for a day or two. My $0.02.
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Anyone ever put Glare Polish on the windshield. I'm chicken to try it, but not to ask.
I used to use Glare but now use Royal Blue spray detailer which is much easier to use and works at least as well.
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1. take an old Tee
2. rinse it heavily with pure Water (!)
3. put it on the screen (I also cover the batwing)
4. wash your bike as usual
5. after finishing: remove the shirt, most of the bugs & traces will be gone.
It´s cheap, sustainable and works excellent!
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1. take an old Tee
2. rinse it heavily with pure Water (!)
3. put it on the screen (I also cover the batwing)
4. wash your bike as usual
5. after finishing: remove the shirt, most of the bugs & traces will be gone.
It´s cheap, sustainable and works excellent!
When I travel I take a hotel towel sometimes, get it very wet, & leave over the windshield for a few minutes. Same principle, works well. Or use a soaked micro fiber towel to wet the shield, allow it to soak, then wipe off the bugs. If bugs are baked on for a week it takes more elbow grease & maybe an additional soak or 2.
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I used to use Glare but now use Royal Blue spray detailer which is much easier to use and works at least as well.
:2vrolijk_21: :2vrolijk_21:On the Royal Blue over Glare. Not that Glare is not good but Royal Blue is so easy and makes the paint shine shine shine. Rode into a gas station/coffee shop last summer and a couple of other bikers asked, "what do you shine with?" Royal Blue it's the best I have found yet. Just got a bottle of the detail spray and haven't had an opportunity to try it yet.
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3M Imperial Hand-Glaze, and soft 100% Cotton rag. Later--HUBBARD