Cleaning an IS windsheild

[NighthawkVTX]

I drove through a bug fest the other day. My IS windshield got spattered pretty good. Any suggestions on getting the windshield clean with out damaging it?

[Jess from VA]

Always start out with soaking/dripping warm/hot water on soft cloth (microfiber) (a drop or two of soft soap is OK, but not necessary.  Preferably as soon as you get home.  The longer they are on, the harder you have to work, and the more risk of scratching from pushing (shield or whole bike).  Bug guts are acid, and eat paint with time.  Any grit or sand on your cleaning rags is bad.  Using (expensive) polishes on bugs is a waste of product, and just smears them around.

Some are using hydrogen peroxide, which is very cheap.

Once the worst is off, then clean with whatever you use (not windex, ammonia, bleach), I use (no abrasive) plastic polish.

I use this

But because the pump just sprays everywhere wastefully, I pour it into used eyeglass cleaner atomizers which put out a fine mist which is all you need.  Does the whole bike nicely with microfiber. Just one small atomizer will serve for weeks and weeks.

[hukmut]

And then use Lemon Pledge to help resisting those bugs from sticking. Don't know why, but it works.


Ride safe...

[Jess from VA]

My yellow jackets love lemon pledge.  (but not me)

[Valkorado]

+1 for hydrogen peroxide.  Softens and dissolves the bugs so they wipe right off with a microfiber.  Follow with your favorite cleaner/polish.

[Bighead]

Good ol soap and water has worked well on EVERY bike I have ever owned.

[Steel cowboy]

Down here in Florida we get the love bug season twice a year and it should show its ugly head soon. I use dryer sheets, the kind you put in the dryer when you dry your clothes. They remove the stuck un guts like magic and then I use lemons plege. The sheets work good on paint too. Rain-X makes a formula for plastic windshields now. Works the same as the glass formula and makes cleaning the windshield a piece of cake.

[john]

                  kitchen towel in hot water ... HOT  ..          ???
                                     lay it on the shield and and let it set ...           
                                  slide it off ... no bugs              
 

[BradValk48237]

I have a bit of a different way....

Since I got a new Cee Bailey Windshield 5 years ago I have been doing the following:

I only use a spray type wax on it.... Eagle or Turtle.. etc   the same one I use on the rest of the bike for regular clean up.

I keep a bottle) I have room, but you could put it in a smaller say bottle) in the sale bag and a couple of micro fiber towels.

So almost every gas stop or as needed I just spray it on and wipe off....

I have never used water on it and it almost looks like the day I got it....

And the benefit is I don't have damp towels in the saddlebag.... It also makes an easy way to keep the dust off the bike.

B

[davit]

How do you handle the road grit that inevitably gets imbedded in the bug mess.  Give that a wipe, wet or not and it scratches the plastic.

[BradValk48237]

BY using the wax all the time there is always a layer to keep stuff from sticking.. plus I use the real "liquid" clear style.. first spray softens/lube's it up ... then wipe....

I've been doing this for years and looks new ish.....

B

[Moonshot_1]

Another Hydrogen Peroxide fan here. Put it in a used spray bottle of some kind. Spritz it on the shield and give it a second or two and tada, bug guts wipe right off. Finish with the lemon pledge. Cheap and effective.

[Pappy!]

Add another to the peroxide method. Really does a good job. Have done the hot water on the towel trick as well and it does the job as well.