Detailed my daily driver

M

miguelgf

New member
I have a Honda whose windshield is a complete nightmare - water spots galore, all kinds of gunk.



I saw someone mentioned BonAmi - so I was walking through the local drugstore, and picked up a can.



Alarming - I realize now this stuff is basically Ajax!!! Granted - it "says" it won't scratch glass. But does anyone here have first hand experience with it, that can assure me it won't wreck the windshield? I can use it on a small, out of the way portion first (and I plan to) but I'd feel better to hear someone else has used it, and how they applied it.
 
John...

Remember there are two types of Bon-Ami. Powder and aerosol. Which did you get? The comet kind or liquid? I think the recomendation was for the aerosol? Am I correct?



Bolton
 
I havent seen the aerosol in a long time. In fact, the last time I saw it was when I liven In Cola! Ill keep my eyes open and If I see some I will post pics.



:nixweiss
 
I remember the reccomendation was for the powder type.



I dunno TMCHOW in another thread said his says not for windows?



Try it on a window on the house first??



I dunno I would try a glass polish first like those mentioned on here in the past Griots, Zaino and Eastwood first.
 
Maybe it was me.



Yes, I've used Bon Ami (powder) on windows, porcelin (sp?) and other surfaces. As advertised, it does not appear to scratch, but then again I wouldn't try using it on paint :rolleyes:



I've found that it works quite well, but you'd want to test in an out of the way area. Rinse really well, too.



I've never seen the aerosol, hmmmmmm.
 
I stand corrected!:o

Heres what I was talking about.
IC_PRODUCTS.JPG
 
Hold up there folks!! When referring to Bon Ami, most people are referring to the two products in the bottom left-hand corner of that photo, not the aerosol container. The Red and Gold can should NOT be used on glass. The yellow can and the bar are used on glass.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Dave C. [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>...The Red and Gold can should NOT be used on glass. The yellow can and the bar are used on glass. [/b]</blockquote>
Thanks for clearing that up!
 
on glass before with good results. We've found old NSUs that had been stored outside and we strip off whatever parts we can use. Some of the glass has been really water spotted and Bon Ami has cleaned it up most of the time without any apparent ill effect.



Back in my youth, we used to use Bon Ami on oxidized cars to shine them up. It was amazingly easy to get a great looking finish. Wash with Bon Ami and a sponge, rinse, wash again with water and kerosene. As long as we sold the car quick enough, it shined like a new car. (Hey, like I said, "in my youth".)
 
I havent actually seen the aerosol bon-ami in years (since before I had a car) hehe!

Im glad to have clarification because I was unsure about everything, that is why I posted the pic. Pics always clear up everything!
 
Per the BMW group www.unofficialbmw.com, the bon ami that people are referring to for window cleaning is shown below. I've never found it a retail, but you can order it from http://www.agelong.com/

I've got an extra can if anyone wants to try it. I'm on the SF peninsula, pickup only.

Murray

I guess the picture didn't post, but you can see the bon ami in the agelong catalog.
 
Mix it up in a bucket with some water so it is like a paste and then rub it into your windshield with a wet rag. This method works great, just make sure you rinse the trim and the area around the glass (probably want to open the hood to make sure) and get rid of all of it.

You will be very happy with the results. It really does work well.

YMMV!

E. J.

Update or edit:

This is a cut and paste from the above mentioned website regarding the use of Bon Ami:



<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

Many allergists recommend original Bon Ami because the natural ingredients contain no detergent, bleach, perfume or dye. Bon Ami still makes its 1886 formula Cleaning Cake the old-fashioned way – cutting the bars with piano wires and working them by hand. Bon Ami Cleaning Powder is the same 1886 formula but in powder form… and in a easy to shake round can. Both contain gentle feldspar abrasive for polishing and soap for cleaning all hard surfaces. Use to defog windows and mirrors. NASA even used Cleaning Powder to clean the windows on Skylab. Stock up and save!</blockquote>
I guess if its good enough for the windows on Skylab, it ought to fine on our car windows? :scared
 
John ... Here's how to use the stuff from someone who has used it. Get the powder in the can and a terry-covered, foam applicator. Use a hose without a nozzle at about 1/3 full pressure. Wet the windshield, dampen the applicator, sprinkle Bon Ami over a small area of the windshield and lightly on to the applicator. Apply in a circular pattern. To check if the job is done, let water flush away the Bon Ami and then flood the surface. When the water is removed does the remainder continue to sheet smoothly or do areas appear where the sheeting failed? If so, continue to work on these areas. When the entire windshield continues to sheet after the water source is removed, you're done. Does a nice job removed the organic crap from the windshield.



To finish the job properly, dampen a portion of a cotton towel with windshield washer fluid and wipe down the wiper blade surface until you've removed all the oxidized "rubber" from the working surface of the blade.
 
Wow that's way more detailed than the way that I do it. I get the bar and just apply directly. Buff off w/ newspaper. I like your way better, but can you do the interior like that?? :confused:
 
We're Here-





That sounds like a plan - I'm going to give it a try today!



I'm doing this so that I can apply some Aquapel, so I'm going to give the windshield a thorough BonAmi application, followed by some glass cleaner (EO 20/20). Then, I'm going to hit it up with the Aquapel.



The blades - I normally did that with Comet - and followed it up with a 303 application. It does make the blades smear for a day or two at first, but it does make the blades last a whole lot longer.
 
I did as We're Here mentioned above...



Made a paste (a little thicker than a milkshake) and rubbed it into the windshield with a cotton applicator. Applied to all windows, rinsed, repeated.



I noticed the windows were sheeting all the water - absolutely no beading. Rinsed very well (make sure you keep a constant flow of water on the vehicle, because you'll get some of this stuff on the paint, no matter how careful you are).



When I was done - the windows were incredibly clean - and ready for Visionblade (the STP version of Aquapel). Applied the VB, and when I was done - I had very clean, water spot free windows. I checked very carefully for scratching, but didn't see a single one.



I give this BonAmi 2 thumbs up - :up :up (in a can, ala Comet).
 
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