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How to cleam plastic window on conv top

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2Triumphs

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I have tree sap and need to get it of the plastic window . Any suggestions? Help
 
Try "Pledge" (the good old fashion lemon-fresh furniture wax type). If the sap is that really gooey, sticky, glue-like stuff then you might try some rain-x anti-fog (not the rain-x windshield treatment - anti-fog comes in the black bottle). Be really careful with it on plastic though, try a little on a cotton cloth in a tiny portion of the plastic to see if it fogs the plastic before trying it on the sap (it has a lot of alcohol in it)...the good news is it will wipe off the worst of tree sap effortlessly.
 
I have used rubber cement thinner successfully to remove adhesives and sap from plastic and painted surfaces without harming surface. A bit hard to find but sold in well stocked art/drafting supply stores. You can also try contact cement thinner (avail. through hardware stores) but be prudent and try in an inconspicuous area first. Also, Novus plastic polish #2 can be used to refresh the entire plastic window.

Cheers,
John
 
The old fashioned hard to apply and hard to remove silicone based paste waxes are the best. The wax cleans and polishes the plastic film and the silicone fills the scratches and leaves a crystal clear finish.
 
Before you use any adhesive removing thinners,read the lable first.If you dont know what the chemicals are in it,dont use it.Some will melt your plastic.You can use a GOJO mineral base type hand cleaner,non abrasive type,no pumice to clean the window.Then rinse with water,dry.Depending on the tree sap,water wont touch it.Then use the paste wax method.
 
A lot of "thinners" have things like Acetone in them. While a quick wipe of acetone on a dark plastic surface may not seem to cause problems, it will slightly dissolve the surface. When used on something optical and clear like a plastic window, you probably will dull it.

Don't forget warm to hot water will soften tree sap...

Craig
 
May I jump in here with a related question? My 1925 Rover has plastic (removable) side-windows (originally celluloid!); I assume these are the same as the windows in a convertible top (indeed the Rover has one of those too). It is quite easy to clean them with water, detergent and a chamois leather, but they are not as clear as they probably were a few years ago when they were renewed (before I had the car). The surfaces are covered in tiny scratches. Does anyone know whether it is possible to polish the surfaces to remove that superficial damage, and if so, how and with what?

Ken G, 1925 Rover 16/50 (San Francisco)
 
Butter (!) will remove tree sap- soap and water removes butter- Ask me how I /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nopity.gif know- I used to work in the woods!
Ralph
73 B
 
I recently had the problem after parking under a bunch of pine trees-- tried a bunch of stuff but what worked great was the "bug and tar remover" From my neighborhood Advance auto. No prob with the plastic.
Pete
 
sap will come off with butter. yup butter, the stuff you eat. work it in till it dissolves the sap. won't touch the plastic at all. then good old soap and water. used to use butter to get fir sap off hands from spitting wood. most solvents attack plastic even if you can't see it.
rob
 
wow.... never heard of that one before... great tip! I'm gonna have to try it next time my 'B gets sapped! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Butter works on tree sap, mineral spirits works well too... again: try it somewhere out of the main (i.e. "line of sight") area first, but FWIW "tar remover" is mostly mineral spirits. And $$ less. It's been the best "dissolver" and the least obnoxious/costly treatment I've found in years. If it didn't come with all the "CAUTION:" info, I'd be brushin' my teeth with it too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
After you get the Sap off wipe all of your plastic windows with "Glycerin" from the drug store. They will look oily for about a day but will clear up. It will keep the plastic from yellowing.
 
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