Plastic glass is a popular material used for various purposes in homes, businesses, and construction. It is used instead of glass on doors, windows, patio barriers, skylights, and furniture.

Plexiglass has several advantages over normal and tempered glass windows because it is durable and shatter-resistant. Plexiglass or Acrylic also has high thermal values, is lighter in weight, far more cost-effective, and can withstand harsh weather conditions.

Acrylic sheets and panels can be used for a variety of applications and those with glazing have a higher resistance to scratches and smudging. However, if you want to maintain the attractive appearance of your plastic glass, you need to take special care when you clean it to prevent any scratches or damage caused by certain cleaning methods and solvents.

DIY Cleaning Plexiglass: It will be far simpler after reading this guide

Step 1: Washing out dust

Dirt and dust have the potential to scratch the surface of the acrylic, so before you do anything else, you need to remove these. There are several ways that you can do this, depending on where the surface is that you want to clean.

Don’t start by removing any dirt and dust with a dry microfiber cloth and don’t remove it with any spray cleaners. A dry cloth or paper towels will cause the dust to scratch the surface, and most cleaners can damage the Plexiglass.

1. Blow the dirt and dust off

You can either use an industrial blower or a hairdryer to remove the dirt and dust. Remember, hot air can damage plexiglass, so whatever you use to remove the dirt particles, make sure that it is on its coolest setting.

Blow from side-to-side with the hairdryer at a 45° angle, starting from the top and working downwards. Make sure that you have removed all the particles from the surface you want to clean.

1. Remove dirt and dust particles with water

You can also remove dirt and dust particles from the plastic glass with water. Use a solution of 1 teaspoon soap to 1 quart of water. Small items can be placed in a sink, and you can pour the solution at a 45° angle until all the dust has been rinsed off.

Larger surfaces and windows can be cleaned as follows with soapy water. Use a microfiber cloth that has been wet in the soapy water solution and lightly blot the surface to remove the dust. Do not rub, and keep wetting the cloth to remove dust particles. Continue doing this until you have wiped the entire surface you want to clean.

Step 2: Wiping it with microfiber

A microfiber cloth is the best way to clean the plexiglass after you have removed the dust. You can use a dry microfiber cloth to dry the plexiglass if you have already rinsed off the dirt with soapy water.

You can also use a special plastic glass cleaner, spray it on and wipe with the microfiber. Only clean the wet spots and if there are any stubborn spots, do not scrub too hard or apply too much pressure.

You can repeat this process as many times as you need to get your plexiglass spotless.

Finally, never allow the acrylic glass to air dry because you will have visible water spots. If a surface has spots from air-drying just repeat the cleaning process.

Step 3: Deep cleaning and repairing

 

1. Deep cleaning

Sometimes, deep cleaning of the surfaces is required. You can use a clean microfiber cloth soaked in water, and you can add a non-abrasive cleaner to it. Rinse the cloth every time before adding the cleaner to it and turn the cloth frequently to prevent scratching or smudging. Any stubborn grime can also be removed with a razor blade that you carefully run from side-to-side.

Once you have finished cleaning the whole surface, use a clean cloth soaked in water to wash off the solution. Always turn the cloth and rinse it often, just like you did when washing with the solution. Dry and check for smears.

1. Repairing

If you have light scratches that are not too deep on any plexiglass surfaces, these can be removed by using a recommended product to scrub the scratches off. Car wax also works for this, and the buffer can be used to gently rub out the scratches. Once the scratches have been removed, the surface can be cleaned as usual.

Deep scratches, markings, and stubborn dirt can be removed by gently sanding the acrylic glass. Once the sanding is complete, the plexiglass can be buffed and it will be restored to its previous luster.

A razor blade can also carefully be used to shape uneven or jagged edges.

Avoid the 3 As

 

Plastic glass has three enemies, ammonia, abrasives, and aromatics. Ammonia, typically found in glass window cleaners, degrades the chemical bonds of acrylic glass and makes the surface cloudy.

Also, avoid abrasive cleaners and aromatics. Abrasives that are designated as plastic polish can be used, but with care. Other things to avoid include isopropyl alcohol, acetone, and dry-cleaning fluids because they will damage the surface you are trying to clean.

All the steps above ensure the greatest care of your polycarbonate windows and surfaces allowing them to stay looking good for a long time.