I recently purchased a new Lexan winshield for my Strom(V-Stream), and noticed a warning label to not use alcohol or ammonia based cleaner on it. I already knew this, but wondered if my old cleaner(Lemon Pledge) would be suitable for Lexan. So, I did some internet research to try to determine the active chemical ingredients in both Plexus and Lemon Pledge for comparison.

Lemon Pledge Ingredients:

Naphtha, petroleum, light alkylate 5%-10%
Polydimethylsiloxanes (Silicon oil) 5%-10%
Water 70%-85%
Butane 1% -5%
Isobutane 1% - 5%
Propane 1% - 5%


Source: Consumer Product Information Database

Silcon based cleaners(silicon oil) are said to be O.K. for Lexan, but not alcohol or ammonia-based cleansers. At this point I was not sure whether any of these ingredients contained alcohol or ammonia, or were safe for Lexan—until I compared them to those chemicals found in Plexus.

Plexus ingredients:
Alipathic petroleum distillates 23%
Isobutane 12%
Propane 3 %

Source: Plexus Plastic Cleaner MSDS Page 1 of 3 Material Safety Data Sheet

I think the rest is water, just like lemon pledge. Another Pledge similarity is listed Under “Appearance and Odor”. It states, “White/Off White creamy emulsion with Lemon Odor in an Aerosol can.”

However, there are those “Alipathic petroleum distillates” listed for Plexus in this MSDS, but I believe I found what those are in another MSDS listing for Plexus :

Solvent Naptha(Petroleum) light Aliphatic, 23 % - also found in Pledge(5%-10% Naptha/Petroleum & 5%-10% Silicon Oil)

In terms of cost, Plexus can go for $16 aerosol can, while Lemon Pledge is about $5 -$7 can.

Now I’m not going to claim that Lemon Pledge and Plexus are exactly the same, but they do look similar enough to me to risk using Lemon Pledge on my new National V-Stream Lexan windscreen.

Anyone else is free to disagree, but I'm beginning to think they are quite similar.

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'06 DL650 Pearl Crystal Red

Why anyone insists on cleaning their motorcycle with furniture polish is beyond me...but whatever. Good luck to ya, and don't come crying when something goes wrong.

Plexus was DESIGNED to clean plastic.
Pledge was not.

I'm just sayin...
BTD.

PS: Buy a Microfiber Towel of good quality, use water, and skip all chemicals. You'll be better of in the long run.

Just a word of advice.

Apparently BTD has had some bad experience with Lemon Pledge.

Has anyone else on this forum actually seen a Lexan Winshield damaged by Lemon Pledge ? S.C Johnson does claim it is for use on Vinyl, but I don't think they specify plastics.

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'06 DL650 Pearl Crystal Red

Lots of people have used Pledge on various polycarbonate shields - face shield, the stock windshield, etc. I really don't think it'll do any harm. Whether it's as good and effective as, say, Plexus or Honda Spray Polish and Cleaner, or the Bel-Ray (I think) stuff I'm using these days, is a matter of opinion.

Pilots have been using pledge on aircraft windshield for yrs. Makes the bugs slide right off.

I have used it on my visors and never had a problem.

I have been using Pledge since it first came out. Had nothing but perfect results with it. Builds up a wax surface on the windshield and all you have to do is spray it wait a minute and the bugs come right off without ever scratching the screen. Had a K bike with 50,000 miles and the screen looked new. Everyone in the local BMW club uses it.

Remove the silicon & water & the rest souds like gasoline.

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Big-E
2007 Suzuki V-Strom 650
2008 Kawasaki Concours 14
1998 Suzuki Bandit 1200- Sold & wrecked TWICE
2005 BMW K1200LT-Great Tourer-Sold
2004 Honda GL-1800-Didn't like it-Sold
2001 Yamaha Venture- Wish I still had it
1996 Kawasaki Vulcan 800-Starter-Sold

You might attract the bees!

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BRIAN

2008 WR250R 2008 CONCOURS 1400 "Dearly departed 2005 DL1000"

I have used Pledge on my bikes for at least 15 years. I can't remember when I didn't use it. I have ridden hundreds of thousands of miles and never experienced the slightest problem. I have also used Plexus and can't see any difference in practical application. The lemon scented Pledge does attract bees, however.

An old biker buddy got me into using pledge on a damp towel to wax the bike after a wash. Leaves it shiny and smooth as with no buffing at all.

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DL1000 K7

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v14210521WP9YeSS6