Should You Clean an Airplane Windscreen Before Every Flight?

A dirty or scratched windshield can be a potential safety hazard.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 12:28 PM ET

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Plain water and a clean microfiber cloth are a good start for cleaning an aircraft windscreen. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Cleaning an airplane windscreen is critical for safety and to prevent expensive damage to the soft plexiglass, which is easily scratched or weakened.
For effective cleaning, use plain water and a fresh microfiber cloth, rinsing first then gently stroking from top to bottom, avoiding abrasive materials like paper towels or reused cloths, and taking care not to scratch the surface with personal items.
Never use ammonia-based cleaners like Windex, as they can compromise plexiglass; instead, opt for specialized aircraft windscreen cleaners like Prist, following product-specific directions for best results.

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Question: How important is it to clean the windscreen of an airplane before every flight? And what do I clean it with? I’ve heard horror stories about accidental damage.

Answer: Kudos to you for wanting to be proactive and doing your homework. A dirty or scratched windshield can be a potential safety hazard, and replacing a windscreen that was scratched by poor cleaning technique is not something you want to deal with. It can cost thousands of dollars in supplies and labor. If the aircraft is on leaseback to a flight school, it could also lead to a loss of revenue.