Cleaning Tips: Keep Press-Polished Clear Vinyl Looking Like New

Keeping your clear vinyl looking like new is an important task you’ll want to perform as part of your regular boat or automotive cleaning and maintenance routine. Making a full boat enclosure, dodger or other project that uses a large amount of clear vinyl requires an investment of both time and money. Good clear vinyl care doesn’t take a lot of work. We’re going to share our cleaning tips and discuss which products we recommend for cleaning clear vinyl. We'll also tell you how to store your clear vinyl windows when not in use to keep them protected and extend their lifespan.

Basic Maintenance

You need to be diligent about cleaning and protecting your clear vinyl. It’s easier to keep it looking nice than it is to try to reverse clouding and spots. When out in saltwater, it’s a good idea to frequently give your clear vinyl a freshwater rinse to remove salt residue. As a general rule, you should rinse your vinyl with clean fresh water every one to two weeks.

Hose down your vinyl windows and use Dawn soap to wash the surface with a clean microfiber cloth. Rinse off with clean water and let the windows air dry. This is a simple cleaning method for all press-polished vinyl window material. Dawn soap is gentle enough that it doesn't damage the surface coating on the vinyl. If other cleaners or aggressive chemicals are used they can pull the plasticizers out of the vinyl, which makes your windows appear foggy.

Our Recommended Products

Regularly hosing down your windows and cleaning with Dawn is good practice. But there's more you can do. To keep your clear vinyl windows looking their best for years, it's important to invest in quality cleaning and protectant kits.

Clear Vinyl Cleaning Kit #125861

This three-step cleaning and protectant kit can be safely used on O'Sea® and Regalite® window vinyl. This kit is the best solution to keep scratches, clouding and chemical damage from occurring.

How It Works:

Step 1: Clean. This nondetergent, nonabrasive soap cleans your automotive, marine and commercial vinyl windows. It won't remove previously applied polish or wax. Its nonstreaking, nonspotting formula rinses clear with reduced drying time.

Step 2: Protect. This protectant cleans and shines your window vinyl safely and effectively. With UV protection to enhance flexibility and an antistatic formulation to help repel dirt from the surface, this product can be used daily to remove fingerprints and other contaminants to keep windows shining like new. This is a spot cleaner and should not be used for full window cleanings.

Step 3: Preserve. This polymer product molecularly bonds to the vinyl surface, creating a nearly invincible protective barrier against the damaging effects of marine and automotive environmental pollutants. This polish provides an additional coating for protection against minor scratches.

IMAR™ Strataglass™ Detailing Kit #121031

Very similar to the Clear Vinyl Cleaning Kit, the IMAR Detailing Kit is also a three-step system recommended for Strataglass window material. For Strataglass vinyl, you should only use IMAR™ Strataglass labeled products. Using any other products on Strataglass will void the warranty and could potentially damage the vinyl.

How It Works:

Step 1: Clean. Give your Strataglass windows a thorough cleaning with the IMAR™ Yacht Soap Concentrate. This cleaner contains no harsh alkalies, acids or abrasives so it will protect the polish on your clear vinyl while providing a streak-free, spot-free shine. You can also use Yacht Soap Concentrate to clean hard surfaces on your boat. We recommend fully cleaning your clear vinyl every three to four months.

Step 2: Protect. After rinsing and drying your vinyl, apply IMAR™ Protective Polish directly to a clean, soft cotton cloth and buff the clear vinyl in a circular motion. Recommended for use every two to three months or four to six weeks in high fallout areas.

Step 3: Touch Up. IMAR™ Protective Cleaner is designed to extend the life of your window material. Lightly spray the cleaner on a soft cloth any time you need to spot clean the vinyl. A little goes a long way. Briskly wipe the product into the vinyl, then use a new, clean cloth to buff the vinyl dry.

More Tips

To help keep your window vinyl looking its best between cleanings, be careful to keep it away from unnecessary contaminants like sunscreen and bug spray with DEET. Also, when restoring water resistance to your surrounding canvas, be sure to keep 303® Fabric Guard off your clear vinyl.

If there is stray basting tape on your clear vinyl from the fabrication of your enclosure or dodger, you can clean it off using 3M™ Adhesive Remover.

If you need to store your clear vinyl when not in use, roll up the vinyl with a soft fabric (we recommend Protect-It™ Fabric #122679). This extra layer will keep the vinyl from resting against itself and possibly causing abrasion.

What have you found to be the best method of care for your clear vinyl windows? Share your options and experiences with us in the comments!