How To Clean Cloudy Plastic Windows

Preserving a clear view through clear plastic on dodgers or enclosures is one of the most challenging tasks in boat maintenance. Restoring a vinyl window is nigh impossible, but that doesn't stop the tide of products that claim to brand this job piece of cake. Applied Sailors  eisenglass cleaners examination looks at 27 products touted primarily as cleaners or treatments for vinyl windows. The test products were divided into blazon: cleaners, scratch repairers, polish protectants, and UV protectants. Subsequently a calendar week of testing, nosotros found Imar Strataglass Protective Cleaner and Imar Strataglass Protective Shine, distributed past Defender Industries, to be the Best Choice. Collinite No. 845 Insulator Wax and Mer-Maids Plexiglass Plastic Cleaner and Polish were the Budget Buys. The test besides included products from the following manufacturers: 303, 3M, Aquatech, Armada, Davies, Marykate, Meguiars. Mothers, Novus, Plexus, Sailors Solutions, Star brite, Turtle Wax, Westward Marine, and Yacht Brite.

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Preserving a articulate view through soft plastic glass on dodgers or enclosures is ane of the most challenging tasks in gunkhole maintenance. Attempting to restore an former or sorely neglected soft plastic window is almost impossible, but that doesn't stalk the tide of products that claim to brand this chore easy.

Practical Sailor

terminal delved into the globe of clear-plastic maintenance products back in February 2003. Since and so, a number of new products accept hitting the marketplace, each making its ain specific claims.

Maintaining articulate-plastic windows requires special intendance, and the article on the facing page, "In Search of Clarity," covers the basic precautions. For a more detailed discussion of maintaining marine plastics, see "Caring for Articulate Plastics on Your Boat," at www.practical-sailor.com, in the Tools and Techniques section.

Although many of the products in this commodity tin can be used on hard acrylic or polycarbonate hatch glazing, this commodity examines their performance only on the soft, flexible clear-vinyl windows, such as those that youll detect in a dodger or cockpit enclosure.

Canvas shops use a variety of clear vinyl (PVC) products to make these windows. Ultraclear, Crystal Clear, Seaflex, Achilles, and Strataglass are some common make names. Practical Sailor will be comparing these and other types of articulate plastics (such every bit Stamoid) in a time to come article.

All of these materials are very susceptible to scratching, smudging, and wear. Over time, they get breakable every bit they lose the chemicals that keep them soft and pliable. In addition, ultraviolet rays tin can rapidly damage the vinyl, causing hazing, keen, and yellowing. The products reviewed here help delay that process.

What We Tested

Practical Sailor

evaluated 27 products (three were two-step applications) from 18 manufacturers that were advertised, labeled, or recommended primarily as cleaners or treatments for clear-vinyl windows. All are bachelor through marine dealers, chandlers, or the Cyberspace.

For comparison, we broke them downwardly into the post-obit categories: cleaners; scratch repairers; smoothen/protectants; UV protectants.

8 claimed to have UV protection, x included a formula or fine abrasives to remove light scratches and smudges. and all but two products promised a polished end.

Products that stood out (for adept or for bad) in the field are discussed below. Test results and ratings for all of the products appear in the Value Guide on page 25.

Armada

Armadas 210 Plastic Cleaner/Polish, a 14-ounce aerosol, excelled in cleaning and polishing our test vinyl. It provides a clear, lustrous finish with a protective coating that is anti-static and anti-fog. For older or scratched windows, utilize the Armada 210 Plus, which includes a very balmy abrasive compound that does a reasonably practiced task of removing dirty residues, smudges, and fine scratches.

Bottom line: The 210 Plus is an excellent cleaner with anti-fog and anti-static properties. The 210 polishes well, but aerosol cans don't keep well aboard saltwater boats.

3M

Stride-ane in a two-stride process, 3Ms Marine Vinyl Cleaner and Restorer removes haze, dirt, and stains with a thick creamy liquid. It is an above-average cleaner. The second step involves applying the 3M Marine Plastic Polish, a thick white foam that cleans and when buffed, yields a protective, loftier-gloss stop. The formula includes restorative mineral oils, glycerin, and carnauba wax.

Bottom line: The 3M cleaner worked fine, merely the polish produced only Fair results.

303 Aerospace Protectant

Frequently recommended to preserve inflatable dinghies, 303s Aerospace Protectant spray cleans, shines, and leaves a UV protection of SPF xl. Directions telephone call for renewing the stop monthly.

Lesser line: The 303 spray has multiple uses, offers good protection, and is modestly priced.

Aquatech

The Aquatech Articulate Enclosure Cleaner and Protectant (No. 750) sprays a light, clear liquid that is designed to make clean, without any alcohol, ammonia, or harsh chemicals. The Premier Polish and UV Protectant (No. 201) is a general-purpose polish for gelcoat, paint, and metal. It is a thick, white cream that slowly dries to a brume.

Lesser line: The 750 cleaner and protectant cleans chop-chop and leaves a slight shine. The 201 adds an fantabulous polished sheen with UV protection.

Collinite

The Collinite 845 Insulator Wax is a thick cream designed for marine and industrial applications where a heavy-duty, high-gloss UV protective coating is required. It keeps dirt, grit, and table salt from sticking and assures full protection against dominicus, rain, bugs, and salt spray.

Bottom line: Collinite polishes well and has multiple uses and a good rails record at an affordable toll. Its our Budget Purchase.

Imar

Imars Strataglass Protective Cleaner (No. 301) and Strataglass Protective Smoothen (No. 302) are the only products recommended by Strataglass. The Imar 301 produces a fine, clear mist from a 16-ounce spray bottle. Imar recommends using the production regularly when you wash and rinse the gunkhole. The 302 provides the same UV protection equally 301, but the creamy liquid adds a thicker protective coating and brighter shine. Imar recommends reapplying 302 virtually every three to four months.

Bottom line: Imars 301 ranked high as a very skilful cleaner. The 302 was one of the better polishers that we tested, beading up best in the water test.

MaryKate

Marykates Glassplex Glass Cleaner (No. 3918) multipurpose glass, acrylic, and vinyl cleaner-a fine, articulate liquid delivered through a trigger spray nozzle-does an acceptable task of cleaning oil and dirt. Marykate also makes Clear Vinyl Cleaner and Polish (No. 6414), which we did not test. Neither contains booze or ammonia.

Lesser line: Though not a standout, the Marykate 3918 was the virtually economical of the cleaning products tested.

Mer-Maids

A Best Purchase in 2003, Mer-maids Plexiglass/Plastic Cleaner and Smoothen is a clear spray that goes on fast and is easy to wipe off. It is reasonably priced, and does a fairly proficient job cleaning and shining.

Bottom line: Mer-maids product cleaned well, provides anti-static and anti-fog protection, and does not contain alcohol or ammonia. A practiced bet for routine cleaning.

Meguiars

Testers looked at 3 products from Meguiars. The Clear Plastic Detailer (No. 18) is a handy one-step cleaner and shine in an 8-ounce spray bottle. It sprays a clear liquid that you wipe and polish immediately. If allowed to dry, it tin can leave streaks.The Articulate Plastic Cleaner (No. 17) helps remove ground-in clay and pocket-size scratches with a non-abrasive cleaning formula. TheClear Plastic Smooth (No. 10) is a thick, creamy liquid that can follow the No. 17 cleaner, and provides a static-free blanket that repels dust and shines up nicely.

Bottom line: Of the iii Meguiars products, the No. 10 smooth stood out best in its category.

Mothers

Mothers Marine Power Plastic is a i-footstep cleaner, restorer, polish, and UV protectant. It is a creamy liquid in a bright cherry, 8-ounce plastic bottle that claims to remove low-cal scratches, oxidation, stains, and yellowing. Once dried to a haze, it buffs out to a nice bright end.

Bottom line: A skilful practise-it-all production for reviving and protecting old windows. When polishing soft, clear vinyl, PS doesn't recommend using it with a drill-mounted polisher, as Mothers suggests.

Novus

The Novus No. ane Clean and Shine Plastic Smoothen did an excellent job of leaving a lustrous smooth that resists fogging and static, and provides a expert protective coating.Despite its name, the Novus No. two Fine Scratch Remover is meant every bit the beginning step in cleaning, and it does a good task of it. (There is also a more abrasive No. 3.)

Bottom line: These Novus products offering an excellent two-step program, particularly for scratched windows.

Plexus

Originally developed for aeroplane windshields, Plexus Plastic Cleaner and Polish is well known for cleaning and polishing a multitude of plastic surfaces. The can sprays out a fine mist of clear liquid that cleans as it polishes and leaves a shiny anti-static protective residue.

Bottom line: This is a good product for well-maintained vinyl, simply the metallic can will rust.

Sailors Solutions

Sailors Solutions X-xvi Plastic Window Shine is a combination cleaner (with extra-fine abrasive), polish, and UV protectant that works well but tin split over fourth dimension. Follow directions and don't let it dry too much, or information technology volition be difficult to remove and volition get out streaks.

Bottom line: The packaging is inexpensive (the label and directions smeared subsequently a few uses), merely the creamy liquid formula apace removed some low-cal scratches and left a dainty smoothen.

Star Brite

Star brite has a 2-step process for restoring and reviving articulate plastic. Star brite Step 1 Plastic Scratch Remover is an ultra-fine abrasive for cleaning and restoring older plastic windows. The Stride two Plastic Polish/Restorer is a lite, articulate liquid in an viii-ounce bottle that leaves a thin, polished coating.

Bottom line: This is an inexpensive and effective ane-two punch for older vinyl.

W Marine

Packaged in an easy-to-stow viii-ounce spray bottle, Due west Marines One-pace Plastic Cleaner Smoothen is a light, cream-colored liquid. It does a nice job of both cleaning and removing fine scratches, and information technology leaves a protective coating.

Bottom line: This cleaner-smooth is held back by its higher price.

Yacht Brite

Yacht Brite Serious Shine, a iii-in-one cleaner, polish and protectant in a 14-ounce aerosol, buffs to a overnice shine and leaves a fine film that repels water with UV inhibitors and anti-static properties. Information technology contains alcohol and solvents that are non recommended for some plastics.

Bottom line: This spray is piece of cake to apply and performs well, but the rust-prone droplets can belongs ashore.

Conclusions

Dont put too much stock in claims that hazing, yellowing, or scratches will be eliminated. We constitute no miracle cure.

Products that included fine abrasives to remove light scratches took several applications and a considerable amount of hand rubbing to slowly eliminate scratches. Since abrasives can exercise more impairment than skilful, we recommend them only as a concluding resort. Dont employ electrical buffers and always exam on an inconspicuous area.

When testers had done a good task of cleaning the vinyl with any of the cleaners, a 2nd step of applying and buffing with a adept polish apparently improved clarity. Applying a second coat of smooth the next day produced a thicker, longer-lasting protective coating that shined and beaded better.

Many products were very effective at improving visibility and preventing staining and dirt buildup. Some were easier to use than others. The clear liquids accept a tendency to run, and then they should be applied to a cloth showtime. Creams show where you lot have been. Sprays are handiest and probably best for a quick retouch. Heres what we establish:

Of the products that claimed to only make clean, the Imar 301 was the articulate winner, and information technology also is safety for treated vinyl.

For owners of older dodgers with small scratches, the Novus No. 2 Fine Scratch Remover proved to be the most constructive, followed closely by the Armada 210 Plus Plastic Cleaner/Polish and Mothers Marine Ability Plastic.

Among the polishes, the Imar 302 Protective Smooth, Novus No. one, Collinite No. 845, Mothers Marine Ability, and Aquatechs Premier Polish produced the best smoothen and beading, rating Excellent.

The best one-bottle cleaner, scratch remover, and smoothen with UV protection was Mothers Marine Power Plastic. Sailors Solutions X-16 also does it all and was rated Good-to-Excellent.

If you prefer a two-step process, then the Imar #301/#302 combo is the way to go. They produced the cleanest and shiniest windows and beaded water the best, earning the Best Choice honors. The Novus and Star brite two-part products were close backside.

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