Tend Plastic Cleaner

Interesting and very hard-to-find anti-static plastic cleaner for polycarbonate airplane windshields.

Works well and leaves a “slippery” feel that seems to make the surface easier to clean, but I’m not sure if the product is overwhelmingly better than several other plastic cleaners we’ve tried.

Regular readers know what a kick we get when we find a rare, hard-to-find, unique, obscure — you name it — product from one industry or sport that also works well for motorcycle use.

Well, here’s my latest contribution to the mix: this bottle of Tend Anti-Static Plastic Cleaner is about as rare as anything I can think of.  So how about it — do I win some kind of prize or something?

I’ve searched high and low, and the only conclusion that comes to mind is that Aircraft Spruce, a supplier of products to pilots and the aircraft industry, makes this stuff in a 50-gallon drum in the back room and sells it under the “Tend” brand name.

I say this because I’ve searched high and low and cannot find a “Tend” company that makes anything like this.  If anyone knows different, please drop us a line.  Is there actually a “Tend” manufacturing company somewhere?  If so, apparently they either don’t have a website…or maybe they’re deliberately trying to keep it a closely guarded secret?

Come to think of it, maybe that’s their guerilla marketing method — make a good product, but don’t let customers know where to find the stuff, which creates a buzz, which spikes demand, which drives customers into a frenzy because they can’t buy it, which creates more buzz…

Well, that’s the theory anyway.  If that’s the Tend company’s strategy, more power to ’em.

UPDATE:  A webBikeWorld reader found the company with some pretty interesting investigative work!  See L.E.’s comments below.

Nevertheless, the stuff does work rather well on motorcycle windshields, windscreens and motorcycle helmet visors.  I have no idea why or how, because other than the calming sea foam green color, the liquid has no smell or consistency that provides any type of clue about what it’s actually made from.

But spray on the Tend cleaner and wipe it off and not only does it remove the bugs and detritus in short order, it leaves a little something extra behind in the form of a “slippery” or “waxy” feeling coating.  It takes a bit more buffing to remove all of the product than it does for something like Glass Plus, so I guess Tend definitely is different.

There may also be something to the anti-static claim, because it seems like the surface lets go of fresh bug carcasses quicker and easier than it would otherwise.  This is an especially useful trait for use on a motorcycle helmet visor; a visor that’s been treated with Tend plastic cleaner seems to require less effort to wipe ‘n’ clean the next time around.

Aircraft Spruce has a variety of windshield, plastic and polycarbonate cleaners and polishes, all designed or, I suppose, tested for use on aircraft.  Now pilots are pretty fussy characters, and they (mostly) demand a cost-no-object, best-in-class product, so that gives me some confidence that the stuff isn’t a sham.

The Aircraft Spruce marketing blather claims that “Tend Anti-Static Windshield Cleaner keeps acrylic surfaces clean and dust free by attacking fingerprints, lint, and smudges to maintain a crystal clear brilliance.”

By the way, the bottle calls it “Tend Anti-Static Plastic Cleaner”, but Aircraft Spruce sometimes refers to it as Tend Plastic Cleaner and Polish.  There’s another product called Tend Windshield Cleaner and Reconditioner that we did not try.

Conclusion

If you happen to be hanging out in a small airport, or if you live near one of the Aircraft Spruce stores, or if your curiosity has gotten the better of you, or if you’re into solving inconsequential mysteries, and you can find a bottle of Tend plastic cleaner, I’d say go for it and give it a try.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it — after all, it just doesn’t seem that much better than other plastic cleaners reviewed on webBikeWorld (see the Motorcycle Cleaners and Polishes index page) that are much easier to acquire, such as: All-Kleer or Sprayway or RejeX or ProtectAll or Auto Glym…. or even our old garage standby, Glass Plus…