Me2CO, a polyvinylbutyrate-based cleaner (Priomat) and a com. mold cleaner were used for cleaning the impregnated C fiber-reinforced composites, covered then with 2 layers of polyurethane varnish and dried at 20 degrees C. The mech. properties of the coatings were assessed by a scratch test using a Rockwell diamond indenter. The obtained scratches were examd. by using an optical microscope and by measuring the acoustic emission. Slightly better results were obtained for the Priomat cleaner and mold cleaner than for Me2CO.