Cleaning & Buffing Acrylic
Acrylic stays clear for decades when it's cleaned with the right products — and fogs and ages when it isn't. The rule that matters most: ammonia-free and alcohol-free, always.
Everyday cleaning
Use an ammonia-free, alcohol-free cleaner
We recommend Sparkle™ Glass Cleaner or Novus® No. 1 Plastic Clean & Shine — No. 1 is antistatic, too, so the acrylic attracts less dust. Harsher products fog and age it.
Wipe with microfiber
Microfiber prevents streaks. If you must use a paper towel, choose a lint-free, low-wood-pulp product so it doesn't leave micro-scratches and fibers behind.
Wear neoprene gloves
Gloves while cleaning and handling keep fingerprints off the finished surfaces.
The routine
- 1. Cover your work surface with a clean blanket or polyethylene foam.
- 2. Dry-dust every surface you plan to clean.
- 3. Spray cleaner onto the cloth — not the acrylic — and wipe.
- 4. Follow with a dry cloth in tandem to prevent streaks and residue.
Buffing out scratches
Scratches buff out with the Novus® Plastic Polish Kit, worked coarse to fine — the bottle numbers count down, 3 → 2 → 1. Use a separate cloth for each solution — each has a different abrasiveness, and mixing them on one cloth can add damage.
Dry-dust the surface
Start with a clean cloth and a dust-free surface.
Novus No. 3 — Heavy Scratch Remover
Rub perpendicular to the scratches until only fine scratches remain, re-applying as needed. Remove excess when done.
Novus No. 2 — Fine Scratch Remover
Polish back-and-forth at right angles to the remaining fine scratches, then re-apply in circles over the whole surface until it dries to a light haze. Buff clean.
Novus No. 1 — Clean & Shine
Spray evenly over the surface and buff with a soft, lint-free cloth.