@GA_Pete wrote:
I always use a small section of a cloth to gently turning to remove the bulk of remaining product and dirt, before a new clean one is used for a good ‘buff’.
If you say ‘buff’ do you mean a circular movement? I was told years ago that one should not do that and so I never did. The idea behind it is that should there be even a tiny spec of dirt in your cloth, a circular movement would make a mark that you will clearly see against the sunlight.
The movement should be in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fuselage so to speak, and any accidental scratch would show up less, but maybe this is an old wife’s tale? Doing this and using microfiber and Plexus or similar has served me well for almost 20 years.
My supermarket has cloth made “specially for window cleaning”, it is very smooth and “flat” not like microfiber, so I use that, along with https://www.aero-sense.com/en/windshield-cleaner and/or https://www.aero-sense.com/en/insect-remover
When I had the Robin, one feature was the huge amount of perspex to see out of.
The perspex wasn’t new but in exceptional condition.
It was always kept clean by me using Plexus and microfibe cloths.
No discernable degredation at all after 15-16 years.
One bit of advice I would give….do the 1st pass with bare hand.
2 benefits,
a) you’ll easily feel any nasties that would catch in a cloth and do damage, so remove them 1st.
b) you nicely spread the stuff around witj your hand allowing time for it to work on the surface rather than immediately sucking it up into a cloth.
Item b) helps me get superior results from many products on many things……aircraft cars boats around the home.
I always use a small section of a cloth to gently turning to remove the bulk of remaining product and dirt, before a new clean one is used for a good ‘buff’.
In sequence, the removing cloth is contaminated and disposed,and the ‘buffing’ cloth is downgraded to ‘removal’
Been using this stuff since I’ve had airplanes… in a spray bottle, just 1 or 2 squeezes, wiped off with a new soft cloth every time.
There’s also a 500, blue in color, for the more resistant stuff on the belly of my ship.
Beware of undeclared chemicals on plastics surfaces …
These baby wipes often use ingredient thingies not bad for babies asses but damaging the structure of common plastics. Often there are i.e. small amounts of citrus terpene in use, which will wash out plastics softener, or other nasty stuff you don’t want to use. We do use Baby Wipes, but only to clean painted surfaces – it is great for under belly stains – but we always make sure nothing is spilled on the windows.
Who else remembers the old days, when ‘Polyboy’ was used on glider windows … until they changed the recipe o-O ?
My view is that a “cloth” is not going to damage transparencies, but any dirt on it will. Since I got the plane I’ve had a very strict policy to not allow the cockpit cover to touch the ground (and if it accidentally does, not use it until it has been washed), and any rag which has been on the ground or whose history is unknown is never used on windows. The results are excellent, 20 years on.
Chamois leather has been fashionable on cars for decades, probably because it is quite good for wiping off the water after washing the car. It does nothing whatever for cleaning anything, and (with cars) is not used in conjunction with any chemicals.
I am using microfiber cloth, but I have a supicion that is is scratching the surface, so I am going to switch to a wiper made of skin (I don’t know how it is called in English)
I knew I’m not the only one 👍
Peter wrote:
so they use paper tissues
Exactly what I mean to avoid. Will look around a bit more. The thing with baby wipes is that they come soaked with liquid, so it would really just be to pull it out and use it. There also exist car window cleaner, but I don’t think they’re of any use, as car windows are made of glass instead.
Samois leather, probably.
I have used Plexus and £1 supermarket facecloths for 20 years, entirely successfully.
I am using microfiber cloth, but I have a supicion that is is scratching the surface, so I am going to switch to a wiper made of skin (I don’t know how it is called in English)
