How to Care for Your Acrylic Print

Cleaning - what to use

• Microfibre cloth (clean, soft, lint-free). The same kind you'd use on a camera lens or a glasses lens.
• Distilled water for fingerprints or smudges - slightly dampen the cloth.
• Dedicated acrylic cleaner for stubborn marks (Novus 1 or equivalent). Spray on the cloth, not directly on the panel.
• Compressed air (canned air) to clear dust from edges without contact.

Cleaning - what to avoid

• Ammonia-based glass cleaners (Windex, etc.). The ammonia micro-crazes the acrylic surface over time - invisible at first, then increasingly hazy.
• Paper towel, tissue, or napkins. The fibres are abrasive enough to scratch acrylic over repeat use.
• Rough cloths, sponges with scrubber backing, or anything with grit.
• Acetone, alcohol-based cleaners, or solvents. They can damage the surface.
• Hot water. Room temperature only.

Step-by-step cleaning routine

1. Take the print down (optional but recommended - easier to clean off the wall).
2. Use compressed air to blow off loose dust. This step is the most important: dust is what scratches acrylic when you wipe it.
3. Lay the print face-up on a soft surface (a folded towel works).
4. Dampen a clean microfibre cloth with distilled water.
5. Wipe in straight strokes from one edge to the other. Don't scrub or use circular motions.
6. Dry with a second, fully dry microfibre cloth.
7. Re-hang.

Frequency: monthly if it's in a dusty area or near a kitchen; every few months otherwise.

Sunlight & placement

The cast acrylic panel itself is UV-stabilised and won't yellow. The archival pigment inks behind it are rated against ozone fade for 75+ years indoors, out of direct sunlight. Direct sunlight for hours every day will eventually fade any photographic print - acrylic, canvas, framed, or otherwise.

If your only good wall is sunlit, consider:

• Sheer curtains or window film to diffuse direct sun.
• Rotating prints between sunlit and shaded rooms every few years.
• Choosing slightly higher-contrast photos (which tolerate gentle fade longer than soft-toned photos).

Humidity & temperature

Acrylic is dimensionally stable across the range of conditions found in normal indoor environments. The face-mount adhesive is rated for typical home humidity (30–70% RH). The exceptions:

• Bathrooms with steam exposure (showers) - fine briefly, but a permanently steamy bathroom isn't an ideal long-term home for any print.
• Garages or unheated spaces with wide temperature swings - repeated freeze-thaw cycles over years can stress the bond. Indoor display is what these are designed for.
• Direct heat sources (radiators, fireplaces, stoves) within 1–2 ft.

If it gets scratched

Light surface scratches can sometimes be polished out with a dedicated acrylic polish (Novus 2, Brillianize, etc.). Apply a small amount to a microfibre cloth and work the scratch area in small straight strokes. Don't expect miracles - deep scratches are generally permanent.

The best scratch repair is prevention: always blow off dust first, always use clean microfibre, never wipe a dry panel with a dry cloth (you grind any dust particles into the surface).

If it cracks or breaks

Acrylic is 10× more impact-resistant than glass, but a hard fall can still crack the panel. If yours cracks within the first 7 days of receipt, contact us - we'll send a replacement. After that, unfortunately the panel is what it is; we can re-print at standard pricing if you want to replace it.

Hanging hardware care

The standoff posts are corrosion-resistant for indoor use and won't need maintenance. If you take the print down to move house, store the print flat (not standing on edge) and wrap it in the original protective film if you still have it - or a soft cloth.

FAQs