Hello Folks,

What is it?

Window Sheen - Concentrated Window Cleaning Fluid from Mark V.

What Does It Bring To The Table?

Window Sheen - Commercial Glass Cleaner
If you had to pick just one product that stood out in the Mark V line, it would
have to be Window Sheen! Flat out the finest glass cleaner available anywhere
at any price. Proprietary, non-soap surfactants and water miscible solvents
cut through the oily film on auto glass fast, leaving the glass 100% residue
free.

Use Window Sheen around the home to clean glass, chrome, appliances and
counter tops. But don't stop there, use it to remove glue residue from
"shrink wrapped" autos or as pre-spotter for certain carpet stains.

Advantages:
  • Does not contain soap. No soapy residue, no streaks!
  • Dries 100% residue free.
  • Windows stay cleaner longer.
  • Safe for tinted windows.
  • Cuts through smoke film and plasticizer buildup instantly.
  • Surfactants prevent reattachment of dirt and plasticizers even if you
    stop wiping prematurely.
  • Ammonia free.
  • Can be used straight or diluted.


Special Tips and Precautions:
Never use fabric softeners or dryer sheets when washing window towels.
They leave a residue on the towels, which will cause windows to streak.

Do not use on dyed or freshly painted surfaces.

Use caution around leather and the clear plastic, which covers the
instrument panel. Damage will result if product comes in contact with
these surfaces.

What Am I Testing It On?

Renault car glass, kitchen glass and various mirrors.

What Do I Think Of It?

First off, an admission. I read and literally followed the bottle instructions to
dilute with water to achieve desired strength. So, at 4:1, I made 750ml of
product from the 150ml sample. Even at that dilution, the product seemed to
be fairly potent. Certainly, I'd be very careful of being downwind of it whilst it
was being sprayed. Despite this, I think I did make a mistake, in not leaving
some undiluted product in the bottle.

Back on topic... Anyone who's followed my previous missives will know that
I'm more of a fan of versatile products, rather than dedicated products for
any one job. So, the fairly bold claims made on the Mark V website, quoted
above, do leave them open to some robust challenge. I'd not accessed this
before diluting the product, but thankfully had read the warnings before using
the product. These are not found on the bottle!

Unlike the instructions, my first impression of use was quite favourable. The
car windows were not that dirty, but the product resisted instant evaporation
despite the glass being fairly warm. Having recently used a QD product which
will handle a "one cloth" wipe, I was anxious to check whether or not Window
Sheen would pass this test. It did!

When I first purchased my car, the interior of the windscreen was the very
devil to get clean, where a greasy protecting agent had been used. Ever
since I've been very wary about what to use here. One sentence from the
bottle instructions that should be followed is about using Window Sheen in
a well ventilated area. Even at the 4:1 dilution that means both front doors
open at least!

This is where I'd could have done with some full-strength fluid, though it
would only have been sparingly applied to a folded paper towel. With leather
seats I'd not have dared to spray it!

Pros

If you're looking for a dedicated glass cleaner, then this is a product worth
considering. Providing a fairly strong concentrated liquid to start with saves
on postage of containers of mostly water, as well as providing the end user
with options.

Considering that the 500ml bottle supplied will make 2.5 litres of cleaner makes
this quite good value for money.

Cons

It's probably self evident that the bottle instructions left me a tad disappointed
because I probably could have found uses for this product in the stronger
dilutions. The warnings found on the Mark V website should also appear on
the bottle! I'd have been devastated to find my lovely leather being damaged.

In Conclusion

Most of the previous _effective_ glass cleaners I've used have been creams
with some form of mild abrasive in them. Mark V's Window Sheen provides an
alternative though in clear solvent form. Even at the dilution I used, it seemed
stronger than a popular domestic window cleaner. On the inside of my kitchen
windows grease and condensation marks were soon done for.

Where Do I Buy It?

Mark V Window Sheen is available from a British distributor
A 500ml bottle costs £5.95 +p&p

Safety First

Ironic that this is the last part of the review, but guys, do please pay some
attention to working and being safe when using this product. Even though it
meets VOC regs in dilution, it is harmful if swallowed and if you're going to
clean more than a few windows or use it close to neat, do consider wearing
protective gloves. I do sometimes wonder whether enough attention is paid
toward safety.

Please Note: I've added the above safety advice not because of any
inherent danger, simply because it is a very different product to any domestic
window cleaner you may have used. Safety is just too easy to overlook...

Regards
Steve