How to easily clean rubber, glass and plastic

Don’t worry, we’re not becoming a detail website. But we do like to keep our cars clean–whether it's for a local get-together, Radwood or our own $2000 Challenge.

We also like products that work well and deliver at a fair price.

How’d we find these easy, effective products? Tim McNair of Grand Prix Concours.

Here are some of …

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Thoughts on cleaning polycarbonate (i.e. LEXAN)?

In reply to infernosg :

I've been using Plexus in the marine industry for years. It will work on polycarbonates for minor cleaning. Meguiars 2 part pastic cleaner works better. And if bad enough don't be scared to break out the 1500 and 2000 grit. Then finish with the Meguiars. As a side note - Plexus works great on prescription glasses. 

The Sprayway glass cleaner is something my local glass shop uses and 'rebrands' by putting their sticker over the front. But it's great stuff, and, as you stated, 2 for 5 bucks

In reply to hybridmomentspass :

Yeah, BOGO is hard to beat. We have a glass kitchen table, so I keep one can in the kitchen, one in the garage. 

Glad to see Plexus mentioned, and Zep is my go-to for glass.

In reply to FastFreddy :

Thanks. It seems like Plexus or Sprayway could both work. My track RX7 has a LEXAN rear window and while the exterior cleans up just fine during a normal wash the interior is more difficult. I've been using a simple mixture of water and a drop of dish soap with moderate success but that requires a level of "polishing" to get it clear and free of streaks.

I do like the spray on glass cleaner.

In reply to Shadeux :

Years ago--like 25 or more--we got a care package from Plexus. This might have been when they were new. Anyway, the company made all sorts of bold claims: Cleans! Polishes! Protects! It was both a floor wax and a dessert topping.

Anyway, that stuff worked as promised. It smelled good, too.

The biggest trick has been finding it. 

In reply to David S. Wallens :

You mentioned rubber. This is a finish protectant, but I like Aero Cosmetics Rubber Care. It's not glossy or messy. 

Maybe they will send a care package 

In reply to Shadeux :

Thanks for the tip, and I'll have to check it out. 

I need to clean up some more tires soon, so I'll take some before and after photos. It is amazing how well those old race tires cleaned up with just the SD-20. That was about a minute of work: spray and wipe. I didn't even wait for the stuff to work as I was rushing to get to the tire store. Also, no hose, no mess. 

In addition to the information in this article, one of the most frequent things I see is the need to remove cone marks or track marks (flying rubber, etc.) from the car's paint and windshield. Mother's R3 (Racing Rubber Remover) is magical in this regard.

This may be a bit late, but Amazon has some glass cleaning microfiber rags that are great on glass. They are used with plain water, no cleaner. Use the green one with water to clean and the blue one to dry/polish, they work great, I keep some in all our cars.

I have been using SD-20 for years and learned about it from some ex-NASCAR team employees who were teaching race car building at one of the community colleges here. Funny, but I never thought about using SD-20 on rubber tires.  I have used Griot's rubber cleaner for that, but I will try out the SD-20!  Also, the Sprayway glass cleaner is my favorite. Only Griot's has a product that matches it from my experience, but you simply cannot beat Sprayway for price and availability.  Apparently detailers like Sprayway too because it is just pure glass cleaner (simple formula???) without anything else in it.  Now I just need to find a bottle of Plexus and I'll be set.

We use sprayway at work with machine vision stuff, it's a nice product. We've also had decent success ceramic coating the glass, haven't really tried that on a car though

Even using sprayway I seem to always have film or streaks on the inside of my car's glass. What am I doing wrong?

In reply to bumpsteer :

The trick is to kind of polish it off the glass with a microfiber and avoid letting it fully dry on the window

Ironically I just ordered some more SD-20 today. 

Don't forget to also clean the INSIDE window surfaces.

( was the last time you did THAT ... ? )

Thanks for posting this!!!

I use the SD-20 to get the tire marks off the wrap of my race car.  Happy to read I can clean up the tires oN My street cars!!!

thanks so Much!!!

As pointed out earlier, SD-20 was / is the NASCAB tool of choice.

YRMV

When washing my car:

1. on exterior glass windows I start with "simple green", wipe with paper towel

2. buggy areas, "simple green", let soak

3.on wheels,  3M wheel cleaner, then wheel brush, then rinse

4. Groit foam on whole car incl wheels and glass

5. shaggy mitt scrub whole car

6. rinse

7. squeege quick to get 80% water off, IF there is tree sap, DAB a little with sap cleaner, soak, rub with fingernail and paper towel, repeat. Rinse area with water.

8. dry with "super absorbant" towel

9. clean windows with WINDEX pump bottle, use dirty paper towel to wipe the windshield wipers.

10. clean windows with SPRAYWAY

11. IF windows are streaky, spray BRAKE CLEAN (or acetone or Carb Spray) on paper towel (not near car), wipe windows with paper towel turning and refolding often

We used Plexus on our aircraft windshields.  Since it was an aircraft product we probably paid twice what it would cost elsewhere but if you cannot find it, try to source through an aircraft supply or at you local airfield.  The stuff was fantastic for polishing plexiglass windshields.