What PLA can and cannot tolerate
Almost all care advice for printed products follows from one property: PLA softens at a much lower temperature than most plastics people are used to. Indoors on a shelf it is stable, rigid and holds fine detail for years. The failure mode is heat, and it has a specific and predictable shape — a parked car in an Indian summer is the classic way to ruin a piece, since interior temperatures comfortably exceed what PLA will hold. Direct prolonged sunlight through a window is the slower version of the same problem, causing gradual softening and colour fade over months. Keep both in mind and the material is genuinely durable.
Cleaning without damaging detail
For routine dust, a soft dry cloth handles flat surfaces and a soft dry brush — a clean makeup or paint brush works well — gets into detailed sculpts and textured vases without catching on fine features. For actual grime, use a slightly damp cloth and dry it afterwards rather than letting water sit in crevices. What to avoid: soaking, dishwashers, hot water, acetone, thinners and alcohol-based cleaners, all of which will either soften the material or dull and craze the surface finish. For lamps and lightboxes, unplug before cleaning and keep moisture away from the LED unit and its connections entirely.
Displaying pieces so they last
Choose a spot away from direct window light, radiators, kitchen hobs and the top of electronics that run warm. Use the bases supplied, since they are designed to distribute weight correctly for that piece. For lamps, use the LED unit provided rather than substituting a brighter or hotter bulb — printed shades are designed around low-heat lighting, and a hotter source is the fastest way to warp one. Keep detailed figures where they will not be knocked, as thin protruding elements are the most vulnerable part of any sculpt. Vases used with fresh flowers should have an inner liner or container rather than being filled directly.
Longevity and small repairs
Kept indoors and out of heat, a well-printed piece holds its detail and colour for many years. If something does break — usually a thin element under impact — the fix is straightforward: a small amount of cyanoacrylate glue on a clean, dry break, held briefly, gives a strong join, and on a matte finish the repair is often invisible. Avoid clamping hard, as PLA can craze under sustained pressure at a glued seam. If a piece has warped from heat, it cannot reliably be reshaped, so prevention genuinely is the whole strategy here. For anything you are unsure about, send us a photo and we will advise.
