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Acrylic Care & Maintenance Guide

Thank you for choosing INTRESTEIN. To ensure your custom acrylic display maintains its clarity and high-end finish, please follow these essential care guidelines.

Cleaning & Polishing

  • Pro Tip: If you notice mineral dust or particles, rinse the surface with water before wiping to prevent scratching. Dry immediantly if there is painted text.
  • The Golden Rule: Use ONLY a clean lens-cleaning microfiber cloth (provided) or your fingers. NOT Alcohol pads.
  • Technique: Apply acrylic cleaning spray or polish in a gentle, circular motion.
  • Caution: Painted text may wash out if left wet. Do not rub too hard as the paint may peel off.

Approved Cleaners & Compounds

For best results and to maintain your warranty, use only the following approved materials:

  • To remove Hot Glue residue, use Heptane1, and then an acrylic cleaner listed below.
  • To remove Mineral Tack/Putty, your finger works best.
  • INTRESTEIN approved Cleaners:
    • Water: For rinsing away abrasive dust.
    • Mild dish soap: Mixed with water for general cleaning.
    • VuPlex – Works well to prevent static attractions
    • Novus #1
    • Brillianize
    • 1Heptane (High-Purity – Reagent Grade, or N-Heptane)
      Can be purchased from the following venders:
  • INTRESTEIN approved Polish:
    • Rolite MNP
    • Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze M10
    • Novus #2 or 3
    • 3M Marine Finesse-it II
    • Quixx
    • ACRYSUNDAY
    • Mothers Plastic Polish
    • Blue Magic Plastic & Plexiglass Cleaner

Maintenance Schedule

  • High Use: Polish after each use or once a week.
  • Display Only: Polish every 3 months to prevent static and dust buildup.

Storage & Handling

  • Support: Always lift the display carefully, supporting the sides.
    • Do not pick up from the mineral support rods (if any).
  • UV Protection: Avoid prolonged sunlight or UV light to prevent clouding.
  • Safe Storage: Wrap items in microfiber or bubble wrap when not in use.

🚫 What to Avoid 🚫

  • Abrasive Materials: Never use paper towels, sponges, scouring pads, any towels, or any non-microfiber textiles. Cotton might seem soft enough, but it can still scratch the acyrlic. Even something as simple as a cotton swab can cause micro scratching.
  • Harsh Chemicals: WILL cause the acrylic to craze / crack or turn cloudy (It can take a matter of minutes to months for the affects to appear).
    DO NOT USE:
    • Alcohols (IPA, Ethanol),
    • Ketones (Acetone, MEK),
    • Aromatics (Toluene, Benzene, Xylene),
    • Aliphatics (Heptane – technical grade, Naphtha, Mineral Spirits)
      • While the acrylic is resistant to these, the oily residues will require other steps to clean off, which will increase the risk of introducing scratches.
      • Not all chemicals area created equally: To increase their cleaning power, some will contain other ingredients on our Do Not Use list. [i.e. Standard Mineral Spirits: Often contain up to 20% aromatic hydrocarbons (like Toluene or Xylene)]
    • Window cleaners (like Windex),
    • Bleach,
    • Dishwasher detergents.
  • WILL cause the acrylic to craze / crack or turn cloudy (It can take a matter of minutes to months to appear).
  • Heat: Avoid high-temperature environments; do not use heat guns or hair dryers to remove residues.
  • Machines: Never use buffer wheels or car polishers, as these risk melting the surface.

The Three Timelines of Acrylic Damage

  1. Immediate (Minutes): Acetone & Strong Ketones
    • The Affect: The solvent immediately begins dissolving the polymer chains.
    • The Look: The surface will turn white (“frosting”) and become “gummy” or tacky. On a laser-cut edge, you will see deep, visible cracks almost instantly.
  2. Short-Term (Hours to Days): Alcohols (IPA/Ethanol)
    • The Affect: The alcohol doesn’t dissolve the plastic but lowers the “surface energy.”
    • The Look: You might see fine “hairline” cracks (crazing) that look like a spiderweb inside the material, especially near corners or laser-cut edges where internal stress is highest.
  3. Delayed (Weeks to Months): Environmental Stress Crazing (ESC)
    • The Affect: This is caused by “milder” organic solvents or even certain cleaning vapors being trapped against the acrylic (for example, if a base is placed inside a sealed display case right after being wiped).
    • The Look: The material appears fine for a long time, then suddenly develops “fogging” or tiny internal fractures that catch the light. This is often triggered when the temperature changes, causing the material to expand against the weakened polymer bonds.

Frequently Asked Questions

IssueCauseSolution
Small CracksAggressive chemicals (like Alcohol).VIP members receive free replacement*.
Micro-scratchesDust/debris or rough handling.Use our spray to create a liquid barrier.
Cloudiness/YellowingChemical exposure or UV light.Consider alternative materials like metal or stone for high-UV areas.

As a reminder, please see our warrenty page for a full list of things covered