Lemon Pledge for cleaning Vinyl Windows

Alyssa Jean

While on our trip up to Ketchikan, (actually it was at the Ketchikan Yacht Club) I met a gal that crews on larger boats for a living. She cooks, cleans, and crews, etc. and gets to travel all over the place on very nice boats. She steered me onto using Lemon Pledge to clean the clear vinyl windows in the canvas. She told me she has been using it for years and that it not only cleans without scratching, but that it keeps the vinyl from getting stiff. I tried it yesterday and it works very well.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:26 am Post subject:

David-

Great tip!

Thanks!

Joe.

Ted Osborne · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:54 am Post subject:

We have been using Lemon Pledge for yrs and it really works. One of the boats on our dock was going to get new side curtains and I told him about Lemon Pledge. He used it and while it didn't take them back to new he was able to put off getting new ones for three yrs.

Chester · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:25 pm Post subject:

Many motorcyclists swear by it for their windshields.

Dreamer · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:47 pm Post subject:

We used it for years on our Sailplane canopies!

ffheap · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:28 am Post subject:

Great ideas,

You can use Cinch as a window cleaner and a general purpose cleaner. Great stuff. We use it all the time at the Inn.

Fred

Sea Wolf · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:00 am Post subject:

Thanks for the great info on Lemmon Pledge and viny windows! I'll be using it on the Sea Ray, which has a lot of clear vinyl in the canvas!

I use Windex as a general purpose cleaner around the boat and house when some other specific cleaner is not indicated. The mild detergent and ammonia loosen up and remove most everything short of things requiring hot solvents like acetone, etc.

Joe.

Chester · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:09 pm Post subject:

Sea Wolf, good plan. The ammonia in Windex will destroy vinyl windows.

drjohn71a · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:56 am Post subject:

I brought this forward because I am just now looking for this answer and barely remembered that the topic had been covered before. Also, I just noticed that the warning label on the Bowmar hatches says not to use Ammonia window cleaners.

John

PenguinPA · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject:

Hi all,

Previous owner on my 40' used pledge on the sidecurtains around the upper helm, was completely unable to see a damn thing Cry

After trying multiple products designed for the vinyl, which would not remove the pledge, tried other cleaners...Long story short...WOULD NOT reccomend this if you don't want to replace the vinyl. I believe that it works well on the lexan like windows, but the vinyl in canvass will turn hazy very quickly after use.

Good Luck
Drew

drjohn71a · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:01 pm Post subject:

thanks , Drew

I wonder what the best thing is?

John

Grumpy · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:27 pm Post subject:

When Canvas Riggers of Anacortes did our camper back they recommended "Mer-maids" Plexiglas/Plastic Cleaner & Polisher. Item #MPC016.
Have used it for 1 year and it does a great job.

I didn't find a web site but you can contact them at mermaid@mermaids.com or 1-800 878 492

Merv

On edit.. Duh !! it's www.mermaids.com

Chester · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:44 pm Post subject:

Plexus, while being expensive, is very good. It's what I use on my Electra Glide's windshield.

tsturm · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:33 pm Post subject:

drjohn71a · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:11 am Post subject:

Well,

I called King Canvas yesterday and was pleased that they gave me Dave's cell number - he's up in Canada right now - who is the "expert" on this topic.

I asked about Lemon Pledge, etc., and what King Canvas recommends for cleaning the vinyl windows. Here is about what he said,

"The windows are made of dark PVC material into which a plasticizer is mixed to make them both clear and flexible. As time passes, no matter what you do, the plasticizer leaves the windows and they become dark. So, whatever cleaner you are using over time, you might think that the cleaner caused the darkening. The sun hastens the darkening.... sun and time."

The best cleaner they have found for long term use is "Mermaid Cleaner", made up in the Seattle area. Mermaid also makes the Sunbrella cleaner they recommend. He said some ppl say RainX is the second choice, but he has no follow up on that rumor at this time. He also was reluctant to recommend Lemon Pledge since he has no long term follow up on that either.

Cleaners that remove the plasicizer will speed the darkening.

so,,, let's try to find Mermaid Cleaner!

What a great bunch of ppl there at King Canvas!

John