Cleaning a face shield

[MustangGuy]

Here's a scratch free way that I clean my face shields:

First remove the shield from the helmet. Rinse it in cool running water. Put a small blob of gentle liquid soup on your hand (Ivory or something without a grease remover or skin conditioner). Lather it up in your hands. Gently soap up both sides of the face shield. Rinse in cool running water. Then - the secret - spray both sides down with distilled water in a spray bottle (I use this just beford drying as my final step when I was my car also). Tap the shield to work off the excess DI water as much as you can. Don't wipe it with anything... Just let it air dry (not in the sun). I never have any spots on mine when I clean them this way and it doesn't seem to have stripped off the anti fog coating on the inside either.

 

[OldGeezer]

Nice tip MustangGuy. I use Lemon Pledge to get road-kill bugs off the outside of the shield. I don't use it on the inside as it may damage the coating. Works well on my leathers as well.

 

[s0dhi]

Thats an awesome process.

I accidentally scrubbed away the mirror finish on a shield this year, using Windex and shop towels to clean away stubborn bug residue. It wasn't one of my shining moments.

 

[thrstrmech]

I use this

with a micro fiber cloth

 

[go cytocis]

Thrst:[up]
I use it on my plastics too!

 

[MustangGuy]

I've heard Plexus is good. I should probably use it at least on the outside of the shield between washings. Lemon Pledge for the helmet itself is also a good choice. Some of my buddies use it on their bikes - even the chrome. I use an automotive liquid quick wax on mine just because I always have it for my cars and bikes.

 

[chevy42083]

Soap and water on my anti-fog stuff. Otherwise, water/fingers... blot dry with microfiber towel, then wipe with either quick detailer, or rainx anti-fog glass cleaner if the visor doesn't have a "built-in" coating.

The addition of rainX or quick detailer helps shed water. When caught in heavy fog, it'll bead up and run off with the twist of your neck... easier with actual rain.

 

[Dave A]

I've been an Optician for more than 35 years and you guys offered some great advice. The common denominator here is don't wipe your shields while they're dry. Use soap and water and only dry with a soft cloth. NO paper products. No facial tissue, toilet paper or freakin paper towels. If you do, hair line scratches will develop giving your shield a foggy look and like was mentioned earlier ruining any protective coating. Well done guys...Do the same for your bikes.

 

[vtech007]

Good tips, all.

A tip I read in a motorcycle magazine some time ago, that I have done for some time, for removing the grime on the helmet and outside surface of the shield is to use one of the foaming bathroom cleaners (such as Scrubbing Bubbles. It really works. Leaves a nice fresh scent, too lol

 

[Fatty SS]

I soak a soft cloth in water and drape it across the front of my helmet with the shield closed. Let it sit for five minutes and gently wipe the bugs off. Everything softens up while the cloth sits and soaks, and the bugs just wipe right off. No scrubbing, no cleaners, no scratches.

 

[chevy42083]

^Good point. I always lay a wet paper towel on mine before hand washing to soften things up. Forgot that step.