Windscreen + Isopropyl Alcohol

[DroFiveOh]

So, I was about to put a decal on my windscreen and I figured step 1 would be to clean the application area with rubbing alcohol.

Less than a minute after gently applying rubbing alcohol with a cotton ball, the entire area is super cloudy and nearly opaque. Doesn't look like a film that I'll be able to get off either.

Am I retarded and this is common knowledge not to use rubbing alcohol on a (I'm guessing poly) windscreen?

I'm not sure if this post is meant to be a fable or a cry for help. I don't really care about the windscreen being cloudy as hell, as I haven't and doubt I will ever need to see through it.

Discuss.

[Danz19899]

Yes that's common knowledge anything corrosive on plastic will do that. On a postive note a little rubbing compound and you can buff it clear again

[Eric Baker]

I've had some luck with putting a little oil (motor oil, 3-in-1 oil etc) on plastic that that does that from either alcohol or brake clean. I've never tried it on clear plastic, but it's worth a try. My thought is it replenishes the chemicals in the plastic that get stripped out by the cleaner.

[DroFiveOh]

Thanks for the advice. FWIW, it's a dark smoke screen (IDK the brand).

[aldend123]

I didn't know that one. I'm kinda surprised I didn't after googling it because it does seem to be pretty common knowledge. Granted, a lot of the discussion was people learning the hard way so don't feel too bad.

I would think just the surface is damaged and a plastic buffing like those used on plastic headlights might help? Or is windscreen plastic too soft?

[Philkinson]

I did something similarly stupid to my spare. A bit of wet sanding and buffing made it a suitable back up again

[duganc1717]

Depending on how much you like the windscreen, it is possible to wet sand and buff with rubbing compounds, the cloudiness will come out.

[01xj]

Don't feel bad, I've done the same thing.

....Let me just use some of this brake cleaner soaked rag to tidy up my bug ridden windshield.......shit.

[DroFiveOh]

The worst part is, I kept constantly thinking how much of an idiot PO was because the windshield had thousands of tiny scratches from being improperly cleaned (with a paper towel and windex most likely). I guess that's karma. Just glad I learned the hard way before applying the decal.

I know if I try to wetsand the windscreen back to normal I will destroy it. So instead of $3 it's gonna cost me $90(ish) to put the decal on a new windscreen. Hopefully others on here will see this and NOT have to learn the hard way.

Funny thing is, I'm less pissed about my ruined windscreen and more pissed that I have to wait to put it on:

#allwindscreensmustdie

[xrocket21]

luckily plastic is soft and easily polished!!!

[Falko]

If you have a headlight polishing kit, that will take care of it.

[Ductard]

On a related note....

I had one of those blue iridium visors, I went to clean some bugs off of it at NYST a couple months ago, and it looks like the coating started to come off (it looks "blotchy" on the outside - I wouldn't care, because it's a track helmet, but it also looks "blotchy" when looking from the inside out). Wasn't *too* concerned about it, because while the visor had been usable before this, it had some scratches on it from a crash...and I sort of forgot what I had used to try to clean it...figured I had grabbed some windex or something.

I got a new visor and a couple weeks ago, went to clean it off, making sure I used EYEGLASS CLEANER and a MICROFIBER EYEGLASS CLEANING CLOTH...and the same thing started to happen! Then it hit me...I remembered that's what I used the first time :-/ (Putting that detail in because this makes me feel at least as dumb as the OP feels)

Whammy...another $60 down the drain....

WTF are you supposed to use on these visors? I figured eyeglass cleaner would be safe because a lot of glasses have that anti-glare coating, but apparently not.

Miles had a couple of different things he wanted me to try out on the old visor this past LRRS weekend (plastic cleaner, etc.) but I never got around to trying any of them.

[Falko]

dawn soap and water

[tls25rs]

Lots of warm water and a clean towel. Usually no need for chemicals to clean visors or windscreens. That being said, I have always had good luck with Honda Polish, or whatever they are calling it at the time.

[DroFiveOh]

Read good things about the "Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit". Gonna give that a try and see how it works. Hopefully that will get out the scratches that PO caused as well.

Thanks for all the advice and reassurance that I'm not a complete idiot. Only mostly.

[aldend123]

I've used this on my windscreen and face shield a bunch. It isn't too thin, comes off easily without residue, evaporates quickly. And gets dried bugs off easily.


Are you sure the PO "caused" all these scratches, or are they just from use? It's pretty hard to keep plastic like that perfect.

[OreoGaborio]

Poll edited to fall within NESR historical standards.

[cdovego]

dawn soap and water

Exactly what Shoei, Arai and Suomy will tell you. Good info!

[Point37]

i just use a microfiber wash cloth and water...wet it down, throw it over the area for a few minutes soften up the bugs, come back and wipe them off and dry with another microfiber wash cloth

[reks95]

Bugs are apparently water soluble. Wet a towel and leave it on the visor for a couple minutes.
Finish with Pledge if you want a temporary water repellent coating.

[isaac_]

Hydrogen peroxide will also help get rid of bug guts. Then wash it off with water.

[Garandman]

You can wet sand Acrylic but not Polycarbonate.

[RandyO]

I wipe my windscreen clean with Rain-x windshield wash fluid and microfiber cloth, when treated with Rain-x, future bugsplats come off easier, dirt doesn't adhere as easily

[DroFiveOh]

UPDATE:

Used the Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit (<$20 on Amazon) and it worked beautifully. The windscreen is as smooth as glass now and looks brand new from the outside.

I waited about 5 hours for the clear coat to cure and when I peeled the backing off of the decal after applying, it took a small piece of the clear coat off with it near one of the letters. To be fair, I could have waited a day to let it cure and avoided this but I got impatient.

Luckily I saved the bottle of clear coat and touched up the spot and now it is barely noticeable.