The International Cessna^® 170 Association

In 2004 Pledge took Lemon Pledge in pump-spray bottles off the market. I called their help number asking about new products. Orange Pledge (available in pump-spray bottles) is the same formula as Lemon Pledge except for the change in scent. Ihad run out of the pump stuff and had switched to aerosol. Now I'll try the Orange. After fifteen years the windshield needs a change.

Whats the deal with Pledge? why should I be interested in it in regards to c170's?

Zreyn wrote:Whats the deal with Pledge? why should I be interested in it in regards to c170's?

It's the best and cheapest canopy polish available. If you use lots of water and your finger tips to remove dust from the windshield and then polish with Pledge and a clean soft cloth, your canopy will look great and last practically forever.

Sorry if this sounds critical... lots of folks love Pledge and I have not ever heard of anyone having a problem with it, but I'd be willing to bet that there's no guarantee from the Johnson Wax Co (who produces Pledge) that their product will not harm aircraft plastic windshields.
Lots of genuine aircraft winshield cleaners are out there that cost about the same or only slightly more but are actually represented to be safe for expensive windshields.

From the people who make aircraft windshields (LP Aero) and do not have anything to gain by advising us otherwise:

"We need to step back here and take a look at cleaner/polishes. Everybody seems to have a favorite, from great and
proper to poor and very dangerous. The good ones, at least those that are safe to use on acrylic plastics, tend to be the
commercial ones, intended to be used on this specific material. The bad ones, including the very dangerous, tend to be
materials never intended to be used as an aircraft window cleaner/polish, such as glass cleaners and furniture polish. Glass
cleaners invariably contain ammonia, a killer of acrylics. DO NOT use anything containing ammonia on acrylic plastics. It
will cause crazing (thousands of microscopic cracks) in short order. Furniture polish seems to be safer, but its long term use
is undocumented and reports indicate it builds up and produces smears that are hard to polish off. Something to consider
about furniture polish - it is intended to be used indoors, not outdoors, and on furniture, not aircraft windows. Furthermore,
it’s not much less expensive than many aircraft window products."

To read their article on how to care for your plastic windshield:
http://www.lpaero.com/CAREINS.pdf

gahorn wrote:Sorry if this sounds critical... lots of folks love Pledge and I have not ever heard of anyone having a problem with it, but I'd be willing to bet that there's no guarantee from the Johnson Wax Co (who produces Pledge) that their product will not harm aircraft plastic windshields.

From the people who make aircraft windshields (LP Aero) and do not have anything to gain by advising us otherwise:

LP makes great products and canopies but Johnson gives you the same guarantee as LP, i.e., none. Further, LP does have something to gain, they sell all kinds of cleaner and polish, all of which is high quality. But they are not impartial, nor would I expect them to be. They are understandably proud of their own products.

I have personally used Pledge for 35 years, including the last 10 on my 170 and have yet to experience that dreaded waxy buildup... At annual time, my mechanic continues to comment on how my >10 year old canopy looks nearly new, especially considering our dusty environment. (Construction dust, glacial dust, and volcanic ash.) From time to time, I have used other products as well, including LP polish and scratch remover, with good results. Pledge is not a substitute for either a good cleaner or a scratch remover. It is, IMHO, a great polish for daily use that even fills in the small scratches that inevitably accumulate with age.


Here's what I do and how we instruct our CAP pilots and glider students (with liberal cribbing from LP's instructions.)

Canopy care

The first step is to flush canopy with lots of water ( with perhaps a few drops of dish soap) to remove grit and dust. Don’t overdo the soap. If you use a sponge, use the sponge to drip water on the canopy. (The last clown who used the sponge dropped it on the ground and you can bet it has some dirt on the surface that will scratch the canopy like steel wool.)

DO NOT rub the sponge on the canopy. Flushing the grit off the canopy before you start is the most important part of the process. Failing to do so will wreck a canopy. Clean water is the cheapest and best canopy cleaner, use lots of it.

If a little rubbing is needed to remove grit, do it lightly with your bare hand.

After a final flushing with more water, carefully dry with a clean soft cloth. Use the softest cotton cloth available.

One hundred percent cotton flannel is ideal. Old washed-out cotton T-shirts are a good second choice. Chamois works well also if its clean.

Wipe only in direction of airflow, not in a circle.

When nearly dry, use a good grade cleaner/polish intended for aircraft canopies such as Meguiars #17. or LP. Lemon Pledge is also OK.

DO NOT use glass cleaners such as Windex which invariably contain ammonia. It will cause crazing (thousands of microscopic cracks) in short order.

If you have a sticky residue that water will not remove, try 100% mineral spirits or kerosene. USE NO OTHER SOLVENTS.

Never use paper towels, Windex or glass cleaner with ammonia

Be careful wearing jewelry such as rings or watchbands which can scratch canopies. Zippers and metal buttons will wreck them as well. Be careful

Never rub a dry canopy. It will create a static charge and attract grit.

If you drop a cloth or sponge on the ground, don't use it on a canopy again until it has been thoroughly washed. Better yet, throw it away. Sponges are cheap, canopies are expensive.

When a canopy becomes scratched, refer to an instructor for use of scratch removers like Mequiars #10 or LP Scratch remover. The contain mild abrasives and must be used carefully. Follow with an aircraft canopy polish or wax like Lemon Pledge.

gahorn wrote:...From the people who make aircraft windshields (LP Aero) and do not have anything to gain by advising us otherwise...

What I meant by that remark was that their advice to use only those products for the intended purpose was not helpful to themselves in selling windshields. Their complete instructions did not promote any cleaning products of their own. (It does, however, promote their competitor's products.)

Using Pledge for windows might be like using WD-40 for aircraft wash!

I have seen the Pledge build up on Ag airplanes where the windshield is cleaned several times a day, every day. It is not a real problem, just switch cleaners one or two times and it is gone. I don't think it would be a problem when the windshield is cleaned only a few times a month or so.

My two cents.

George, I know, I know how you feel about PLEDGE, but I've used it on one windshield for 15 years and it still has no hazing. Indoors it repels dust and guess what, it does the same thing outdoors. It keeps the windshield cleaner much longer than any other product I've tried. Yes you are correct S C Johnson does not guarantee the product for plastic windshields, but in a telephone conversation with their engineering department I was told that it will "DO NO HARM". That's the same guarantee I get from my doctor and that is the best for which I can hope. I have tried the new ORANGE PLEDGE to clean the leading edges, struts and gear of bugs and it works as good as the old. I've tried it on the windshield and it seems to work as good. For the next 15 years I'll keep giving you updates. God willing.

djbaker wrote:George, I know, I know how you feel about PLEDGE, - - - - it repels dust and guess what, it does the same thing outdoors.

HESA WARSH HIS 170 WITH DUBYA D 40 SO DOANT PAY HIM NO MINE WHEN HE SPIKS BOUT PLEGE. IMA JUS WUNNER IF I SPRA PLEGE ALL OVRALL OLE DELTA IF I WUNT HAVE TO WARSH IT EENY MOAR EVAR?

Gar, I spray it under my arms and I haven't washed in years.

Jim Baker,
It was unconscioneable of you to suggest the use of WD40 on armpits. I tried what you did and, and the tragic results were a complete loss of the ability to cup the palm of my hand under my armpit and, with a rapid downstroke of my upper arm, creating a replica of a really soul satisfying fart.
I doubt I'll ever be able to forgive you.

Dick Lemmon

I was a Pledge user for years until I tried Aeroshell Plexicoat. I highly recommend it.

BL, Just lay on your back, cup your hands behind your knees, and kick away. Works just as good as your armpits!
For best results make sure all surfaces are clear of any dirt, dust , or grease. Jon

Dick, To make sure surfaces are "free of dust, dirt or grease"--- use PLEDGE not WD-40

DaveF wrote:I was a Pledge user for years until I tried Aeroshell Plexicoat. I highly recommend it.

AH TRY THAT STUFF UNNER MA ARM AN I GOT A SOUN LAK A BABY CHICK PEEPIN!!!!!! NAOW IMA LAK BLUE ELDER - - IMA GONNA HAYTCHA FER LONGTIME.

PEE ESS SUM GUYS ALWAYS WANNA GIT BAK TO CEERIOUS.