fbpx

How to Clean Your Crystal Awards, Award Plaques, and Trophies

Congratulations on your achievement!

Receiving an award for your accomplishments is no easy feat. It’s a physical manifestation of all your hard work and effort. Once you’ve brought your award home and put it on display, you might be wondering about how to keep it clean. Depending on how you store your award and its material, you’ll have to care for it differently.

Here’s a quick guide to keeping your awards in good condition.

Caring for your Crystal and Glass Awards

For your crystal or glass award, you can use glass cleaner, a simple mild soap-water mixture, or a white vinegar-water mixture with 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. With your cleaning solution of choice, use a soft cloth to lightly clean your award. After getting rid of any dirt and grime, dry your crystal award thoroughly to prevent any water spots.

Make sure that you wear gloves, especially when handling ammonia-based glass cleaners.

Aside from using cleaners to wipe your glass trophies and awards, regular dusting and maintenance goes a long way in keeping them shiny and pristine.

Cleaning your Metal, Wood, or Acrylic Award Plaques

Depending on the material your award plaque is made from, you’ll have to clean it differently. Following these care guidelines ensures that your awards stay in great condition for many years to come.

Your metal award plaques should be wiped down with a soft cloth containing soapy water. Make sure to avoid abrasive materials that might scratch the metal.

Dust your wood award regularly. For a more thorough clean, use a damp cloth that’s been lightly soaked with soapy water. Dry the plaque immediately to avoid water damage.

For your acrylic award plaques, avoid rough glass cleaners that might scratch the acrylic. Use a soft cloth and some warm water containing mild soap to clean the acrylic award plaque.

Polishing up your Metal Trophies

Metal trophies are sturdy and are usually made from stainless steel, bronze, or gold and silver plating. Stainless steel trophies can be washed or wiped down with lukewarm soap water. Rinse the trophy with clean water afterward. Dry the piece with a soft cloth to prevent water spots.

Bronze trophies can be cleaned the same way as stainless-steel trophies. You can go one step further and apply some metal polish to the piece. Make sure to rub the tarnished surface in one direction.

Gold or gold-plated trophies should be gently wiped with a soft cloth containing warm, soapy water. As you did with stainless steel trophies, you’ll need to dry the trophy with a lint-free cloth immediately.

For silver-plated trophies, you’ll need to use silver polish. A homemade mixture of baking soda and water can also work well. Polish the piece in one direction to avoid scratching the surface.

Avoid using scrubbing pads on your metal trophies, doing so could damage the piece.

Keep your awards looking brand-new by following standard care

In general, avoid placing your award in direct sunlight to minimize any fading or discoloration. Making sure that your awards are stored in a stable temperature and moisture-free environment also helps keep them in great shape. Regular dusting will lessen the need for deep cleaning.