# Windshield suction cup writing pad doesn't stick **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 30, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windshield-suction-cup-writing-pad-doesnt-stick/598097 "2011-09-30T02:01:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windshield-suction-cup-writing-pad-doesnt-stick/598097/1 "2011-09-30T02:01:05Z")
My new windshield writing pad doesn’t stick. I’ve had others before and haven’t had a problem unless it gets really hot. I’ve always just used my saliva to wet the suction cup a little. Is there a better liquid to use? What am I doing wrong? ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windshield-suction-cup-writing-pad-doesnt-stick/598097/2 "2011-09-30T02:18:17Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > What am I doing wrong? Screwing around with a “Windshield Suction Cup Writing Pad” rather than paying attention to the road? (Why not just use a regular notebook while safely stopped?) ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windshield-suction-cup-writing-pad-doesnt-stick/598097/3 "2011-09-30T13:52:41Z")
Saliva dries up and suction cup releases. Use a non-drying liquid such as glycerin. Do not use oil as it will cause deterioration of the rubber. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windshield-suction-cup-writing-pad-doesnt-stick/598097/4 "2011-09-30T13:55:12Z")
Please tell me the title of this thread is some really arcane joke. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windshield-suction-cup-writing-pad-doesnt-stick/598097/5 "2011-09-30T15:17:25Z")
I use a suction cup mount for my GPS and have no problem as long as the suction cup surface and the surface it’s sticking to are both clean. Maybe you just need to clean it, instead of gooping it up. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windshield-suction-cup-writing-pad-doesnt-stick/598097/6 "2011-09-30T15:26:57Z")
Try using glue instead of saliva. On the suction cup, not other things. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windshield-suction-cup-writing-pad-doesnt-stick/598097/7 "2011-10-01T03:42:28Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Screwing around with a “Windshield Suction Cup Writing Pad” rather than paying attention to the road? > > (Why not just use a regular notebook while safely stopped?) The pad has the day’s To Do list for the Landscape Company I own. I don’t do any writing while driving. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windshield-suction-cup-writing-pad-doesnt-stick/598097/8 "2011-10-01T03:43:28Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > Saliva dries up and suction cup releases. > > Use a non-drying liquid such as glycerin. > > Do not use oil as it will cause deterioration of the rubber. Thanks, I’ll try glycerin.