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Posts: 410
Location: With my son on the water | I know this has been discussed but I did a search and could find it, but does anyone remember what the formula is for cleaning locator screens? I can't remember if it is vinegar or some kind of alcohol?
Thanks and have a good day  |
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Posts: 81
| I have had good luck w/ Windex that includes vinegar in the formula. |
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Posts: 2097
| Humminbird recommends windex w/vinegar. |
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Posts: 1144
Location: Minnesota. | cave run legend - 3/15/2015 1:44 PM
Humminbird recommends windex w/vinegar.
I think that would work the best if you're home but last summer on the lake I did have a much better screen when I did the old "spit n' wipe" try w/a rag! It got me through the day. |
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Posts: 2097
| That is why I keep a bottle in the boat. |
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Posts: 153
Location: MN | I use a 50 50 vinegar water mix and a leather chamois. |
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| Born - 3/15/2015 8:42 PM I use a 50 50 vinegar water mix and a leather chamois. Ditto, but I use a microfiber cloth. I sprinkle a some drops on the screen, and with a CLEAN bare fingertip, VERY GENTLY rub the water spots away, then dry with the cloth. If you feel any grit on the screen when wiping with your finger, rinse it off with some more solution before continuing to rub the water spots away.I can't stress the GENTLY part enough. This works on the non-touch screens; I've never tried it on a touch-screen model. Anyone want to donate one so I can test it? |
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Posts: 558
| White vinegar and water. 50/50. Mix a big bottle and stick it in the boat, good all season. |
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | Get yourself some eye glasses cleaner specifically made for "anti-reflective" coatings...best! |
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| ShutUpNFish - 3/16/2015 8:16 AM Get yourself some eye glasses cleaner specifically made for "anti-reflective" coatings...best! That may work in some places, but around here where the water is extremely hard, eye glass cleaners do not touch the water spots, in my experience. If it works for you, then by all means it's better. Yes, distilled white vinegar is best if you go that route. Cider vinegar or wine vinegar will just leave deposits... |
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | Chemi - 3/16/2015 7:53 AM
ShutUpNFish - 3/16/2015 8:16 AM Get yourself some eye glasses cleaner specifically made for "anti-reflective" coatings...best! That may work in some places, but around here where the water is extremely hard, eye glass cleaners do not touch the water spots, in my experience. If it works for you, then by all means it's better. Yes, distilled white vinegar is best if you go that route. Cider vinegar or wine vinegar will just leave deposits...
I would agree to regular eye glass cleaners, but the anti-reflective cleaners are way better than just regular glass cleaner. It also leaves a protective film which repels water somewhat and when the water dries...no water spots period....they are made for people who where glasses in the outdoors and protect from sweat, rain, fog etc.
I'm sure the vinegar mixture works as well...I just go the extra and get the good cleaner. Plus, my bro. is an Optical Tech so he gets me the stuff.
Good Luck |
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Posts: 41
Location: Madison | Musky slime, just a very little though |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Clarson3 - 3/20/2015 6:35 AM
Musky slime, just a very little though
Would Pike slime work in a pinch??? |
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Posts: 1760
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | Copenhagen's all I ever use 
Edited by jchiggins 3/20/2015 9:17 AM
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Location: 31 | I've been using Rain X for about three or four years on both types of the Lowrance screens with no ill effects.
A couple of years ago I had a stubborn stain on a screen and used a plastic headlight cleaner from the local auto parts store, they let me try several until I found the one that worked.
Otherwise, with the Rain X, I just use a couple finger flicks of lake water, and clean towel while fishing. |
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Posts: 206
| My 86 year old dad accidentally sprayed bug spray last year with the nozzle facing the wrong way. Went right on my gps screen. I didn't see until later what appeared to be permanent damage and heard horror stories that you are basically screwed. I called Hbird, left a few posts online...no one offered any hope.
Then, someone sent me an article by Rick Clunn who said to get a good quality paper towel (Brawny, Bounty) and cut it to the exact size of the gps screen. Soak the paper towel in 50-50 water/vinegar and then place directly on the screen. Let it sit for an hour, take off, clean carefully with a lens cloth. I was not optimistic but ecstatic when I removed the cloth and it was 100% back to normal.
Dodged a bullet there ~
Edited by smalljaw 3/23/2015 9:44 AM
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Posts: 41
Location: Madison | Grizzly gets a little to glossy  |
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Posts: 688
Location: Already Gone | Leinie's original Lager and old underpants. |
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Location: 31 | smalljaw - 3/23/2015 8:48 AM
My 86 year old dad accidentally sprayed bug spray last year with the nozzle facing the wrong way. Went right on my gps screen. I didn't see until later what appeared to be permanent damage and heard horror stories that you are basically screwed. I called Hbird, left a few posts online...no one offered any hope.
Then, someone sent me an article by Rick Clunn who said to get a good quality paper towel (Brawny, Bounty) and cut it to the exact size of the gps screen. Soak the paper towel in 50-50 water/vinegar and then place directly on the screen. Let it sit for an hour, take off, clean carefully with a lens cloth. I was not optimistic but ecstatic when I removed the cloth and it was 100% back to normal.
Dodged a bullet there ~
Yeah right, and at that point what do you got to lose. That was pretty much where I was before going with the plastic headlight cleaner... that saved the day for me.
I'm pretty well convinced that the Rain x helps to protect the screen from the elements too, and it sure helps looking at it when it's wet/raining. Glad to hear it worked out because it sure sucks looking at a funky screen all day.
"Rain X Glass Treatment seals the microscopic pores of glass with a super slick, non stick invisible barrier that repels rain, sleet, and snow on contact. Rain drops bead up and are blown away by the aerodynamic wind flow from driving giving you better visibility in bad weather. Rain X Glass Treatment also makes for easy removal of frost, ice, salt, mud, and bugs. This is the original Invisible Windshield Wiper. 3.5 oz. bottle."
Edited by Jerry Newman 3/24/2015 4:42 PM
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Posts: 393
| Agree with Rain X. Been using it with great success for several years. |
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | I'm gping to try the Rain-X Jerry, I was always afraid it may leave that oily film like on the windshield but cause damage....I'm doing it this year...Thanks
Edited by ShutUpNFish 3/25/2015 7:22 AM
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Posts: 1144
Location: Minnesota. | Boys, Thanx for the info in this thread, it's going to help me tons from here on out!!
Think I'll try the Rain-X first and then if not happy I'll use the bottle for a 50/50 water-white vinegar. |
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Location: 31 | I think you'll like the added benefits of the Rain X, and it certainly isn't a big hassle to apply like a cars windshield.
I've always been a little quirky with my electronics… the boat can be filthy dirty, blood/weeds everywhere, but I like my boat organized and those stupid screens clean.
I wasn't sure how much I’d like the touchscreens for that reason, and I'm not sure if it helps protect against the screens getting permanent smudge marks from using them with dirty fingers, but suspect that it almost has to help in that regard too.
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Posts: 194
Location: Lake Elmo, MN | Vinegar is best. Vinegar is about 3-6% Acetic acid. When it's used in a highly diluted form of liquid vinegar (about 3%) sold in stores today, acetic acid dissolves not only compounds such as inorganic salts and sugars, but also non-polar compounds such as oils (like sunblock spray) and elements such as sulfur and iodine. It's a terrific solvent for cleaning most non-permeable surfaces like glass, plastics etc.
Use it on granite in the kitchen too....works great.
Although I do indeed like the idea of Ran-X for screen viewability in rain. Good suggestion.
Edited by PSAGuy 4/5/2015 10:30 AM
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Any special way to apply the rain x? I've got a new HDS that is still in the box so the screen is perfect. Seems like applying it now would be a good idea. |
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Posts: 410
Location: With my son on the water | Well I tried a few things this past weekend.
The Rain X did not remove the nasty hard water spots I had. But the 50% vinegar 50 % Distilled Water did.
So after I got the hard water spots off, I then applied another coat of Rain X thinking/hoping it will protect the screens to eliminate the hard water spots from starting in the first place. The Rain X is very runny so I just sprayed it on and wiped it around with a paper towel. Let it dry, then removed the film.
On another note I also read that a pencil eraser will remove some of the small scratches and other small blemishes that can occur. I tried that too and it really worked will.
My screens are just like new again right now.
Have a happy day. |
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Posts: 194
Location: Lake Elmo, MN | RainX is sold in single wipes. I keep some on the boat for my windshield. Now I have a second use for them !!
Thanks....great idea. |
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Location: 31 | Pointerpride102 - 4/5/2015 10:37 AM
Any special way to apply the rain x? I've got a new HDS that is still in the box so the screen is perfect. Seems like applying it now would be a good idea.
No special way to apply, but it certainly works better when it's fresh… also noticed it takes a couple of applications to kind of condition the screen.
Something else I like to do at the end of the day is cover the electronics with a clean towel to keep the dew off, then it's right there in the morning when I'm half asleep to wipe things down.
I like the idea of the wipes in the boat for less hassle too, and then double use it afterward to wipe down the “peek hole” on the windshield between the electronics |
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Posts: 4
| I use "Wave Away". Wave Away Sonar & GPS Cleaner is safe for all marine electronics, the Wave Away Sonar & GPS Cleaner is made without alcohol or ammonia, which can remove the protective coating from your screen. Additionally, the Wave Away Sonar & GPS Cleaner is also great for LCD television, mp3 players, or sunglasses. |
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Posts: 1144
Location: Minnesota. | My son, who is a scuba diver says "Dad....SPIT! There's a reason why we divers use it!!"
I've been doing that up til now but I think I'll try the A/R eye glass squirts to see if that's better this season.
Important thread! |
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Cleaning LCD Screens