Cleaning plastic - How do you do it?

Preparation

When cleaning plastic, you should pay particular attention to the products you use. Plastic can be damaged if you use products that are too aggressive. For example, plexiglass or polycarbonate can be damaged if you use a brush that is too hard, or an abrasive or an agent containing acetone.

Cleaning plastic

So a clean plastic sheet starts with choosing quality cleaning products. For many plastics, anti-static cleaner is the best choice. This is because it acts anti-statically, and contains no harmful substances for plastics. An anti-static cloth is often a good choice here. For plastics on (high) walls, for instance, a facade brush is ideal. Further on in this article you will discover which cleaning products are best to use for each material.

How to get yellow faded plastic white again?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to get rid of yellow fade marks. When plastic turns yellow, it has probably been affected by UV radiation. The sheets you buy from Plasticsheetsshop will not turn yellow because they are UV resistant!

Cleaning plastic: acrylic

Although cleaning plastic acrylic is quite easy, it does require a bit more attention than cleaning traditional glass. This is because plexiglass is more likely to get scratched than regular glass. To clean this plastic, you will need the following supplies:

Use a soapy solution of warm water and a soft microfibre cloth, making sure to rinse the cloth regularly to avoid wiping dirt across the surface. Next, treat the plexiglass with an anti-static cleaner. This will prevent the plastic from attracting dust, keeping your plexiglass clean for longer. Chemical cleaning agents such as methylated spirits and glass cleaners are out of the question. They soften the surface and leave a haze on the plexiglass. Are there scratches in your plexiglass that you want to remove? In the blog ‘Removing scratches’ from plexiglass, we explain in detail how to do this. You will find the right polishes for this in our webshop.

Tip: also read the blog: Cleaning acrylic.

Cleaning plastic: PVC

Plastic PVC (both hard and foamed) requires little maintenance. Because PVC sheets are electrically insulating, the sheet surface can become static if you rub it with a cloth. A good anti-static cleaner suitable for plastic is therefore crucial! To clean this plastic, you will need the following:

Dusting this plastic is simply done with a microfibre cloth with a few drops of anti-static cleaner. Do you have greasy prints or splatters you want to clean? Then it’s best to clean this plastic with isopropyl alcohol and a clean soft cloth. Do not rub too hard! Then the surface may become dull, which of course you don’t want. The same applies to foamed and solid PVC: do not use chemical cleaning agents such as acetone, thinner or spirit.

Tip: also read the blog: Cleaning PVC.

Cleaning plastic: polycarbonate

Cleaning polycarbonate plastic requires some extra attention, just like plexiglass, as it is more scratch-sensitive than traditional glass. Large surfaces, such as a plastic greenhouse or plastic canopy are best cleaned once or twice a year. Do you suffer from black or green deposits? Then you know it’s time to clean your polycarbonate, because otherwise the dirt will soak into the sheets. To clean this plastic, it is best to use the following materials.

Use plenty of water with a drop of dishwashing detergent and rinse your microfibre cloth regularly. It is important to know that you cannot use a high-pressure cleaner for this synthetic material. This will damage the top layer of the plastic. Is your canopy or greenhouse very dirty? Then first use a garden hose to rinse away the worst dirt.

Tip: also read: Cleaning polycarbonate sheets: Do’s and Don’ts.

Cleaning plastic: HPL/Trespa®

One of the main reasons for using the plastics HPL and Trespa® as facade cladding is that these materials remain beautiful for a long time and are virtually maintenance-free. Nevertheless, it is wise to freshen these plastics annually. This keeps the material beautiful and reduces the chance of dirt adhering. To clean this plastic, you will need the following materials:

Are you going to clean an indoor application made from HPL/Trespa®? Then a simple household cleaner will do. For exterior cladding, however, we recommend Kenotek Brilliant wash as a cleaning agent. With this mild shampoo, you can remove all dirt deposits in no time at all without drying off. Another great advantage of this cleaner is that it leaves a protective wax layer on the plastic. Do you suffer from oily dirt? Then it is advisable to first run a cloth and benzene over your HPL/Trespa® and then wipe it down with lukewarm soapy water. When cleaning, use only soft materials! Scouring pads or scouring wool will cause matt spots!

Cleaning plastic: Aluminium composite panels

The way you clean ACP panels depends on the type you use and for which application you have used the plastic. For example, cleaning Alupanel/Dibond® cladding or fascia boards requires a different approach than, say, dusting an Alupanel/Dibond® planter room divider. You can clean this plastic with the following materials:

For just dusting, a microfibre cloth with a little anti-static cleaner is sufficient. This prevents static charge of the material and therefore the attraction of dust. Alupanel/Dibond® facade cladding and other outdoor applications which are very dirty are best first rinsed with a garden hose so that the dirt can soak off. Then use a soft cloth or washing brush to remove the coarse dirt. Rinse everything with a high-pressure cleaner or garden hose and make suds with Kenotek Brilliant Wash. After cleaning the plastic with this, spray the sheet again and dry the plastic with a clean, soft cloth.

Tip: You can read more about cleaning this plastic in the blog: Cleaning Alupanel/Dibond®: Do’s and Don’ts.

Cleaning plastic: polyethylene

Just like the plastics mentioned above, polythene is best cleaned with a microfibre cloth and a few drops of anti-static cleaner suitable for plastics. To clean this plastic, you will need the following:

Are there greasy prints on your polythene? Then remove them with isopropyl alcohol and a clean soft cloth. Do not rub too hard to prevent the surface from becoming dull. As with all the plastics mentioned, we do not recommend using chemical cleaners such as acetone, thinner or spirit for polythene.