How To Carefully Clean Your Aircrafts
Keeping your aircraft clean is an important part of being a responsible aircraft owner. Whether you need a quick rinse or a detailed deep clean or accessory cleaning, there are countless products on the market. Finding the right product for you shouldn’t be a pain, but since some cleaning chemicals can have an adverse effect on your aircraft, it’s good to know which products to avoid. Here are five products that should never be used on your aircraft:
Ammonia-based Window Cleaners:
Keeping your aircrafts windows clean will ensure you have good visibility while flying, but your typical household window cleaners can cause serious damage to your fastener windshield. Non-aviation specific cleaners can lead to crazing, or tiny cracks on the windshield's surface. More than an annoyance, these cracks can obscure sightlines, refract light unpredictably, and lead to larger cracks causing irreparable damage.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK):
MEK has been a commonly used cleaning product in the aviation industry for some time. If used properly, it will not damage your aircraft, but discoveries in the last decade have found that it has an extremely negative effect on the user’s health. The Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America have stated that prolonged exposure to MEK can lead to chronic headache, asthma, flu-like symptoms, dizziness, malaise, and fatigue.
Chlorine Bleach:
While this is a good product for keeping domestic bathrooms clean, chlorine bleach should never be used in your aircraft lavatory. The chief concern is bleach’s ability to damage seals and the lavatory vacuum system by stripping away the protective layers of these components. Furthermore, if bleach is mixed with lavatory deodorant fluid (blue juice), it can fill the aircraft with toxic fumes.
Dish Soaps:
Cleaning the underside of your aircraft is crucial due to the buildup of grease, dirt, and oil over time caused by repeated takeoffs and landings. It’s important to use aircraft-specific cleaners for this because common dish soap are not suited for grease of this strength and will usually leave a soapy film/residue.
Wood Cleaning Products:
This is another chemical that can have a negative effect on your aircraft. These products are designed to leave a shiny film, but the film can actually leave a layer of wax that traps dirt and grease underneath.
Just as important as keeping your aircraft clean is using the proper cleaning materials. While these five are the most commonly used, there are many other cleaning products to avoid. The best way to ensure your aircraft’s safety is to use only aviation-specific products. At Cogent Purchasing, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the unique parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@cogentpurchasing.com or call us at 1-914-359-2001.
