A GUIDE TO CLEANING PLASTICS

What to do, or not do, when cleaning plastics – and some other helpful information.

Plastic sheets such as perspex or acrylic offer many impressive properties such impact resistance, light weight, and great versatility, however, these products often require more care and awareness when you’re cleaning them.

There are some things to consider before cleaning plastic products:

• The surface of plastic is not as hard as other products such as glass, making it more susceptible to scratching. This is the natural flip-side to the flexibility that plastics have, as it means they tend to have a softer surface.
• Some plastics, such as acrylic, are more susceptible to chemicals than glass, so some glass cleaners and harsh chemicals are not suitable for cleaning plastic products.

In a lot of cases, especially in the case of plastics with a gloss finish, this finish will prevent any significant build-up of dirt on the panels, meaning they can be cleaned with water alone, or with water and a clean, lint free microfibre cloth.

If additional cleaning is needed, you can use mild soap or detergent with lukewarm water and light pressure, using a clean, lint-free microfibre cloth. If the spot you’re cleaning is being stubborn, allow the water mixture to sit on the spot for a few minutes before wiping or washing this off.

After you rinse off the soap with warm water, dry it with another soft, clean microfibre cloth, using a blotting motion.

In cases where you require additional cleaning, for particularly stubborn spots such as tar or grease, you can try using a mild solvent such as hexane or kerosene. Like cleaning anything, it’s best to test this on a small, inconspicuous area or an off-cut first, to ensure it doesn’t damage the plastic. These cleaners should be used in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations. Apply the solvent with a soft cloth or sponge, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off using lukewarm water.

What NOT to use

Some chemicals will weaken or damage plastics and are not recommended.  We recommend avoiding window cleaning sprays, kitchen scouring compounds or solvents such as acetone, gasoline, benzene, alcohol, or thinners.

Some products such as rigid PVC may be more resistant to chemicals but we recommend playing it safe just in case. We’re not familiar with every cleaning product on the market, so it might also be worth checking with the manufacturer of the cleaning product too.

We also want to stress the importance of avoiding rough cleaning sponges, brushes or scourers, which are likely to scuff or scratch the surface of the product.

Polishing

Some plastics such as acrylic or perspex can benefit from occasional polishing. For this, use a good quality plastic cleaner or polish, following the manufacturers guidelines for use. As a rough guide, apply this using a soft clean cloth in a thin, even coat then polish using a clean cotton cloth. After polishing, wipe the panel with a damp, clean microfibre cloth to remove static charges, this will help to stop dust particles being attracted to the panel. Again, it’s best to test this on an off-cut or inconspicuous area first.

We also offer an anti-static cleaner which will help in reducing static build up on plastic panels, which you can view here.