The cleaner you use on you Acrylic and other plastics can have an affect on it's appearance and longevity. In addition, the stress the sheet has undergone will also have an affect on how the surface will react to cleaning. If during the manufacturing process the sheet was subjected to high heat, bending, stretching and other forces then how it reacts to cleaners will differ. For these reasons it is best not to use an aromatic cleaner such as Windex, or anything containing Methyl Hydrate or alcohols.
Industrial Plastics & Paints recommends using Novus Polish #1 for cleaning and protecting Acrylic and other sheet plastics like Lexan polycarbonate. Novus Plastic Polish No. 1 gently cleans all plastics without scratching. It leaves a lustrous shine that resists fogging, repels dust, and eliminates static. The polish resists finger markings, contains no abrasives or harsh chemicals, and leaves a smooth, clean, greaseless, shine. It is important to NOT USE any paper products in the cleaning process such as Paper Towel or J Cloths as these product tend to scratch the surface of plastics. We recommend only using a soft absorbent cotton, or a flannel like our Ace Cotton Rags.
If your surface is scratched Novus has two additional products to help restore clarity to your plastic. Novus No. 2 is designed to polish out fine scratches and Novus No. 3 will work a little deeper to remove the more prominent scratches. You need to keep in mind that the polishing process is like sanding wood smooth, the scratches are not remove but rather the surrounding area is eroded level to the bottom of the scratch. For this reason we do not recommend using these products on anything that relies on optical clarity like eyeglass lenses. For these product we recommend using a heavy paste wax that does not contain any abrasive compounds. The wax will fill in the scratch so it appears less visible.
