Acrylic has become an integral part of our daily lives today, whether at home, in the workplace, or while travelling. We find it in construction, in automobiles, phones, and airplanes.
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Why is acrylic so popular?
Acrylic is also called plexiglass, perspex or acrylite, though its official name is PMMA or Poly methyl methacrylate. It is a thermoplastic, a type of glass, technically speaking; however, it’s much lighter, affordable, and durable in comparison. It is commonly used today in a wide range of industries, in varying forms, sizes, shapes, and colours.
Acrylic is widely used in homes as well, here is how:
- Furniture like chairs, tables, tabletops
- Shelves and mini cupboards
- Home temples
- Shoe racks
- Decorative items
- Picture frames
- Mobile stand
- Mirrors
- Screen guards
- Windows
- Aquariums
- Helmet visors
You probably had not realized that you have so many acrylic products at home! Look around your house, you are sure to have a fair few. You can distinguish them from glass products as they are lighter. Before we talk about cleaning acrylic products, let’s take a look at actual reasons for its widespread use: the many benefits it offers over conventional materials.
The Benefits of Acrylic
- Acrylic is a highly versatile material, and can be substituted for glass in almost all situations. It is available in a variety of thicknesses, colours, and opacities. You can also have them in glossy, matte, sparkly, and mirrored finishes.
- Acrylic can be moulded, cut, and otherwise made into any shape you desire.
- It is lightweight and easy to carry around.
- The material is much more affordable than many others, especially conventional glass.
- Compared to glass, it is more durable, as acrylic is shatter resistant. It is also scratch and dust resistant. Even if the product breaks, it will not break into numerous tiny pieces, as glass does.
- Recycling of acrylic is possible, and it can be reused, making it a sustainable product.
- Cleaning and maintenance of acrylic is relatively simple, as are the acrylic care tips we will share here.
- You can do laser cutting and embed text and images on it.
- Acrylic can withstand temperature changes and does not lose its lustre or colour quickly.
- It is hygienic and is used in kitchens and around sinks to catch the back splash.
Being an affordable material, it allows people in any income bracket to have them for a number of purposes, including home decor, at a low cost.
When maintained well, you can extend the life of your acrylic products substantially. Here is the ultimate guide to acrylic care & maintenance:
Storing
As acrylic is durable, you can literally store it anywhere; however, you can take a few precautions. It is advisable to not store acrylic products in very high temperatures or direct sunlight as it’s a thermoplastic, and its characteristics may undergo change. Acrylic sheets are especially vulnerable, though your products like furniture and stands may not undergo much change as they have already been moulded or shaped. Remember that we are talking very high temperatures here, like 100 degrees F.
If you want to put acrylic products in long-term storage, we recommend the use of protective sheeting or film to avoid accidental scrapes and scratches. Of course, these can be easily removed, but then prevention is better than cure!
Tips for Cleaning
Maintaining acrylic at home is very easy. Get the following materials ready:
Recommended Cleaning Solutions:
- Mild soap, like dish soap, mixed in lukewarm water to make a solution
- Equal parts of white vinegar and water
- Special acrylic surface commercial cleaners
Tools you need:
- Soft cloth like microfiber or hosiery
- Soft non-abrasive sponge
- Spray bottle to ensure even spread of cleaning solutions
You only need basic ingredients as seen above; harsh chemicals and abrasive cloth or sponges can damage your acrylic products. Wear gloves and an apron yourself to protect your hands and clothes. Avoid using abrasive fabrics, sandpaper and similar materials. Chemicals to be avoided – acetone, ammonia, or gasoline; these materials can cause cracks to form in acrylic product and create a frosted appearance.
For heavily damaged or soiled acrylic
If there is a thick layer of dust on the acrylic, use a compressor or blower to blow off the dust. Next, rinse it clean with soapy water and fresh water, and allow it to dry.
In case there are tough stains of oil, tar, or grease, use kerosene or hexane on those spots. After using the solvent on the problem spots, clean once more with fresh water, and wipe dry.
Avoid these:
- Abrasive cleaners, rough cloth, or scouring pads, as these can scratch the surface
- Ammonia -based cleaning solutions that can damage acrylic and give a cloudy appearance.
- Glass cleaners and window cleaners
- Paper towels to wipe
- Putting too much pressure while wiping as that can damage the product.
- Brushes to clear the dust, as they can scratch the acrylic; use blowers instead.
It is always a good idea to wipe your acrylic products dry with a soft cloth like microfiber so that you don’t leave streaks or water spots on the surface.
Repairing Damaged Acrylic
First, here are the materials and tools you will need to repair your acrylic products:
- Water
- Sandpaper (600, 800 and 1200-grit ‘wet and dry’ sandpaper)
- Acrylic Polish
Over a period of time, small scratches and cracks or even haziness may set in. But don’t worry, these can be fixed easily. You can use car polish, automobile wax, or plastic polish to remove scratches and buff the product to remove haziness. Use a microfiber cloth for the purpose. If, and only if, the haze doesn’t reduce, you can try small amounts of slightly abrasive polish.
Let’s say your acrylic product has developed cracks due to prolonged exposure to harsh elements, then you can try this: If the crack is a bit deep and seen on the surface, try introducing the sealant directly. But if it is under the surface, then you need to drill a hole on both sides of the crack with a ⅛ drill and fill the crack with silicone. Keep it away till the silicone has dried. This will restore the appearance of the acrylic product, and you have it looking as good as new. Of course, this is presuming that the cracks are relatively small.
Acrylic is resilient and can be easily fixed with buffing and silicone, to retain its original appearance.
Removing Haze and Cloudiness:
Follow this process to buff and shine your acrylic and make it look like new:
- Take your 600-grit sandpaper, wet it, and rub over the affected area in circles.
- Switch to dry paper after 2-3 minutes.
- Repeat the process for a few minutes.
- Proceed to higher grit sandpapers and follow the same process till the scratches fade.
- Wipe the surface dry with a soft clean cloth
- Use the plastic polish – follow the instructions on the bottle.
Minimizing Static Electricity
Acrylic conducts electricity naturally, attracting debris, dirt, and other minuscule particles from the air. This build-up can spoil the appearance of your acrylic mirror or shelf, or any other product you have. To ensure that this does not happen, use a soft cloth and an anti-static cleaner, and wipe the products to neutralize the charge. It will no longer attract dirt and debris, and will maintain a good appearance.
Also read: Best Practices for Cleaning and Maintaining Acrylic Display Stands
Conclusion
Acrylic is a superbly versatile and durable material that also looks amazing. With just a little effort, you can extend the life of your acrylic products and keep them looking fabulous for years to come.
Pleasant Acrylic specializes in the acrylic industry providing top-notch manufacturing and upholstery services in Dubai. They specialize in precision engineering and tooling through their Acrylic UV Printing Service in Dubai. As leading acrylic fabricators in Dubai, they offer high-quality products for a wide range of applications. Their expertise also extends to being reputable acrylic sheet suppliers in Dubai ensuring that all products meet the highest standards of sustainability and aesthetics.