What do you use to clean a plane of the exhaust fuel and grass bits that accumulate on the fuse and wings? I see some people using watered down Dawn dish soap. That is best? I have a monokote Avistar.

I use blue Windex. I can buy a 32oz. refill of the off brand for $1

I use automotive windshield washer fluid, about $1.50 a gallon.

You're going to get a bunch of different answers on this question. But here is what I use. I buy a gallon of windshield washer fluid (approximately $1 at Wal-mart) and then put couple of squirts of Dawn dishwashing liquid in it. It does a great job of cutting the oil and grease from the plane, and will shine it up nicely.

Ken

I use lighter fluid. I spray it over the wings and on the under side of the plane. Than I light it....just be sure to throw a towel over the plane before it gets too hot or you can damage the covering. Don't ask me how I know this....
Thanks
Barry

The blue windex, the orginal formula has some amonia in it. It will cause Monokote to lift around the edges. I used it for the first couple years and after four or five days on a new plane, the covering was lifting. I was grumbling about it at the field one day and one of the old timers picked up my windex and held it out and said This is why.

I like the idea of car window cleaner with dawn added. I've got to try it.


Don

I've been using baby wipes. I buy a large generic container of them at Walmart. Seems to work pretty well. Don't have to lug paper towels and a spray bottle of cleaner with the baby wipes.

I too used to use generic glass cleaner but became frustrated by my constantly peeling covering.

I normally use a little bit of rubbing alcohol on a paper towl to wipe my planes down. Windshield cleaner with a bit of degreaser (Dawn dishwashing detergent) sounds like a winner, also.

Prestone bug windshield washer fluid cut 30% with Iso Alcohol and add a tea spoon of Dawn dishwashing detergent. Inexpensive and cuts oily film. Pour it into a generic spray bottle and you are set.

-or-

Simple Green mixed with alcohol

i use pink solution, its eco friendly it work pretty well for plant enzymes.......

I use just plain Windex or Pledge multi-surface. One thing that you might want to stay away from is the really cheap generic stuff, It leaves blue streaks all over the plane

TF96

I tried RCKen's technique - fill an old Windex bottle with washer fluid, add about 6 drops of dish washing detergent (Ivory liquid concentrate in my case since that's what I had on had and use for removing mold release from plastic models). Seems to work as well as any other cleaner I've used.

I've also heard of guys using Simple Green diluted with water, but not having tried it my self I'm not sure how it works. The washer fluid/liquid dish washing soap works good though.

Hogflyer

I mix " ZIPWAX " and water in a spray bottle, been using it for years, works great. I also use it on my car and motor home. ( about 1 oz of ZIPWAX to a medium spray bottle of water } ( fill the spray bottle with water FIRST ) ENJOY !!! RED

I use W.E.U.T.C. what ever is under the counter. Have had great luck with formula 409 spray cleaner, it cuts the gunk and leaves a shine.

avoid window cleaner with amonia in it for stated reasons

A pond, but not recommended for beginners.

How do you get the fish smell off??

Amonia based window cleaner can be harmful to electric parts. I use a little rubing alcohol 2 or 3 ounces, dawn 1 ounce and water to fill the bottle. I always use the T.L.A.R. mix method......That Looks About Right Also just throw an old bath towel in with the planes and wash it once a summer weather it needs it or not instead of paper towels.

Oz amonia isn't good for Monokote either

Half Windex, half water, with a drop of dish soap.

The water/soap works a bit better for me because I always use fuel with castor in it. The Windex gets the synthetic oil, the other gets the castor and grass sticky.

I use the cheapest baby wipes I can find. The solution cuts the grease really well and seems to absorb whatever is on the plane. Since there is no spray, I don't feel I need to worry about any edges lifting.
Curtis

409 works for me

Thanks for the answers guys. Think I am going to try the windshield fluid and Dawn that RCKen wrote.

Happy flying!!

RCKen always gives good advice...

I HAVE been using standard Windex and paper towels but after reading how that might be the reason why some of my Aerokote is peeling off at the edges, I'm going to try switching to auto window cleaner with a little dish soap added. Sure is cheaper! Plus, I may switch from paper towels to three or four soft cotten towels and just wash and re-use them as I go along.

409
409
She's real fine, my 409
My 4...0....9

Sorry if I'm showing my age, but I just couldn't control my self.
Paul