How to clean a 3D printed figurine without ruining it

PLA is tough, but it is not a ceramic. It dislikes heat, it dislikes alcohol, and it collects dust in the tiny valleys between layer lines, which is exactly where a dry cloth will not reach.

The five-minute routine

• Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and one drop of dish soap. Anything hotter than your hand can hold is too hot.
• Work a soft toothbrush over the piece in the direction of the layer lines, not across them.
• Rinse under cool running water and shake off the excess.
• Blot with a microfiber cloth and let the piece air dry for an hour before it goes back on the shelf.

What never to use

No rubbing alcohol, no acetone, no glass cleaner, no dishwasher. Alcohol dulls the surface finish and can leave a chalky haze that will not come back. A dishwasher runs at a temperature that will soften the piece and let it deform against whatever it is leaning on.

If you would not use it on your hands, do not use it on a duck.

For pieces with deep detail, a can of compressed air is faster than a brush and does no harm. Use short bursts and keep the nozzle a few inches away.