Although a windshield is not a requirement on a golf cart, it’s always recommended that you have one installed on your golf cart. This is primarily because of the advantages a windshield offers you.
A windshield on your golf cart can protect you from flying debris, rain and other adverse weather conditions. A windshield can also ensure your comfort if you plan to use the golf cart for other non-golf related activities.
When you install a golf cart windshield you must always remember to get the appropriate accessories for cleaning it, and for its maintenance. If you take care of your golf cart windshield, you can be assured that it will last for many years.
You must keep in mind that unlike car windshields, golf cart windshields are generally not made of glass. Instead, they’re designed using polycarbonate or acrylic material.
How to Extend the Life of Your Golf Cart Windshield:
- Refrain from using paper towels, newspapers or any hard materials for cleaning it. Dry the windshield using a soft rag instead.
- Opt for the warm soapy water to clean the windshield. Alternatively, you can look up online specifically for soft and sensitive golf cart windshield cleaners. Stay away from glass cleaners at all costs.
- Use a golf card windshield polish to buff out minor scratches.
How to Clean an Acrylic Golf Cart Windshield
There are quite a few recommended cleaners you can use to clean your golf cart windshield. These cleaners are often available at all powersports dealers.
Two cleaning products that come highly recommended for cleaning your acrylic golf cart windshield are Plexus and Novus.
Plexus is a little pricey but it can clean your golf cart windshield well. A single can of the cleaner will last you for a long time. I think it’s definitely worth the money you spend buying this product.
Novus is available in three different types to help you choose the right type based on your needs. The first type is ideal if you want to just polish your windshield.
The second and third types are suitable for light and heavy scratches. The bottles are all priced reasonably, though it is different between the types.
How to Clean Golf Cart Vinyl Windows & Enclosures
Vinyl windows and enclosures play a very important role in your golf cart. They help to keep the cart away from debris, dust, and dirt, while also keeping you protected when driving the cart.
Cleaning the vinyl windows and enclosures of your golf cart is not a difficult task. All you have to do is follow some easy steps that are given below.
You can also make them clean using stuff that is readily available at home without having to make a major investment.
- Spray water liberally on the vinyl windows and enclosures. The more water you spray, it becomes easier for you to remove the loose dust and dirt that have accumulated.
- Take a bucket of water and add a tablespoon of an automotive car wash or dishwashing soap.
- Swirl the solution in the bucket so that the soap mixture gets mixed uniformly.
- Take a soft non-abrasive cloth and dip it well into the mixture.
- Wipe the vinyl enclosures and windows gently using the dipped cloth. Make sure that you do not wipe hard to avoid scratches.
- Spray water once again on the windows and enclosures to clean them and wash off the soap mix solution. If you still find stains, apply the soap mixture on the affected areas for at least 10 minutes.
- Wipe the stains using the non-abrasive cloth and rinse those areas well with water.
- Spray the full golf cart with water to get rid of any remaining dirt, dust and soap mixture.
- Use a clean and dry non-abrasive cloth to dry the vinyl closures and windows.
- Take two tablespoons of cold water and three tablespoons of white vinegar in a bowl.
- Dip a few paper towels in the solution and squeeze out the excess liquid from them.
- Remove the streaks on the windows and enclosures using the paper towels.
- If the vinyl windows and enclosures have mold, mildew or both on them, use a solution of two tablespoons of warm water and two tablespoons of vinegar. Apply the mixture over the mold or mildew and let it stay for a few minutes before wiping it off.
- After this, use a water hose on the wiped areas for at least five minutes. If you find that mold or mildew is remaining, do the same process once again but use the water hose for a shorter time.
Important: Like the windshield of your golf cart, do not use strong chemicals, harsh detergents or other cleaning products with alcohol or silicone on the vinyl enclosures and windows of your golf cart.
How to Remove Scratches from Golf Cart Windshield
If you have a polycarbonate windshield for your golf cart, then you are very likely to see scratches on them. This is primarily because of its soft texture.
Debris like dust and insects are other contributing factors. But, with buffing compounds and polishing compounds like Plexus, you can get rid of this problem easily. Plexus is a plastic cleaner that acts as a protectant and polish.
Plexus covers up the holes on the windshield surface by forming a micro-thin protective and shiny waxy layer. This keeps the surface resistant to scratches, oil, debris, and even yellowing.
As a prerequisite, you must get rid of insects and debris present on the windshield before removing the scratches.
The steps below show you how to remove scratches on your windshield:
- Take a clean and soft microfiber cloth and apply some buffing compound on it. Using paper towels and other such products will trigger more scratches.
- Rub the compound over the scratches in a circular pattern.
- Wash off the buffing compound using soap and lukewarm water. Trying to remove the compound without making the surface wet or using a dry cloth can result in more scratches.
- Apply Plexus on the washed areas. The wax in Plexus will also help to keep bugs at bay.
Are your golf clubs scratched too?
Read my guide on fixing Golf Club Scratches
How to Clean Golf Cart Seats
The golf cart seat is undoubtedly one of the first parts in your golf cart that is likely to get dirty. However, keeping it clean and looking new is not as challenging as it sounds. You can clean your cart seat of any color very easily by using the right technique and a little cleaning solution.
- Before you begin cleaning the seat, you must look into two aspects. First, identify the material used to make the cart seat. Vinyl is often the most preferred material. But some cart seats are made of canvas, cloth, or leather.
- Second, check out if the seat cushions are designed to be removable or non-removable. Seat covers made of canvas or cloth usually have removable cushions. In this case, you can remove the covers, wash them separately following the instructions given and fix them back on the seats after drying.
Do keep in mind the color of your cart seat. What works for a white seat may not do justice for a colored seat. Avoid the use of strong detergents or products with harsh chemicals in it.
- Bleach is a good choice for white seats
- Liquid detergent can be used for colored seats
The steps given here will guide you on how to clean your leather or vinyl golf cart seat.
- Clear off visible debris like mud, mildew, dried food, etc. from the seats.
- Remove stains by taking a little rubbing alcohol on a paper towel or a piece of clean cloth and rubbing gently over the affected area. You must use only a white fabric for a white seat because the rubbing alcohol may cause the fabric color to stick on to the white material.
- Take some tepid water in a bucket and add a little mild liquid detergent or bleach, based on the color of your cart seats. Avoid using powdered detergent because it may not dissolve completely and will result in an abrasive finish on the seat surface.
- Wet a sponge using the above solution and wipe the backrest and seat area thoroughly.
- Repeat the above process using a sponge dipped in water alone.
- Dry the cart seats by patting the wet areas with a dry cloth.
- Use a small toothbrush or any brush without wire bristles to clean the debris from the stitches and seams.
- Spray a little liquid silicone on the seats to help the vinyl regain its original luster that may have been lost as a result of using the cleaning solution.
- Wipe the armrests with a wet sponge and use the silicone spray over them as well.
I recommend cleaning the cart seats regularly to ensure their long life and prevent major wear and tear.
How to Remove Mildew from Golf Cart Seats
Mildew is a common problem in almost all golf carts. Although mildew does not pose a serious damage risk to the cart seats, it can leave your cart with an unpleasant odor.
Aside from the bad smell, the odor can transfer to your clothing which is just gross. You can use mild cleansers like bleach to get rid of this problem.
To protect yourself from any reaction because of the bleach, consider wearing a pair of safety goggles and rubber gloves when you start the mildew removal process.
Wearing old clothes can also avoid discoloration of a good outfit due to accidental contact with the bleach. Once you have taken these precautions, you are good to go with removing the mildew.
- Keep the golf cart in an open and ventilated area so that the fumes of the bleach will not cause you any discomfort.
- Mix four cups of warm water with two cups of bleach in a bucket.
- Scrub the vinyl seat using a rag soaked in the above-diluted bleach solution. You may have to scrub for a few minutes for the bleach to take action and kill the mildew to release it from the seat fabric.
- Do not panic if you find the seat color lightening a little. This is not bleach discoloration and is the action of warm water on the vinyl to remove debris and dust.
- Use a clean dry cloth to wipe the clean seat and remove traces of the bleach solution.
- Place the golf cart in a sunny spot so that it dries completely, especially the seam between the seat pad and the seat base where there are chances of the mixture seeping.
There is no need to use bleach in concentrated form unless the mildew is very severe. Concentrated bleach will not affect the vinyl in any way.
However, the smell can be quite strong and may linger on the cushion for a long time.
As a result, your golf cart may smell for weeks even after you have cleaned the mildew from the cart seat.
Best Way to Remove Mold from Golf Cart Seats
Like mildew, mold is another common problem you may experience on your golf cart seats, especially if they are made of leather.
It is recommended that you protect yourself completely with a mask, goggles, long pants, long-sleeve shirt, and rubber gloves before embarking on the cleaning process.
This is because the mold spores that get released during the cleaning can cause respiratory and lung problems. Also, you can be assured that your eyes and skin are safe from the cleaning solution.
Here is what you can do to remove mold from your golf cart seats:
- Use a dry nylon brush and scrape off as much mold as possible from the surface of the cart seats.
- Make a cleaning solution by taking four cups of lukewarm water in a bucket and adding just one drop of liquid dish soap.
- Dip a cotton cloth into the above solution and squeeze out the excess mixture.
- Scrub the seat thoroughly in the direction of the grain pattern.
- Check if you have got rid of the mold completely. If not, use a new rag and do the scrubbing again. However, this time, dip the rag in a solution of one cup of rubbing alcohol and two cups of water.
- If mold is still present on the seat, dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the alcohol solution and scrub those areas.
- Keep the golf cart in an area where the leather of the seats can air dry under the sun.
- Apply a leather conditioner over the leather seat in a circular pattern.
- Dispose of the used rags and toothbrushes after the cleaning process. Reusing them can cause the mold to spread again.
- You must also take precautions to see that the mold does not come back. This happens mainly due to excess moisture content because of poor ventilation or leaks.
- Sudden temperature changes causing condensation and dead organic material lying around are other factors that usually trigger the growth of molds.
How to Clean a Golf Cart Engine
Cleaning a golf cart engine is very easy and will take you hardly any time if you maintain your golf cart properly.
You can try one of the several methods given below using a few precautions to get rid of the dust that has accumulated on the engine.
Water Hose Method:
- One of the simplest ways is to rinse off the dust with water using a water hose or with a mug and a bucket of water. You may or may not cover the carburetor based on your preferences. However, make sure that the engine is not hot just before you do this.
- Similarly, ensure that the water does not get on to the gas cap. This can make it difficult to get the engine up and running in winter.
- You can wash off the dust from everything under the gas cap and run some dry gas over the engine occasionally.
- If you do not want to use water, you can use an air hose to blow off the dust. This will remove the dust through suction or forced air.
Pressure Washer Method:
Another option you can try is by using a pressure washer while performing a hole shot with wet clutches.
Once you are done with this washing, you can drive your golf cart for a while. This gets the motor heated and dries the water that might have got into the generator and other such parts.
Engine Cleaner Method:
You can use an engine cleaner like Gunk that is readily available from the stores for this purpose.
However, remember to keep the golf cart off a grassy surface when you use the cleaner. This is because the engine cleaner has a strong and lasting effect on the grass and can damage it.
Bleach Method:
Last but not least, you can try your luck with a mild bleach solution. Mix some bleach in a sprayer such that it has only 25% strength and spray it on the engine.
Follow up by using a water hose on the sprayed area. This method may be more suitable if your golf cart is not painted.
Have dirty white golf bags? I’ll show you how to clean them