Aircraft Cleaning

[Steve Smith]

As a new Comanche (and GA aircraft) owner, I would like to ask how one best cleans an airplane. I have thought of 4 categories:

1) Washing -- what cleaning product, is it OK to use a hose, and for winter in northern latitudes, how best to wash inside a hangar?
2) Debugging -- what product to use, is a pre-bug wax application useful?
3) Oil and exhaust grime -- what product to use, and what about "stains" that may not wipe off with a quick application?
4) Polish and wax -- useful? Necessary? (I have 8-year old Imron paint in excellent condition)

I see a number of products in Sporty's, but experience is a better measurement than advertisements.


Thanks -

[N3322G]

Way to go Steve, you bought a great airplane - doesn't matter which model.

Here's what I use after 41 years with the Twin.

On the windows, distilled or rain water in a spray bottle with a ring-less hand to get the bugs off. The windshield guys gave us a sign to put in the window so that no one cleans the windshield but me/us. Dry with only 100% cotton. I use my husband's wear soften t-shirts or Home Depot sells a bag of 100% cotton rags - just watch the labels to make sure you get the right bag.

I used to wash with a hose but the water at the hangar now has me using two buckets, one to wash with ZipWash and water and the other to rinse. I wash a small section, rinse and dry so the soap never dries. The DuPont directions say don't wash Imron when the surface is hot. I use a hand-sized sponge, cotton loops on one side and nylon net on the other - for tough bugs, the nylon net is used but if the bugs are soft, they come off with the smoother side. Then I use a cotton washcloth retired from the bathroom to carry the rinse water and an old retired cotton bath towel to dry. WalMart has cheap ones if needed.

For heavier behind the engine dirt, I use Aviation Simple Green and then wash with the above stuff.

Be sure to empty the water out of the flaps, tail etc to prevent freezing if you use a hose.

We learned that polish does eventually remove paint so suggest wax only.

For in hangar washing, 1970 vintage sheets are on the floor to catch the drips and I use the two buckets system above. I shake out the sheets and stick them in the wash for the next usage.

BTW the last Imron paint job on the twin went 18 years and even then we could've gotten by with a touch up but wanted a slight change in design.

Hope this helps.

[Charles (David) Miller]

Hi Steve,
I too recently purchased a Comanche, but I've owned a lot of aircraft over the last 40 years. Here's my tips.

Sam's Club has a heavy duty degreaser (It's purple and comes in a gallon jug) that when properly diluted and used in a spray bottle, works very well for cleaning the belly and wheel wells. Just spray it on and wait a few seconds and wipe it down with a soft rag.

I've used Meguiar's products for years and have found them to work very well. I also have a couple of Corvettes that I show and use their products on them. My current aircraft looked pretty rough when I bought them, but I knew they would clean up. I started with a good wash down using Dawn dish soap. This will remove old wax and leave a workable surface. Grease areas take some work using the product above. I then use Meguiar's clay bar system which will leave a nice smooth surface ready to wax. If you still have roughness then I suggest one of the DuPont buffing compounds and one of those orbital polishers you can but cheap at Harbor Freight. Once you have a smooth surface (that's important) wax it with any of the good quality products out there. I haven't found that aircraft particular products work any better than automotive ones, but I'm sure someone will take exception to that.

I live in Alabama and the bugs are bad about impaling themselves on the leading edges and windshield here. Once again I use a product by Meguiar's used for detailing. It comes in a spray bottle and works well for removing bugs. I normally use it at the end of every flight before they rigor.

Lastly, use care with the Plexiglas. I use a glass cleaner recommended for use with window film. That and one of these new soft towels works fine. BTW, I've had great luck with plastic replacements parts through Plane Plastics.

Here's some links:
http://meguiarsdirect.com/index.asp
http://www.planeplastics.com/index

Good Luck,

David Miller

[Doug David]

Pledge also works well on the plex.....trick i learned from a spray pilot...& will not scratch the surface. It also works good on the leading edges & will take off the bugs that nothing else will touch & won't stain the paint.

[9089P]

Hi, some solvents are not aircraft safe, regular simple green for instance. SG makes an aircraft version that is great. There are other similar aircraft safe stuff and the nice thing there is for the most part it is a one step process. I have used mineral spirits(paint thinner, NOT lacquer thinner) which is safe although can be messy for the operator(me). It removes all the grease stains etc. but you then need to get its residue off which is no problem , just extra time on the creeper. I use the meguiar's spray detailer on the bottom of the wings straight and on the belly after the solvent. Pledge for the plexy and the leading edges after the bug eradication missions.

As for wax, meguiar's has come out in the last year with this new exotic wax ($20), "NXT tech 2.0" that is the best stuff I have ever used. Once applied the paint takes on that deep pool like shine. I've had it on the comanche for 6 mo and still there although we are hangered.

Good luck, Don

[Steve Smith]

Pat, David, Doug, Don -

Thanks for the responses on cleaning. A few follow ups:
Pat -- I have exhaust stains on the nose gear door (260C) that ONE application of A/C Simple Green did not remove -- it did a great job on the exhaust "soot", but once that was removed a fainter stain remained. Do I need to several tries and can I over-do it to the point of damaging the paint?
David -- Do you remember the name of the Meguiar detailing product that you use for the de-bugging?
All -- Do you wax the entire airplane? I had a friend say he only waxes the leading edges of the cowl and wings to help with de-bugging.

Steve

[N3322G]

Steve,

There are some stains the aviation simple green has not been able to remove. I was going to consult the shop that painted it and see if they have any advice - I'll send an email today and let you know their response.

As for waxing - used to use ReJex on the old paint and liked it except I seemed to see the reflection/shadow of removed bugs in it.

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

I have found that Maguires Cleaner Wax is some of the best stuff for removing stains in paint. Put it on Wet, take it off Wet, stain all gone!
-Zach

[Charles (David) Miller]

[Steve Smith]

In the April AOPA PILOT magazine, they review a product called "Permanon" -- there is a cleaner and surface-protection product. The AOPA writer makes it sound pretty good. Has anyone heard of this? There is a website: www.jetshineusa.com.

Steve

[MULEFLY]

Permanon... I saw the article and ordered the test kit. The article admits that it is a "bit pricy"... that is an understatement. To cover a twin, one application (kit) will cost ~$550. Probably 2 applications at best. The test kit for $51 (including freight) was about the equivalent of a small tube of tooth paste.

Jim