Caring for 3D printed pieces: heat, sun, cleaning and children

The most important thing in caring for 3D printed pieces made of PLA is keeping them away from high heat: PLA starts to soften at around 60 °C, and a car parked in the summer sun gets much hotter than that, especially on the dashboard. Otherwise the piece handles everyday use; clean it with a damp cloth and keep it out of the dishwasher and hot water.

Heat: the key point in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf

• Don't leave a keychain, a clicker or any printed piece on the dashboard or by the glass while the car is parked in the sun. It can soften, bend or lose its shape.
• A keychain is fine in your pocket or in the ignition while you drive with the air conditioning on. The trouble is forgetting the keys or the piece in the car for hours at midday.
• Don't put a printed piece next to an oven or heater, or under something just off the stove.
• If a piece bends a little from heat, it usually won't go back to its shape, so prevention is easier than repair.

Sun and light

Direct sun all day for months can fade some colours over time. Pieces on a shelf or desk out of direct sun keep their colour longer.

Cleaning

• Wipe with a dry or slightly damp cloth and, if needed, a little mild soap in lukewarm water, then dry it.
• Don't put it in the dishwasher or wash it in hot water.
• Don't soak it, especially a clicker, whose keys sit on switches.
• Dust between small details or between clicker keys comes out with a soft brush, like an old toothbrush.
• Coasters: wipe after use and dry before putting anything else on them.

Everyday use

• Keychain: the loop carries all the weight, so don't hang very heavy keys on it or yank it.
• Clicker: press the keys as much as you like, but don't pull them up hard.
• Articulated animals: move the joints the way they naturally bend, not against it.
• If a piece falls on a hard floor, a thin part can snap. Most PLA breaks can be glued with instant glue (super glue).

Children and safety

• Small pieces, keychains and clickers have small parts, so they're not for children under 3; keep them away from little ones who put things in their mouths.
• PLA is made from plant starch such as corn or sugarcane and is one of the most common 3D printing materials. But our printed pieces are for decoration, everyday use and fun, and we make no health claim for them and don't claim they're safe for food.
• Don't eat or drink from a printed piece or use it as a food container. A coaster holds the cup; the drink stays in the cup.

Storage

Store pieces somewhere dry, away from heat and direct sun, and wrap them if you ship them or travel with them so thin parts don't snap.

If your piece arrives broken

If a piece arrives broken, faulty or different from your order, contact us quickly with photos; details are in the FAQ. To see what counts as a fault and what's normal in printing, read How to judge 3D print quality. For materials and how they handle heat, see 3D printing materials explained.

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