cleaning a control panel

Hi:

You don't specify whether your panel's lettering is screened onto its front, or if it's reverse-screened onto the BACK of the Plexiglas. If the panel is reverse-screened, you have a lot of latitude. If it is front-screened, you need someone with more knowledge than I have.

For a REVERSE-screened panel only:

Brasso (that's right, the brass polish you see in every hardware store) will work wonders on Plexiglas. Apply it with a very soft cloth, and polish hard. This will remove stains, scratches, and yellowing. Done properly, it will leave the Plexiglas looking like new. It will take some real elbow grease, but I do not recommend trying to speed things along with any kind of buffer or power tool- they'll leave swirl marks that will show. You should do a thorough polishing at least twice, letting your arms rest a day or two between polishings. The panel will look pretty good after the first time, but you'll be amazed how much damage you missed when you go back and do it a second time. This happens just because when we tire, we miss things.

This trick works on plastic car headlight lenses, too. There is a specific plastic polish called Novus, and Meguiar's makes one for car plastics, but Brasso works as well or better, and costs way less.

Again, this is for a panel with its lettering and other features printed on its BACK, where all you need to do is to freshen up the unprinted front surface.


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Post# 193745 2/26/2007 at 14:28 (6,268 days old) by sambootoo (Moody, AL)
Checkrate/Likes How can you clean the plastic (plexiglas?) control panel of a Hotpoint dryer. Mine is all speckled and spotted and doesn't come clean. I know plexiglas scratches easily so I've been afraid to try anything abraisive. Any suggestions appreciated.

Post# 193765 , Reply# 1 2/26/2007 at 16:59 (6,268 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)
Checkrate/Likes *It Depends...* Hi: You don't specify whether your panel's lettering is screened onto its front, or if it's reverse-screened onto the BACK of the Plexiglas. If the panel is reverse-screened, you have a lot of latitude. If it is front-screened, you need someone with more knowledge than I have. For a REVERSE-screened panel only: Brasso (that's right, the brass polish you see in every hardware store) will work wonders on Plexiglas. Apply it with a very soft cloth, and polish hard. This will remove stains, scratches, and yellowing. Done properly, it will leave the Plexiglas looking like new. It will take some real elbow grease, but I do not recommend trying to speed things along with any kind of buffer or power tool- they'll leave swirl marks that will show. You should do a thorough polishing at least twice, letting your arms rest a day or two between polishings. The panel will look pretty good after the first time, but you'll be amazed how much damage you missed when you go back and do it a second time. This happens just because when we tire, we miss things. This trick works on plastic car headlight lenses, too. There is a specific plastic polish called Novus, and Meguiar's makes one for car plastics, but Brasso works as well or better, and costs way less. Again, this is for a panel with its lettering and other features printed on its BACK, where all you need to do is to freshen up the unprinted front surface.

Post# 194672 , Reply# 2 3/3/2007 at 15:29 (6,263 days old) by sambootoo (Moody, AL)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks, I'll try the Brasso.