How to Clean PC Sheet Without Scratching: Do's and Don'ts
The short version
One rule above all: dust is wiped off with water only — never rub a dry sheet. PC’s pore-free surface picks up little dirt, so ninety percent of daily cleaning is a microfibre cloth dampened with water. What actually ruins sheets falls into two groups: mechanically — dry rubbing, razor blades, abrasives, rotating brushes; chemically — solvents, amine-containing products and strongly alkaline cleaners.
Both quick-reference tables below come from Chapter 8 of the Exolon® technical manual (Makrolon® sheet is now Exolon®).
1. Do’s: what to use
| Situation | Method | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Daily dust | Water + soft cloth / sponge; a damp microfibre cloth is ideal | Wet wiping only — never rub dry |
| Heavier soiling | Non-abrasive detergent | With a soft cloth or sponge |
| Heavy build-up, greasy stains | Benzene-free pure petroleum spirit (cleaner’s naphtha / light gasoline) | For build-up and oily dirt |
| Dye / grease / sealant residue | Soft cloth with ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or petroleum ether (boiling point 65 °C), gentle rubbing | Must be done prior to curing |
| Rust marks | 10 % oxalic acid solution | Local treatment |
| Loose dust (before filming / next process) | Blow off with ionized air | Electrostatically held dust survives a normal air gun |
| Minor shallow scuffs | Hot air polishing can remove or disguise them | Not applicable to Exolon® AR |
2. Don’ts: what never to do
| Forbidden | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Dry rubbing | Dust particles dragged across the surface cut micro-scratches — the more you rub, the hazier it gets |
| Razor blades and other sharp tools | Direct surface damage |
| Abrasive detergents | Irreversible grinding marks |
| Strongly alkaline detergents | Chemical attack on the sheet |
| Solvent cleaners | Swelling and stress-cracking risk (the chemistry behind this in our PC chemical compatibility article) |
| Products containing amines | Chemical attack on the sheet |
| Rotating-brush / mechanical washing systems | The surface may scratch even with generous water (exception: Exolon® AR) |
3. By scenario
1. Daily cleaning of machine guards and vision panels (the common case)
A microfibre cloth dampened with clean water is enough; change the water and the cloth as soon as they get dirty — trapped particles are the main scratch source. Do not use a normal compressed-air gun to remove dust: PC is a good electrical insulator, so the surface charges statically and holds dust that neither the air gun nor a dry cloth can remove. The manual’s answer is to blow the particles off with ionized air.
2. Grease and heavy build-up
Coolant and oil-mist deposits near machine tools wipe off with benzene-free pure petroleum spirit (cleaner’s naphtha or light gasoline), followed by a pass with clean water.
3. Dye and sealant residue
Sealant, grease or dye that splashed onto the sheet during gluing must be removed with a soft cloth soaked in ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or petroleum ether (boiling point 65 °C), rubbing gently — before it cures. The manual’s guidance covers only the pre-curing state, so plan the process as “clean first, then let it cure”.
4. Rust marks
Rust water running off the frame leaves marks that come out with a 10 % oxalic acid solution; wipe with clean water afterwards.
5. Scuffs that already exist
Shallow, minor scuffs can be removed or disguised with hot air polishing (not applicable to Exolon® AR). Grinding marks from abrasives or rotating brushes, and deep scratches, cannot be recovered by cleaning. Prevention is far cheaper than repair — the single rule “never rub dry” already prevents most scratches.
FAQ
Q1: Can I use glass cleaner on PC? Not recommended. Most commercial glass cleaners contain ammonia or amine compounds, and amines are on the manual’s explicit blacklist for PC (check the actual ingredient list). A damp microfibre cloth or a non-abrasive neutral detergent is all you need.
Q2: The sheet is already hazy — can polishing bring it back? It depends: minor, shallow scuffs respond to hot air polishing. Grinding marks from abrasives or rotating brushes, and deep scratches, cannot be fixed by any cleaning method. Prevention is much cheaper than rescue.
Q3: Why won’t the dust blow off with an air gun? PC has good electrical insulation properties, so the surface charges electrostatically and attracts dust particles; a normal compressed-air gun or a cloth cannot remove them. The manual recommends blowing with ionized air — the standard de-dusting step before protective film lamination, painting and similar next processes.
Closing
Wuxi Cremage Technology machines PC and acrylic equipment guards and vision windows every day, and every delivery ships with care instructions: which cloth, which cleaner, and which actions are strictly forbidden — so your sheets stay clear for years. For guard selection or custom work, get in touch, or start with our acrylic equipment guards.
Further reading: PC sheet installation, rabbets and gaskets (managing sealant residue at the source), PC sheet CNC machining parameters (why cutting oils are banned), PC sheet chemical compatibility (the chemistry behind the cleaning blacklist).