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How to Clean Acrylic Picture Frames

Brenton Shields

Acrylic picture frames are a welcome alternative to glass-covered frames that many people may be used to. Acrylic is stronger than glass, so it won't break as easily if it's dropped, and the whole frame, not just the front cover, can be made of acrylic.

An acrylic picture frame is just as easy to clean as a glass one.

Like glass, however, acrylic does tend to get dirty, especially if children like to put their fingerprints all over it, so occasionally you'll have to clean off your acrylic frames.

  1. Remove any picture from the frame and set it aside so it does not get wet during cleaning.

  2. Fill a small bowl with warm water and mix in a squirt or two of mild dishwashing liquid.

  3. Moisten one of the microfiber cloths with the cleaning solution.

  4. Wipe down the frame with the moist cloth. Be gentle, applying only a little pressure when you see stubborn fingerprints. If the outside of the frame is made of acrylic as well, wipe that down too.

  5. Dry off the acrylic frame with the dry microfiber cloth. Do not let it simply air dry, as evaporating water droplets may leave a soapy residue.

Warning

Never use an abrasive cloth, like the rough side of a sponge, on acrylic. Acrylic scratches more easily than glass and the resulting damage can be difficult, if not impossible, to remedy. That includes paper towels or abrasive materials such as baking soda.