Window Cleaner

[Defndr]

About to order a few cleaning supplies for my Pacer. What do you all use for cleaning the windows? I don't want to take a chance of scratching it.

Read a tread on here about cleaning the rest of the airplane and it looks like the aviation simple green will be good for the belly and bugs?

 

[Jim]

Hi,

"I don't want to take a chance of scratching it."

Good luck with that. I've always only used up and down strokes with whatever cleaner I use, never around and around or side to side.

 

[Defndr]

Very good, up and down it is.

 

[Steve Pierce]

Don't use anything with ammonia in it. We use Sprayway and Zep glass cleaner with a microfiber towel. When I worked in a warbird restoration shop they used Pledge. I need to start using it on my windshield. Makes the bugs come off easy.

 

[dgapilot]

I've used Pledge for decades. Works well.

 

[Defndr]

Ok, I'll steal the Pledge from my wife's cleaning shelf to get me going and switch to Clearview or Sprayway if I'm not happy with it. I had better go buy some microfiber towels though as she keeps a close eye on those. After getting a few greasy I have been banned from them.

 

[Glen Geller]

Pledge inside and out, old t-shirt or any soft cloth works well.
I spray the leading edges of wings, and cold nosebowl with Pledge before & after each flight, as Steve said, helps make bug removal easier.
Leaves the cabin smelling lemon fresh, too!

Keep a squirt can of red hydraulic fluid handy too, apply a little to PA22 nose strut before and after each flight, and up into the seal, wipe with fingers.
I has been effective at keeping the seal from failing prematurely, because bugs, dirt and grit can cause the seal to fail.
I only rebuild my strut seal every ten years. I know other who don't do this care and have strut seal fail after 2~3 years. YMMV.
*EDIT: Re-read the original post, I see it's a Pacer, so you are not obliged to service the non-existent nosewheel strut.

Share a photo of your now cleaned plane!

GG

 

[dgapilot]

When I had the Howard, I would do a good wash and wax in the spring then after each flight I would wipe down the fuselage with Mineral Spirits to get the oil off then use Pledge on the fuselage and leading edges. The only downside of Pledge on the airframe was if you let it sit outside and get rained on or dew accumulating on it, the finish would get milky until you hit it with the Pledge again.

 

[thebeerdedpilot]

Wash Wax All. Great stuff, leaves a layer of wax which makes bugs and grime easier to get off later. And of course, only wipe up and down on the windows.

 

[RickF]

Lucas Spay Shine. Spray on wipe off. Leaves a wax film so the bugs come off easier. Cleans windshields too.
We would use it to wipe the bugs off after every flight so the airplane always looks good.

Rick

 

[McDaver63]

I've started using Prist Windscreen cleaner. Works great with no streaks and quite a bit cheaper than Plexus. I got it from Spruce.

 

[Defndr]

Thanks for all the inputs. Bath day complete! I just used clean water and microfiber cloth rags to wash and rinse the airplane off. It was a bit dusty and a few bird droppings that I really wanted to get off. I used Pledge for the windows inside and out and it worked very well! I got the Simple Green aircraft cleaner to do the underside for when I am able to fly it.

 

[Steve Pierce]

Washed my brother's Clipper today as well.

 

[59pacer]

There's a lot of good info at lpaero.com/care-and-maintenance/

 

[PACERGUY]

I use Plexus in the hanger. Novus clean and shine is kept in the plane for travel. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002UD0GFE?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 Go to Costco or Amazon and get a pack of microfiber towels to keep in the hanger it will last for years and you will always have a clean one handy.
DENNY