How to Clean Your Sneeze Guards Properly

For the assurance of your clients, it's key to illustrate your commitment to COVID-19 safety protocols, such as easing of social distancing measures and the installation of safety barriers like sneeze guards and brochure racks in your workplace or shop. Once installed, regular cleaning and disinfecting of these barriers become a crucial part of their upkeeping.

Acrylic, also known as plexiglass, is a popular choice for sneeze guards due to its ease of use, visibility, resilience, and high versatility. Despite being considered as low-maintenance, acrylic surfaces still require cleaning to avoid looking run-down or grubby - an undesirable look for sneeze guards and other displays.

Repeated cleaning of your sneeze guards not only keeps them transparent and more durable but also preserves their shininess. There's no need for particular tools for this task, making it a relatively light responsibility.

The Cleaning of Your Sneeze Guards

Once your workspace is free from obstructions, it is time to proceed with cleaning your sneeze guards – made of either acrylic or plexiglass – and get rid of accumulated dust, muck, and fingerprint marks.

Avoid paper towels and opt instead for a microfiber cloth, which is more delicate on surfaces. Paper towels can induce micro-scratches on your guards. Wet the cloth with soapy water or recommended cleaning spray, then gently blot the acrylic. Distribute the solution cautiously across your sneeze guard's entire surface.

Utilizing your cloth's dry side, polish the area and dispose of any excess moisture or soap foams. Rub minimally to prevent scratches.

Polishing your acrylic surfaces lessen chances of future discolorations. If any streaks persist, dampen the cloth, wipe, and dry again.

Using inappropriate cleaning products can harm your barriers. Along with paper towels, steer clear from cleaners with ammonia, as they contain potent chemicals that might spoil your acrylic surfaces, causing cloudiness. The best and most economical option is soapy water.

Disinfecting Vs Cleaning

Cleaning and disinfecting are different processes. Cleaning involves dirt, grime, and germ removal from surfaces, lowering the risk of germ spread and contamination – it doesn't eradicate germs. Disinfection kills germs, reducing the risk of contamination and infections, though it doesn't necessarily clean dirty surfaces.

Proper Sanitization of Your Screen Guards

To prevent germ and bacterial build-up, sanitizing your sneeze guards and other shop or office fixtures is necessary. Here's the best way to clean your acrylic or plexiglass sneeze guards:

• Regularly wipe your screen guards, ideally between shifts. Use wipes containing at minimum 70% isopropyl alcohol, bleach, hydrogen peroxide solution, or other recommended disinfectant multiple times daily.
• Microfiber cloth is recommended - research shows that this fabric eliminates 99% of harmful bacteria, microbes, and spores, leaving no scratches as hiding spots for harmful bacteria. Use a mix of warm water and dish soap to pre-clean visibly dirty surfaces before disinfecting.
• Remember to wear disposable gloves when cleaning. This protects you from the harmful effects of harsh chemicals and contamination by viruses or bacteria. Dispose gloves correctly post-cleaning.
• Thoroughly wipe and dry sneeze guards post-cleaning, to avoid cleaning material residue from degrading the acrylic's quality.
• Refrain from using window disinfectants or other ammonia-based products which might damage your acrylic guards over time.

Advanced Maintenance of Your Screen Guards

Just like all other materials, wear and tear is inevitable for your acrylic or plexiglass guards and brochure racks. For worn out barriers, conventional cleaning methods may fail to restore them. Techniques such as scraping, sanding, buffing, or flame polishing are required for deeper cleansing and to maintain acrylic's characteristic shine and clarity. These processes can be done either by yourself or a professional.

• Scraping - employs a razor blade to remove scratched and excessive acrylic. This is suitable for smoothing out rough or jagged borders.
• Sanding - an effective method to achieve a matte finish. Use hand, belt, disc, or drum sander depending on your acrylic's shape and surface area.
• Buffing - restores clarity and neatness after sanding. Depending on the polish compound used, a glossy finish can be accomplished through a medium-cutting compound. The buffer's use duration affects the finish quality.
• Flame polishing - smooths the acrylic edges after sanding or buffing. This procedure involves a hydrogen-oxygen torch to heat the edges, resulting in a neat and shiny finish.

Locate the suitable sneeze guards for your business. We offer ready-made and tailored displays to match your business setting perfectly.

Let us assist you in selecting the appropriate barriers without hampering your business operation. Connect with us today at "Danoni Displays and Holders" to keep your customers safe.