Acrylic Care Guide
What is acrylic and why do we use it for our frames?
Acrylic is the generic name for our frame material. Brand names include Plexiglas® (Rohm's trademark name) and Lucite® (Dupont's trademark name). Acrylic makes an ideal photo frame as it is beautifully clear, exceptionally safe, and complements all styles and décor.
We considered glass frames, however, the downside of glass is its fragility. Ultimately, for your safety, we decided against glass. The downside of acrylic is that it is a softer material. As such, it does require special cleaning and care so as not to scratch it. The great news is that light hazing and light scratching are easily reparable to keep your frame looking new.
Cleaning your Acrylic Frame
We strongly recommend against dusting your frame by just wiping it down with a dry cloth. Each speck of dust is a tiny piece of dirt with sharp edges that will scratch acrylics.
Gather the right tools:
-
- Three new or freshly washed non-abrasive, lint-free microfiber cleaning cloths – one to set the frame on, one to wash, and one to dry.
- Gentle dishwashing liquid soap, i.e., Dawn®, & water solution – fill a clean spray bottle with lukewarm water and then add 4 – 5 drops of soap.
Steps:
- Open your frame, remove your photo, and set aside.
- Under lukewarm sink water, rinse all sides of your frame to remove loose dust.
- With your spray soap solution, heavily cover your frame so that the suds have a chance to lift embedded dust.
- Rinse and again apply a heavy soap solution to your frame as well as your microfiber cloth.
- Gently clean the surface with your microfiber cloth.
- Rinse again and then pat dry with your second electrostatic microfilament cloth.
- It is best to give the frame additional “air-dry” time thereafter before reassembly.
*It is critical to avoid any cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals, especially ammonia. Many common glass cleaners will break down the acrylic and cause it to become cloudy.
If my acrylic frame is hazy or scratched, what do I do?
This would depend on the level of damage:
- If your frame is simply hazy or has light scratching (not enough to catch your fingernail), you can likely repair it with a product such as the NOVIS polishing system. Simply follow the product label directions for use.
- If your frame has significant scratching or is damaged in another way, you may be best to turn to a professional who can attempt to buff the surface or order a replacement frame (feel free to email us for a replacement frame discount code).
What products do you recommend?
Although we don’t specifically endorse nor guarantee third parties, industry-respected acrylic care products include:
Cloth
Cleaners and Polishes
Brillianize Plastic Cleaner and Polish