Care.

Most pieces are made from matte PLA. A few specialist pieces are made from PETG. Looked after, they last. Treated as ovenware, put through the dishwasher, or left in a hot car, they will not.

The care label

Same idea as the tag sewn into a jumper. Follow the symbols. The rest of this page is the detail.

CleanLayers PLA or PETG

  • Hand wash 30°C
  • No dishwasher
  • No microwave
  • No bleach
  • No heat
  • No open flame
  • No direct sun
  • Indoors

By piece

Find what you have. The general rules follow.

  • Vases and planters

    Decorative. They are not made to hold water. For fresh flowers, stand a glass or plastic liner inside. For a plant, keep it in its own pot and saucer. Do not stand a piece on a radiator.

  • Gifts and homeware

    Display indoors. Dust with a dry cloth. Wash only if needed.

  • Seasonal

    Indoor display. For candle pieces, use LED candles. A real flame, even in a glass tealight cup, can slump or scorch the piece.

  • Kids

    Wipe clean or hand wash. Keep out of the bath and out of cars. They are not sold as toys. Keep small pieces away from children under 3, and do not let children chew them.

  • Keyrings

    Made to be carried in a pocket or bag. Do not leave one on a dashboard or in a parked car on a warm day.

  • Demonstration models

    Same wash and heat rules. No autoclave, no steam, no dishwasher.

Do

  • Dust with a dry cloth. Most pieces never need more.
  • Hand wash at about 30°C in a bowl when a piece needs it. The steps are below.
  • Air dry on a towel, away from heat and sun.
  • Keep pieces indoors. Keyrings are made to be carried.

Do not

  • Do not use the dishwasher or the washing machine.
  • Do not use hot tap water, boiling water, steam, ovens, microwaves, or radiators.
  • Do not bleach, scour, or use solvents such as white spirit, acetone, or nail-varnish remover.
  • Do not put a real candle in or near a piece. Use LED candles.
  • Do not fill vases or planters with water. They are decorative.
  • Do not leave a piece in a car, on a sunny windowsill, or under a hot mug.

Wash and dry

Only when a dry cloth is not enough.

  1. Fill a bowl with water that feels comfortable on your hand, about 30°C. If it is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for the piece.
  2. Add a drop of washing-up liquid.
  3. Wipe the piece with a soft cloth or sponge. Use a soft brush for grooves.
  4. Rinse in clean water at the same temperature.
  5. Shake off the water and stand the piece on a towel to air dry, away from heat and sun.

Do not soak. Water can sit in the inner structure. Do not dry on a radiator or in an airing cupboard.

Heat, light, and storage

  • Heat

    PLA starts to soften at about 60°C. PETG takes a little more, but not a dishwasher. A hot car, an oven, a hob, and many radiators go past that. A hairdryer or steam from a kettle is enough. Once a piece slumps, it does not go back.

  • Light

    Long spells in direct sun fade colour and make the piece brittle. A windowsill in sun can also get hot enough to slump a dark piece.

  • Storage

    A cupboard is better than a windowsill. Do not stack heavy objects on thin pieces in a warm room.

Use

  • Food and drink

    Not for food or drink. Not a chopping board, trivet, or coaster for hot mugs.

  • Children

    They are not sold as toys. Keep small pieces away from children under 3, and do not let children chew them.

What is normal

  • Making

    Layer texture, colour, and tiny surface marks vary from piece to piece. That is the making. It is not damage.

  • Use

    A scuff from ordinary handling is ordinary. A slump, a warp, or a glossy melted patch is heat damage.

A piece arrived damaged, or not sure if a mark is normal? Send us a message through the enquiry form on the homepage. Tell us which piece and what you see.