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Plexiglass

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Like a lot of plastics, plexiglass, Lexan, Lucite and the like are durable, flexible under wide-ranging temperatures, fairly easy to clean — and all too easy to scratch. Leave the scrubbing pads and gritty cleansers alone when cleaning these kinds of plastics. In addition, don't use strong solvents since these agents will render clear acrylics opaque.

 

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What’s more, plexiglass cannot be dusted as effectively as other solid surfaces, even though this plastic certainly attracts a lot of dust. Moisture, airborne grease and smoke all help bind dust onto plexiglass in a grime that must be removed by gentle cleaners and cloths.

 

Clean plexiglass with a neutral cleaner such as a solution of water and a small amount of liquid dishwashing detergent — a teaspoon per pint of water should do the trick. Apply the solution generously to a sponge or soft cloth and wipe the plastic surface gently. If the cloth becomes dirty in one spot, use a cleaner area on the cloth to reduce surface scratching from dirt and grit abrasion. Wipe with plenty of clean water. Dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

 

Don’t use any cleaner with alcohol or ammonia (common ingredients in many window cleaners and all-purpose household cleaners); solvents such as acetone, dry-cleaning fluid or thinners; or any gritty cleanser or polish. Highly diluted bleach is safe for use on plexiglass, but bleach will darken adjacent aluminum surfaces, such as the framework installed as part of some acrylic skylight assemblies. Abrasive pads, stiff brushes, paint scrapers or razor blades will scratch plexiglass quickly and permanently. Even paper towels aren’t a good choice when cleaning this plastic — recycled brands can leave fine scratches, while the kinds that aren’t too harsh may leave lots of lint behind.

 

Reference:

 

Don Aslett in The Cleaning Encyclopedia: Your A to Z Illustrated Guide to Cleaning Like the Pros.

 

 

Plexiglass:  Created on November 3rd, 2009.  Last Modified on November 3rd, 2009

 

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