Cleaning LARGE windows

[Yofy]

We have been maintaining a Lagoon 50 cat for the past few months. She has two large sliding glass doors leading out of the main salon. Some previous crew member taped two big X's and wrote the boats name in a type of coloured celotape and stuck it on these door/windows. We've removed the tape but an ugly sticky residue still remains.

We're not sure if the windows are glass or lexan. Does anybody have any ideas for a safe solvent/ cleaner to use to remove the residue?

[Minnewaska]

Pretty important that you know what it is made of. If glass, acetone (or nail polish remover) will do it easily, but don't take any chance of putting acetone on lexan. I would try Plexus first for that.

p.s. A noticeable, tasteful and professional decal or applique is a good idea on sliding glass doors.

[mdbee]

If it's glass, it would should be safety glass. Take a hammer and strike it hard in the middle. If you produce millions of small little pebbles of glass bingo! If you just scratch it, it's probably lexan.

Seriously, just take a sharp object and see if you can scratch it in a discrete spot. (lower corner for example)

[Yofy]

We've tried researching the web, emailing Benateau and even a broker or two without any answers so we're going to assume that the windows are lexan. No we wouldn't use acetone on lexan. That lexan cleaner sounds good Minnewaska, but we're way off the beaten track and can't find it here.

A web research has come up with WD40, denatured alchohol and peanut butter? We're going to try some WD40 on a spare piece of lexan as a test. We won't be in the marina for a week, but we'll get back with the results.

I also saw that there are people recommending using pledge furniture wax to clean and polish lexan....

Any other ideas?
Manny

[wingNwing]

Mineral oil, even cooking oil, may soften the residue - put it on and allow it to sit. If the windows are glass, you may be able to scrape the residue off with a razor blade held at a very acute angle (obviously, don't try this on lexan, which will scratch)

[wingNwing]

Oops, that was supposed to say, "put it on a test area and allow it to sit, then try rubbing the area with a thumbnail..."

[Minnewaska]

The problem with putting chemicals on lexan is they can break it down and cause it to craze prematurely (those thin spider web cracks in the surface). I would be very concerned that WD40, even if it worked, would be bad for it down the road, but do not know for sure.

I know of many that use unscented Pledge on their small aircraft windscreens, which are plexiglass, and swear by it. Lemon Pledge is said to cause a haze in short order. Some say it will cause crazing eventually. I would probably roll the dice on that one as long as I could find unscented.

Have you tried vinegar and very warm water?