If you have these decals on your store windows, you probably need to know how to clean perforated window decals.
Most people don’t consider how they’ll clean their vinyl before choosing which type of decal they want.
Perforated window decals are a bit more difficult to clean than regular ones. It’s not impossible to keep them looking fresh, though.
We’ll take you through why they’re more difficult to clean, and how you can maintain the cleanliness of your perforated window decals.
What this article covers:
- Perforated Decals
- What Tools Do I Need?
- Should I Use Chemicals to Clean Them?
- My Window Decal Is Ruined – Where Can I Get a New One?
Perforated Decals
Perforated window decals are quite nifty. They allow you to display an image on the outside of your store or venue while ensuring that the people inside can see outside. They’re a great traditional advertising technique.
They’re made using UV ink on perforated vinyl material. This means that the vinyl material has lots of small holes in it, which allows for that one-way vision.
These are commonly used on gym windows and doors. It gives the members who are exercising inside adequate privacy. This is beneficial for the business because its subscribers are happy.
It’s also sometimes used at gas station stores as a sun-screen on large windows. This protects the employees and customers inside from the harsh daytime sun.
So there are many benefits of perforated window decals. One of the cons, however, is that they can be quite difficult to clean. If you’ve used polyurethane or polycrilic on your vinyl decal to seal it, it can be a bit easier since the dirt isn’t able to settle in place as firmly.
If they’re not maintained well, they won’t last as long. This is especially true if they’re displayed in the baking sun. You’ll also need to make sure you know how to store your window decal.
So how can you keep them clean? We’ve put together a guide below.
What Tools Do I Need?
Perforated window decals are complicated to clean because they contain perforations with a diameter of around 1.5mm. Dirt accumulates in these holes. This spoils the purpose of the holes, which is to be able to see through them from the inside.
Cleaning each hole individually can be painful. To avoid having to do this, most people apply an overlaminate on top of their decal. This creates a solid barrier over your perforated window decal which is much easier to clean.
Not everyone can afford an overlaminate, and some people just haven’t gotten around to applying one yet. If this is the case for you, here’s what you’ll need to clean your decal.
If your decal is fairly large, using a hose will be the easiest to clean it. If your decal is on the smaller side, a squeegee will be your go-to tool.
Since the holes are so small, you’ll need a brush to loosen the dirt. We recommend a synthetic brush with sturdy but fine fibers. This will allow you to really get in there and clean all the dirt out while making sure no fibers are left behind.
You’ll also need a bucket, some water, and your detergent of choice. We’ll get into what that should be below.
Should I Use Chemicals to Clean Them?
It’s best to limit the number of harsh chemicals you use to clean any vinyl decal. They aren’t likely to ruin your vinyl immediately, but over time they can break down the adhesive at the back of your vinyl.
Cleaning perforated is a little bit different from cleaning vinyl decals. It’s easier to keep vinyl decals from peeling off the wall because they aren’t full of holes.
This is especially true for perforated window decals. The high amount of tiny holes means there’s a higher chance of the detergent getting in under the vinyl, and damaging the adhesive. Your vinyl would then start to lift, and you’d need to replace it. You could also have a bubbling vinyl problem on your hands.
Our recommendation is that you use a solution of mild soap and plenty of water. This solution will have enough enzymes in it to break down stubborn dirt in the holes of your perforated vinyl.
It’ll also be weak enough to ensure that any solution that gets underneath your vinyl decal won’t damage the adhesive.
The safest possible way to wash your perforated window vinyl is with pressurized clean water. You’ll need to be careful with how much pressure you apply to your window, though. This is safest because it contains no chemicals, so you run no risk of damaging the adhesive.
It’ll unfortunately only be effective if you haven’t let the dirt bake in for a while. If the dirt has been there for a few weeks and your decal is exposed to the sun, you’ll likely need to add soap to your cleaning regimen.
Once you’ve cleaned all the grime out, you can maintain your vinyl decal’s cleanliness by rinsing it off every day with a hose.
We recommend going in with some soap once every 4-6 weeks if you use this method for cleaning. This of it as a Spring clean for your decal to keep it in tip-top condition.
My Window Decal Is Ruined – Where Can I Get a New One?
You’ve come to the right place. We make high-quality vinyl decals, with perforated window decals being some of our core business. We understand how important it is to get your decals just right, especially when it comes to using them for business windows.
We’ve served our customer base for years on end, producing top-quality products for countless homes and businesses.
Our perforated vinyl decals for business windows are weatherproof, waterproof, easy to install and do no damage to the surface you install them on.
We can design custom vinyl decals for you, so you can advertise your business exactly as you’d like to. Our rates are competitive, and we strive to produce the best quality vinyl decals in the state.
We provide full installation instructions for your decals, but if you’re too scared to do it alone, we’re here to help. We provide delivery and installation of our perforated window decals in the Southern California area, so you can rest easy knowing your decal will be displayed perfectly.
Since we’re the best in the business, we know you might be from out-of-state and want to purchase vinyls from us. For this reason, we offer nationwide to anywhere within the United States.
Depending on the size of the vinyl decal you’ve ordered, we also offer free and expedited shipping if we’re able to.
Did you enjoy reading our blog? Then consider checking other guides:
- How to Save Wall Decals
- How to Store Window Decals
- How to Get Wrinkles out of Vinyl Decals
- How to Get Sticky Residue off Vinyl Decal
- How to Restore Faded Vinyl Decals
- How to Protect Vinyl Decals
- Can You Ceramic Coat Over Vinyl Decals
- Can You Put Lacquer Over Vinyl Decals
- How to Clear Coat Over Vinyl Decals
- How to Install Perforated Window Decal
- What Is Perforated Vinyl
- How to Apply Vinyl Decal to Glass/Window
- How to Put Vinyl Decal on Curved Surface
- How to Apply Window Decals Without Bubbles
- What Is a Window Decal