Tip - Cleaning Lexan w/toothpaste

[CapnK]

Most of y'all probably know this one, but toothpaste does an excellent job of cleaning and polishing Lexan ports, deadlights, etc... I did a search here, though, and didn't get any results, so I thought I'd post this.

I just used it again, last time was about 8 months ago, which was the first time I'd tried it. I don't know if mine get dirtier than other folks might. Besides airborne dust / dirt and punishment from UV, the CrewDogs brush up against mine whenever they go forward. With them both being waterdogs, they have oily fur, so that might make mine get cloudy/dirty quicker than non-dogged boats. At any rate, within 10-15 minutes, using water and some toothpaste, Katie's portlights all sparkly clean and highly transparent again.

My method is straightforward: wet the Lexan, squeeze some toothpaste out onto the surface (2 very intermittent lines - less than a teaspoon, and these are relatively large pieces of Lexan), rub like crazy for a bit with the wet corner of a rag, rinse/wipe clean, and Voila!

Inside the cabin, I use less of both water and toothpaste, of course. ;)

[psyche]

CapnK
this may sound like a stupid question but what toothpaste did you use. Some are much more gritty that others and some are gel? Dan

[CapnK]

Dan - Good question -

First time was the 'grittier' kind - paste.

This time was a gel-type, with some little flaky white things in it.

Though different, both seem to work equally well.

[AdriftAtSea]

Just remember, if you're using toothpaste to "clean" the Lexan, you're actually polishing out the scratches and such. However, the polishing will also remove the anti-UV and anti-scratch protective coatings that are found on MR-10 grade lexan, which is often what is used on boats.   YMMV.

[CapnK]

Just remember, if you're using toothpaste to "clean" the Lexan, you're actually polishing out the scratches and such. However, the polishing will also remove the anti-UV and anti-scratch protective coatings that are found on MR-10 grade lexan, which is often what is used on boats.   YMMV.

I'm guessing that what you are saying is "Don't use toothpaste on brand new Lexan", which is probably a good idea. But by the time you need to polish up Lexan to improve visibility through it, I'd say any of those fancy coatings are probably already long gone.  :)

Also, toothpaste doesn't remove any big scratches or crazing. It just smooths out the flat spots that are there, apparently. I can still see all the scratches I had before, just better. ;D Maybe if you used an electric buffer with toothpaste...

[s/v Faith]

Caution!!!!!   :P

Danger!! Danger!! Danger!!  Danger!!!!

:-*

Could make your tooth brush taste funny too!  :o :o :o



  Might even cause some kind of brain damage and make you think you can sail a small boat on the ocean!!!!































;)   





;D ;D :D ;D :D

[s/v Monomoy]

I know this is an older topic, but...  Toothpaste also works excellent on the transom to remove diesel funk caused by the exhaust.  Takes virtually no elbow grease and cleans it up fine.  Makes you wonder what chemicals you are using to clean your teeth if it cleans Lexan and diesel funk.

[Zen]

 ;D
ah someone is awake  :D