what do you use to clean the bugs off?

[231LV]

With Spring flying upon some of us, I'm reminded of the bug problems....flew yesterday and spent an hour wiping the bugs off the leading edges, cowl, spinner and windshield...I'm wondering what some of you use to wipe the bugs off?

[PMcClure]

Lemon Pledge (yep the kind my mother used on the dining room table) works great. Use it on everything from spinner to tail. Part of my shut down is to wipe bugs off all leading edges when in the hanger and the windshield before start-up. 

[FloridaMan]

This shit is awesome: http://www.amazon.com/Aviation-Laborarories-Clear-Promo-AVL-CV-PROMO/dp/B005G5RB1U/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_0_0

 

Works great on the windows too. 

[Danb]

+1 for clear view I also use the Kim wipes for plexiglass

[midlifeflyer]

Lemon pledge for the plexiglass.

 

For the leading edges, I carry around a spray bottle of sudsy water - gentle dish-washing stuff - and a non-abrasive nylon pad.. Key is to do it before the bugs cake on - after landing  from your flight, not 3 says later for your next flight. Spray all the surfaces and then wipe them off in the same order you sprayed them. 

[robert7467]

Slick Mist by Lucas Oil Products. Sold at the auto parts store.

[Mooneymite]

 . Key is to do it before the bugs cake on - after landing  from your flight, not 3 says later for your next flight. .

Absolutely true!

[pinerunner]

I forget the name but the Harley Davison shop sells something specifically for cleaning bugs off plexiglass.

[rbridges]

Lemon pledge for the plexiglass.

 

For the leading edges, I carry around a spray bottle of sudsy water - gentle dish-washing stuff - and a non-abrasive nylon pad.. Key is to do it before the bugs cake on - after landing  from your flight, not 3 says later for your next flight. Spray all the surfaces and then wipe them off in the same order you sprayed them. 

 

That's what I do every time I put the plane back in the hangar.  I just hit it with water and microfiber cloth.  Then I wipe some liquid wax on the leading edges.  

[carqwik]

Put Rejex on all bug collection areas (when those areas are clean and bug free)...bugs wipe right off.

[Jerry 5TJ]

When possible, fly through rain showers.

Back in the hangar - Windex works OK

[M20C]

Lemon Pledge or Slick mist.

[Marauder]

With Spring flying upon some of us, I'm reminded of the bug problems....flew yesterday and spent an hour wiping the bugs off the leading edges, cowl, spinner and windshield...I'm wondering what some of you use to wipe the bugs off?

Wow! You got bugs?! Ours are still frozen.

[kerry]

Rinsco, It's generic pledge from the dollar store.  It cost $1.  I used pledge in the past but I find it leaves a film.  The rinsco has a consistency similar to Plexus cleaner

[tony]

plexus

[Bob - S50]

When we go flying during bug season, I take a wash mitt that we use on our car, soak it with water, and put it in a gallon sized ziplock bag.  After flight, my ...wife... usually wipes the bugs off while I'm buttoning up the plane.

 

Bob

[bonal]

I heard Pledge can attract bees, we buy turtle wax in the spray bottle and mix 50/50 with water. Works real good and does not leave a film. For wipes we use cotton diapers which can be washed and reused over and over.

[DaV8or]

I use this for the bugs on the airframe as well as a whole topside treatment once a year. My plane lives in a hangar, so not a lot of cleaning is required. The bottom gets done at annual with mineral spirits. It works really well for the bugs. They slip off pretty easy. I don't wash my plane. It gets cleaned with this and a microfiber cloth.

 

 

For the windows I use Plexus.

 

If my plane had to live on a tie down, I would be using a more serious wax.

[FlyDave]

I use Wash Wax All - you can get it from Aircraft Spruce:

 

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/washwax.php?clickkey=5275

[midlifeflyer]

I forget the name but the Harley Davison shop sells something specifically for cleaning bugs off plexiglass.

 

I use lemon Pledge on my motorcycle Plexiglas too.

[midlifeflyer]

I heard Pledge can attract bees, we buy turtle wax in the spray bottle and mix 50/50 with water. Works real good and does not leave a film. For wipes we use cotton diapers which can be washed and reused over and over.

Ah, wipes. Microfibre is a great invention!

[MB65E]

I love Meguires Mist and whip. Dark purple bottle. You can usually get it anywhere in the country.

Meguires Final Inspection- gallons from spruce.

Wizzards products makes some nice stuff. There from Minnesota.

Windscreen- plexus, but the cost per can is about $20 now. Stupid crazy!!

However, the most surprising is a Hot bucket of clean water and a micro fiber towel. Then buff with another micro towel.

-Matt

[PTK]

I use the ZEP 19 oz. Foaming Glass Cleaner.

I use it on the entire exterior and interior except on the leather. Cleans plexiglass, removes oil smudges and breaks down organic soils like bugs and fingerprints quickly and effortlessly. Leaves behind nothing but a clean shine!

I refuse to pay 20$ for a 13 oz. can of plexus. The ZEP is a 19 oz. can for $2.97 at the local Home Depot.

 

 

[slowflyin]

+1 for wash n wax

[M20F]

Good clean and wax to start with. After that just a micro fiber towel and generic Pledge to wipe cowl and leading edges. For the window I use Meguiers and a very expensive/good (relative here) micro fiber which I only use on the plexiglass and clean after every use (I keep multiples in the plane), always in an up/down motion. It is pretty hard to screw up the leading edges and cheap pledge works as good as anything. You can pretty easily over a year or two wreck your windows with swirls and scratches.