Cleaning, maintaining and disinfecting PLEXIGLAS® correctly
Hardly any dirt sticks to the non-porous surface of PLEXIGLAS®. But should the brand acrylic glass still become dusty or dirty, it is easy to clean. Often, all it takes is water and a soft cloth. However, sometimes special cleaning agents are required. Find out here which agents are suitable for cleaning and disinfecting, how to proceed and what you should avoid.
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No time to spare? Here are some quick tips for readers in a hurry!
- Remove dust with a moist, soft cloth
- Use special cleaners to remove heavy soiling
- Hose down PLEXIGLAS® sheets used outdoors
Tools and materials for cleaning PLEXIGLAS®
- Lukewarm water
- Dishwashing detergent
- Intensive plastic cleaner, isopropanol or benzene-free petroleum ether
- Antistatic plastic cleaner
- Soft, lint-free cloth or soft viscose sponge
Cleaning and maintaining PLEXIGLAS® indoors
Professional tip
Never rub PLEXIGLAS® completely dry. This results in the brand acrylic glass becoming electrostatically charged, which in turn attracts dust. This may also result in scratches on the surface.
PLEXIGLAS® makes it difficult for dirt to stick to the surface. However, the brand acrylic glass from Röhm can become electrostatically charged, thereby attracting dust. In most cases, all it takes to remove dust is a soft, lint-free cloth or a sponge. Simply moisten these aids with water and use a small amount of dishwashing detergent if necessary.
To prevent the acrylic glass from attracting dust, you can spray the surface with an antistatic plastic cleaner and wipe it with a soft, lint-free cloth – but do not rub it dry. The dust-repelling effect is then retained for an extended period of time.
In case of heavier soiling, for example with greasy substances, PLEXIGLAS® sheets should be cleaned with an intensive plastic cleaner. You can also use benzene-free petroleum ether or isopropanol. Make sure that the cleaning agent does not contain any benzene, ethanol, alcohol, organic material or thinners. These can damage the brand acrylic glass.
Instructions for cleaning PLEXIGLAS®
1
Wipe the PLEXIGLAS® with a moist cloth
Lightly moisten a soft dust cloth or add a small amount of intensive plastic cleaner to the dust cloth in case of heavier soiling. Wipe evenly across the panel.
2
Prevent soiling
Spray an antistatic plastics cleaner on the sheet. This protects the surface against dust. You can then wipe off the acrylic glass with a soft cloth, but do not rub it dry.
Disinfecting PLEXIGLAS®
In some cases it can be necessary to disinfect PLEXIGLAS® surfaces, for example the protective screens or visors made from transparent PLEXIGLAS® that have proven themselves as a means of infection protection. It should be noted here that only some commercially available disinfectants are suitable, as some contain additives that can damage the surface of the brand acrylic glass.
However, bacteria and viruses can be wiped off the surface without any problem using isopropanol (2-propanol) and a soft cloth. This does not attack the surface of PLEXIGLAS®. Isopropanol is used as a cleaning agent or disinfectant in industry and the medical sector, and the agent has also been approved for use as a hand disinfectant against SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus).
Cleaning PLEXIGLAS® outdoors
Whether bird droppings or pollen, soiling on acrylic glass sheets used outdoors is usually easy to remove. Sometimes, all it takes is hosing down deck roofs or facades made of PLEXIGLAS® with a garden hose. If there is heavy soiling, you may also use a high-pressure cleaner. To find out what you should look out for, refer to the brochure “Surface Treatment of PLEXIGLAS®". Make sure that the water pressure does not exceed 100 bar and that the water temperature is less than 70 degrees. Mechanical high-pressure cleaners, for example with rotating brushes, are not suitable for use on acrylic glass, as they can scratch the surface.
Maintaining stressed surfaces
Stressed PLEXIGLAS® surfaces can be polished very easily and effectively when the proper cleaning agents are used. However, you must never use conventional furniture polish, as this could result in streaking. Equally damaging to the material are window cleaners and other cleaners containing alcohol. The same applies when maintaining stressed furniture made of PLEXIGLAS®: Warm water and a little bit of detergent is all you need.
Any scratches that may appear on PLEXIGLAS® are easily removed – simply go over the damaged area with wet, 240-grit sandpaper and re-sand it with 400 or 600-grit sandpaper. Then use a soft cloth and “Acrylic Glass Polish & Repair Paste” or conventional car care polish, or polish it with a buffing wheel and polishing wax.
Find out more about how to sand and polish PLEXIGLAS® correctly for shiny surfaces.
