Visor cleaning: Window cleaner vs specialised cleaner

[Waaarrrggghhh]

Just got a litre bottle of window cleaner for £1, 250ml bottle of muc off visor cleaner is like £5.

Is it bad to use window cleaner? People (as in, wed out journalists and muc-off) say its bad, but then Ari from MC garage said its fine to use window cleaner.

[Cylon2007]

Window cleaner is for use on Glass, visors aren't glass but plastic.

Use the proper stuff it's not really very expensive as you don't need much. As an alternative, hand soap or liquid hand cleaner work fine and won't damage the visor.

[Zakalwe]

Depends on the window cleaner. Ammonia, ketones, solvents etc might be in the ingredients which aren’t great for plastics. Same goes for any abrasive additives that’ll scratch. Some of the vinegar based ones might be ok, but the sake of a few quid..

Any of the window cleaners who you’ll see doing the rounds are only using some washing up liquid in water, and not even that much soap in order to avoid streaking

Edited by Zakalwe on Wednesday 8th May 19:08

[MrGman]

Never used anything but water on mine, current visor is about 3 years old and doesn't really have any scratches or swirling from cleaning.

If i'm at home it's a hot flannel soaking over the visor for a few minutes, If i'm out it's a bit of tissue and cold water.

[NickGRhodes]

I always used glasses cleaner, spray or wipes.

[Pica-Pica]

I always used spit. Saliva is a pretty good cleaner.

[Zakalwe]

Natural anti fog as well, divers spit in their goggles

[jj.]

I used to come back from a ride, remove visor and soak in washing up liquid in fairly warm water for about half an hour. Remove and simply wiped over with a piece of kitchen roll. Served me well for years, although that was in the 90's, not sure if the bugs have 'beefed' up a bit more now....!??
jj

[JulianHJ]

NickGRhodes said:

I always used glasses cleaner, spray or wipes.

Likewise. OTOH I’m not sure about the appropriate method for cleaning the Pinlock - any suggestions?

[Pothole]

NickGRhodes said:

I always used glasses cleaner, spray or wipes.

I use the stuff from Boots.

https://www.boots.com/boots-lens-cleaner-spray-120...

Seems to last for ages

[s2kjock]

After someone recommending it to me when I first started riding over 10 years ago, I use Plexus plastic cleaner which seems designed for use on this sort of thing - spray on, leave for couple of minutes, polish off with fine micro-fibre. Brilliant. Rain runs off much more easily as do bugs wash off.

Also very good for mobile phone screens and tablets ..........

I just checked prices though and it seems ludicrously expensive now - my cans are several years old.

[Krikkit]

ash73 said:

MrGman said:

Never used anything but water on mine, current visor is about 3 years old and doesn't really have any scratches or swirling from cleaning.

If i'm at home it's a hot flannel soaking over the visor for a few minutes, If i'm out it's a bit of tissue and cold water.

Same here.

I'm similar, use a lightly damp piece of kitchen roll with a drop of fairy on it, let it soak and wipe down, then rinse clean.

[308mate]

A drop of fairy liquid, give it a rub, rinse it off and dry with a paper towel. Job done. If you're mid ride at a caf and your visor is splattered with bugs and guts, grab some paper from the loos, wet it and lay it on the visor while you eat your cake. It will soak the guts off. Then peel it off, give it a wipe, dry with hand towel or a square of paper towel that you took with you from home.

Think of it this way, do you take the 5 quid bottle of muc(k) with you on rides? So you use the wet paper method right? So why bother using the 5 quid muck at home?

[pessimal]

bottle of rain-x plastic from halfords.

[R1 Dave]

Piece of wet kitchen roll left to soak on the visor works well.

Ive also found those V2 visor sponges work really well, though they've doubled in price recently.

[Zarco]

R1 Dave said:

Piece of wet kitchen roll left to soak on the visor works well.

That's more or less all I've ever used. If touring I'll carry a small bottle of muck-off or similar and a microfiber.

[RemyMartin81D]

Zarco said:

R1 Dave said:

Piece of wet kitchen roll left to soak on the visor works well.

That's more or less all I've ever used. If touring I'll carry a small bottle of muck-off or similar and a microfiber.

This.

Bonus is once done the soggy kitchen roll and flys is protein central, yum yum.

[ianrb]

Only thing listed in Tesco's window cleaner id <5% non ionic surfactants. Been using that and similar on visors for years with no detrimental effect.