Cleaning acrylic. Chemicals?

[Catharsis70]

Setting up my first acrylic tank. There is residue on the tank from a sticker. What is a safe, non scratching way to remove it? Also what should I use for both cleaning the inside and outside while tank is in service?

 

[Catharsis70]

bump

 

[scarter]

I am curious also, what about an empty tank with lots of build up?

 

[Catharsis70]

anyone?

 

[thatguy]

There is something that is used to polish acrylic that is safe to use while it is empty... I can't think of the name. I'll post that later today when I get home. It is the third step in 3 stage buffing set. It can be used every couple of months to make sure the outside stays clear, so the bottle says. For water stains, salt, etc. you can just use vinegar and a soft rag.

To get the sticker residue off use orange rind. Squeeze the stuff out of the rind onto the sticky stuff and then scrape it off with credit card. They also make cleaning supplies that contain the orange stuff, but I don't know what other chemicals those might contain.


They make special magnet cleaners and scrapers for acrylic.

 

[snulma1]

I don't know if you can use nail polish remover, I know thats what I used on my glass tank, but as for acrylic I don't know if it will cause any problems

 

[sabodish]

do NOT use anything on your acrylic but NOVUS or Brillianize (sp.)..anything else and you run the risk of damaging your tank. and never use windex or the like, the ammonia in there will degrade the acrylic.

 

[tkeracer619]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9946231#post9946231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sabodish
do NOT use anything on your acrylic but NOVUS or Brillianize (sp.)..anything else and you run the risk of damaging your tank. and never use windex or the like, the ammonia in there will degrade the acrylic.

Ditto

 

[mwhite]

I used a orange oil based solvent. Took the tag right off and didn't harm the acrylic. I got rid of the oil residue with a swipe of a clean cloth.

 

[thatguy]

NOVUS <- that's the stuff I was talking about

 

[scarter]

AND FOR THE RECORD, DO NOT use fingernail polish remover, ie acetone

 

[Catharsis70]

thanks for the insight all. Can I get Novus at a hardware store?

 

[Beaner3]

Another vote for brillianize here, or novus. 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. You could try Goo gone too, only on an empty tank though.

 

[sabodish]

i dont think youll find novus at any local store...i had to order mine online after trying HD, Lowes, ACE and a few auto stores.
if you have a plastic distributor local, you can try that.

 

[hawk66]

I asked this same question a year or so ago. I was told to use mayonnaise. It worked amazingly well. Let it sit on the sticky a minute or so and use a soft scratch free cloth and it will wipe right off. I eventually found Novus and it works great as a cleaner.

 

[klam114]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9946231#post9946231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sabodish
do NOT use anything on your acrylic but NOVUS or Brillianize (sp.)..anything else and you run the risk of damaging your tank. and never use windex or the like, the ammonia in there will degrade the acrylic.

this is what our local acrylic tank makers recommends.

 

[spleen93]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9953873#post9953873 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sabodish
i dont think youll find novus at any local store...i had to order mine online after trying HD, Lowes, ACE and a few auto stores.
if you have a plastic distributor local, you can try that.

If you have a Tap Plastics in your city, they'll carry it.

Spleen

 

[Beaner3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9958555#post9958555 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hawk66
I asked this same question a year or so ago. I was told to use mayonnaise. It worked amazingly well. Let it sit on the sticky a minute or so and use a soft scratch free cloth and it will wipe right off. I eventually found Novus and it works great as a cleaner.

That's awesome,....... did you wipe your surfaces down with some ham and marble rye bread too? Bag of kettle cooked chips on the side? Mayonnaise,....thats a new one to me.