Detergent

[rhtrudder]

What’s the safest detergent to use on a aluminum plane, I figure ph neutral, but should keep away from phosphate , most of the auto cleaners have sodium in some form, a lot to choose from 

[Flightrite]

Ive used Dawn dish washing soap in the past with no I’ll effects. I no longer wash my planes, I clean with furniture polish after every flight, they never see water!

[Freizeitpilot]

Ardrox 1900B

[skippydiesel]

The problem with anything labeled for Aircraft/Aviation,  it often attracts a price well above a similar product not so specified.

 

Seems to me that you could talk to cleaning product suppliers/manufacturers, to find something unlikly to react with aluminium and its various alloys.

 

Try Chemtec, they make a wide range of cleaning products https://www.chemtech.net.au/

 

I often use very very dilute Castrol windscreen wash (for particularly grubby/stained areas a few spots on a damp rag adds cleaning power). I think is probably close to a pure (non soap) detergent.- No idea if it attacks aluminium. Great stuff but I think now unavailable (still got about 10L - will last many years) Lots of alternative products, don't know if they will measure up to the Castrol though.

Edited Friday at 12:26 AM by skippydiesel

[Freizeitpilot]

Johnson’s baby shampoo ?

[skippydiesel]

5 hours ago, Freizeitpilot said:

Johnson’s baby shampoo ?

Problem with most  products, for human use, is they are soapes with only a little detergent. Detergent is rough on human skin.

If my memory serves, pure detergent does not foam (or very little).

The froth / foam you get when using automotive shampoos is more for the pleasure/satisfaction of the human applicant, than a practical cleaning agent.

Heavy duty truck washes etc, foam very little.

Windshield wash, foams hardly at all (don't use dishwashing liquid in windscreen wash)

Edited Friday at 06:37 AM by skippydiesel

[Red]

On 05/09/2024 at 5:51 AM, Flightrite said:

 clean with furniture polish after every flight

??..The whole aircraft?

[BurnieM]

I regularly use Chemtech CT18 on cars, motorcycles and boats so should work fine on painted surfaces.

 

What are people using for windscreens ?

Edited Friday at 10:28 PM by BurnieM

[Flightrite]

9 hours ago, Red said:

??..The whole aircraft?

The canopies, LE’s and the belly gets a polish. Do it after every flight and there’s little to clean👍

[Freizeitpilot]

6 hours ago, BurnieM said:

I regularly use Chemtech CT18 on cars, motorcycles and boats so should work fine on painted surfaces.

 

What are people using for windscreens ?

Perspex windscreens ? dilute baby shampoo mixed up in a trigger spray bottle, wipe off with a microfibre cloth.  Baby shampoo is a low foaming detergent (not soap) …..and gentle on your baby !