How to clean and care for a neon sign

An LED neon sign needs very little care: no gas to refill, no glass to polish. What it does need is the right cloth and the right cleaner, because the clear acrylic backboard scratches and clouds more easily than glass. Ten minutes every few weeks keeps a sign looking the way it did on the day it arrived.

Before you start

1. Switch off and unplug. Unplug the adapter from the wall, not just the dimmer.
2. Let it cool for a few minutes if it has been on for hours.
3. Leave it on the wall for a routine clean. Take it down only for a full wash or if you cannot reach the back.

What you need

• Two clean, soft microfiber cloths (one damp, one dry)
• Lukewarm water with a few drops of mild dish soap
• A soft brush, such as a clean makeup brush, for corners and around the tube
• A hair dryer on its cool setting, or a can of air, for loose dust

Routine dusting

Dust is the most common thing on a sign, and it shows most on clear acrylic when the sign is lit.

1. Blow off loose dust first with cool air. Wiping a dusty board drags the grit across it, and that is what causes fine scratches.
2. Brush the edges of the tube where dust collects in the groove.
3. Wipe lightly with a dry microfiber cloth, in straight lines rather than circles. Do not press hard.

Every week or two is plenty in most rooms. In a kitchen, a bar or a salon, grease and spray settle faster, so expect to wash the sign more often.

Washing the acrylic and the tube

When fingerprints, grease or marks will not dust off:

1. Dampen, do not soak. Dip a microfiber cloth in the soapy water and wring it out until it is only damp.
2. Wipe the board gently, then go over the face of the tube the same way. The silicone tube takes mild soap and water well.
3. Keep water away from the plugs and the point where the cable leaves the board.
4. Rinse the cloth in clean water, wring it out and wipe again to remove soap.
5. Dry by blotting with the dry microfiber cloth. Patting leaves fewer streaks than rubbing.
6. Wait until everything is dry before you plug the sign back in.

What never to use on acrylic

Acrylic is tough against knocks but sensitive to chemicals. The wrong cleaner can leave it cloudy or full of fine cracks (called crazing), and that damage cannot be polished out.

Avoid	Why
Glass cleaners with ammonia	Cloud and craze the surface
Rubbing alcohol, acetone, nail polish remover	Attack acrylic and cause crazing
Paint thinner, gasoline, solvent degreasers	Can soften or dissolve it
Paper towels and tissues	Their fibers leave fine scratches
Scouring pads, melamine sponges, abrasive powders	Scratch and dull the board
Spraying cleaner straight onto the sign	Liquid runs into plugs and seams

If a label says “for glass only” or lists ammonia or alcohol, keep it away from the sign.

Printed, colored and mirror boards

• Printed backboards: the artwork is printed on the acrylic. Clean it the same way, with even less pressure, and never scrub the printed area.
• Black and colored boards: dust shows more on dark boards, so blow it off before wiping.
• Mirror acrylic: scratches show easily on a mirror finish. Use a fresh microfiber cloth and light strokes only.

Not sure which board you have, or choosing one now? Our guide to neon sign backboard options explains each finish.

Cables, plugs and the adapter

The cable and adapter matter more for a long life than the shine of the board. Every few months:

• Check the cable for kinks, cuts or flattened spots, especially near the plugs and where it passes furniture or doors.
• Push each plug fully home. The DC barrel plugs between adapter, dimmer and sign can work loose over time and cause flicker.
• Dust the adapter with a dry cloth only, and make sure it has air around it.
• Do not wrap the cable tightly around the adapter or the sign. Coil it loosely.

If a cable or adapter is damaged, stop using it. A replacement power adapter is matched to your sign by order number, size or a photo of the old label, and a DC extension cable can replace a short run that was pulled too tight.

Storing a sign between events

Wedding and party signs often spend more time in a closet than on a wall. To keep them in good shape:

1. Unplug and let the sign cool.
2. Wipe off fingerprints and dust so they do not set.
3. Remove the mounting hardware or the base and keep it with the sign in a small bag.
4. Coil the cable loosely and tape it to the back of the board.
5. Wrap the sign in a soft cloth, or keep its original packaging, and store it flat or upright.
6. Store it somewhere dry and not too hot, so not a summer attic or a car trunk.
7. Never stack anything heavy on the tube side.

Outdoor signs

Signs with our outdoor build are IP67 rated, with a test report. That covers rain and short immersion, but the jet test is a separate rating, so do not use a pressure washer or a strong hose nozzle.

• Each season, unplug the sign and wipe it with soapy water, or rinse it gently.
• Clear leaves, webs and bird mess from the tube and the groove.
• Brush snow off gently. Do not chip at ice.
• Check the fixings are still tight and the cable still has its drip loop.
• Check the adapter is still dry, indoors or in its covered outlet box.

Our guide to indoor and outdoor neon signs covers where outdoor signs last longest.

When cleaning does not fix it

If the sign looks dim or uneven after cleaning, the cause is electrical, not dust. Work through our troubleshooting guide, and see how long LED neon signs last for what ages a sign. For a real glass neon sign, the care is different; see glass neon care and repair. And if something does not look right, send us a photo.