Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
05-22-2006 | 07:11 AM
#1
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Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
At a competition this weekend someone was talking about the need to dilute Windex and other cleaners. Said that over time they can damage coverings if used undiluted. Never heard that before. Anybody care to confirm/comment? Thanks.
05-22-2006 | 08:00 AM
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From: Philadelphia,
PA
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
> Never heard that before. <
I agree. What will cause damage is all of that fuel/oil residue seeping through the covering seams if not cleaned off!
I agree. What will cause damage is all of that fuel/oil residue seeping through the covering seams if not cleaned off!
05-22-2006 | 08:30 AM
#3
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
While you may not want to use it to the point where it seeps under the seams I have seen no problems with these cleaners. More damage is done by the paper towels scratching the films instead of using soft cloth.
05-22-2006 | 08:46 AM
#4
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
ORIGINAL: bruce88123
While you may not want to use it to the point where it seeps under the seams I have seen no problems with these cleaners. More damage is done by the paper towels scratching the films instead of using soft cloth.
While you may not want to use it to the point where it seeps under the seams I have seen no problems with these cleaners. More damage is done by the paper towels scratching the films instead of using soft cloth.
And instead of paper towels, I've been having great results with cloth microfiber rags like [link=http://www.cleanreport.com/catlist.cfm?subid=87]these.[/link] I can wipe down 3 or 4 planes per rag, they polish as they clean, they are easy to wash and reused, don't scratch, and very little cleaner of anything is needed to make them work effectivly. The glow gunk just absorbs and is trapped by all those microfibers. Give em a try, and you will NEVER use paper towels again (except for the initial heavy wipe of gunk).
05-22-2006 | 09:43 AM
#5
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
ORIGINAL: Deadeye
Dsegal was talking about glow and oil, not the cleaner. Having to dilute Windex is BS. Our coverings are plastic. Windex does nothing to plastic.
ORIGINAL: bruce88123
While you may not want to use it to the point where it seeps under the seams I have seen no problems with these cleaners. More damage is done by the paper towels scratching the films instead of using soft cloth.
While you may not want to use it to the point where it seeps under the seams I have seen no problems with these cleaners. More damage is done by the paper towels scratching the films instead of using soft cloth.
05-22-2006 | 10:54 AM
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From: Hurdle Mills,
NC
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
Maybe they were talking about the windex and stuff with ammonia. I know if you have tinted windows on your car, if you use a cleaner with ammonia that it could possibly lift the tint. That is why there are specific automotive window cleaners without ammonia. Other than that I dunno!
05-22-2006 | 11:04 AM
#7
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RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
ORIGINAL: RedTwilight
Maybe they were talking about the windex and stuff with ammonia. I know if you have tinted windows on your car, if you use a cleaner with ammonia that it could possibly lift the tint. That is why there are specific automotive window cleaners without ammonia. Other than that I dunno!
Maybe they were talking about the windex and stuff with ammonia. I know if you have tinted windows on your car, if you use a cleaner with ammonia that it could possibly lift the tint. That is why there are specific automotive window cleaners without ammonia. Other than that I dunno!
This is exactly what Bruce was saying above. If you let windex "sit" on the monokote it can seep under the covering and loosen the glue bond. But that can take hours or days before it will happen. Simply spraying on windex and wiping it off won't hurt the covering at all. I've been using cleaner like this for years (10 to be exact) and have never had any problems with it at all. You'll be fine using it.
Ken
05-22-2006 | 02:14 PM
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From: Lompoc ,
CA
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
amonia can be pretty harsh. I've been using simple green for awhile now. GEt in concentrated in a half gallon jug. lasts a couple years. this way you have to dilute it.
05-22-2006 | 02:23 PM
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From: Somewhere in,
TX
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
I've heard that some stuff can damage things like the cleavises, make landing gear brittle or whatever. Never had any problems. What I use is wind shield washer fluid. It works great. Get a gallon of the stuff for under $1. Put it in an old windex spray bottle and you are good to go. For a really clean job, like recovering, decals, or cleaning engines, I bust our some isopropryl Alcohol(rubbing alcohol, sorry I'm a computer enginnering major, not English or Chemistry), and it will really cut through the grease. Wind sheild washer fluid in my opinion is the best.
05-22-2006 | 02:37 PM
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From: Poland,
OH
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
ORIGINAL: Combat Addict
What I use is wind shield washer fluid.
What I use is wind shield washer fluid.
05-22-2006 | 02:44 PM
#11
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
ORIGINAL: Combat Addict
I've heard that some stuff can damage things like the cleavises, make landing gear brittle or whatever. Never had any problems. What I use is wind shield washer fluid. It works great. Get a gallon of the stuff for under $1. Put it in an old windex spray bottle and you are good to go. For a really clean job, like recovering, decals, or cleaning engines, I bust our some isopropryl Alcohol(rubbing alcohol, sorry I'm a computer enginnering major, not English or Chemistry), and it will really cut through the grease. Wind sheild washer fluid in my opinion is the best.
I've heard that some stuff can damage things like the cleavises, make landing gear brittle or whatever. Never had any problems. What I use is wind shield washer fluid. It works great. Get a gallon of the stuff for under $1. Put it in an old windex spray bottle and you are good to go. For a really clean job, like recovering, decals, or cleaning engines, I bust our some isopropryl Alcohol(rubbing alcohol, sorry I'm a computer enginnering major, not English or Chemistry), and it will really cut through the grease. Wind sheild washer fluid in my opinion is the best.
BTW - I also agree that windshield fluid is a NO-NO. Sorry
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05-22-2006 | 08:17 PM
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From: Somewhere in,
TX
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
CAUTION: I seem to remember some old warning about winshield washer fluid. If I remember right it can soak in through the skin and over time cause significant health problems. I believe it can cause nerve damage. I would not recommend using washer fluid for anything other than its intended purpose.
05-23-2006 | 12:36 AM
#14
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RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
For what its worth.... I dig other peoples rags out of the trash can and use whatever they sprayed on them to clean my planes... It is the most efficient and cost effective method I have tried to date... I find that the gas guys and the pattern guys rags are the cleanest and have lots of unused area on them.
I find that the gas guys and the pattern guys rags are the cleanest and have lots of unused area on them.
05-23-2006 | 01:15 PM
#16
My Feedback: (3)
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
Hey Brian,
Yeah I have been really busy lately. I had an IMAC contest 3 weekends ago.. Lost my 37% Ultimate in flight due to a wingtube failure... My fault, it had worn thin where the 2 top wings join up. Then I went to Abilene 2 weekends ago and picked up my new plane. Its a custom built 35% Extra 260 that was customized but based off of the Dalton plans.. THIS weekend I went to Houston to a big bird flying and camped with friends at the flying field. In between those times I have been working so you get the picture.. I will post a bunch of pics in another thread here on the beginners forum.
Yeah I have been really busy lately. I had an IMAC contest 3 weekends ago.. Lost my 37% Ultimate in flight due to a wingtube failure... My fault, it had worn thin where the 2 top wings join up. Then I went to Abilene 2 weekends ago and picked up my new plane. Its a custom built 35% Extra 260 that was customized but based off of the Dalton plans.. THIS weekend I went to Houston to a big bird flying and camped with friends at the flying field. In between those times I have been working so you get the picture.. I will post a bunch of pics in another thread here on the beginners forum.
05-23-2006 | 01:40 PM
#17
My Feedback: (13)
RE: Dilute Windex ( or any other cleaner )?
ORIGINAL: RCKen
The reason they can lift the tint isn't because of ammonia in the cleaner, or any other chemical at all. Tinting on auto windshield is actually a thin layer of tinted plastic. Actually, it's really quite similar to monokote in the look and feel of it. Anyway, the way it's applied is the tint is cut to shape, the application area is cleaned, a thin layer of windex is sprayed on the area, the tint is put into position, and then the windex is squeeged out from under the tint (yes, this is exactly the same way that the windex method for monokote is applied). The reason that windex can lift tint is because it can seep under the tint layer which will loosen the bond. If that happens all you really need to do is let the tint dry again and it will be fine.
This is exactly what Bruce was saying above. If you let windex "sit" on the monokote it can seep under the covering and loosen the glue bond. But that can take hours or days before it will happen. Simply spraying on windex and wiping it off won't hurt the covering at all. I've been using cleaner like this for years (10 to be exact) and have never had any problems with it at all. You'll be fine using it.
Ken
The reason they can lift the tint isn't because of ammonia in the cleaner, or any other chemical at all. Tinting on auto windshield is actually a thin layer of tinted plastic. Actually, it's really quite similar to monokote in the look and feel of it. Anyway, the way it's applied is the tint is cut to shape, the application area is cleaned, a thin layer of windex is sprayed on the area, the tint is put into position, and then the windex is squeeged out from under the tint (yes, this is exactly the same way that the windex method for monokote is applied). The reason that windex can lift tint is because it can seep under the tint layer which will loosen the bond. If that happens all you really need to do is let the tint dry again and it will be fine.
This is exactly what Bruce was saying above. If you let windex "sit" on the monokote it can seep under the covering and loosen the glue bond. But that can take hours or days before it will happen. Simply spraying on windex and wiping it off won't hurt the covering at all. I've been using cleaner like this for years (10 to be exact) and have never had any problems with it at all. You'll be fine using it.
Ken
I've used windex for a long time. I even used windex with extra amonia added. I've used windex thinned with water, with alcohol, and with armorall. Never had any problems.
