Attractive Houston channel letter signs draw customers in and help improve your business. However, no matter how well-designed, dirty signs may have a negative impact on your company and reputation. Therefore, it’s important to keep your Houston channel letter signs well maintained and clean. It can be easy to forget to clean your outdoor signage but taking this simple step can improve the look of your signs and also improve how customers view your business.
Clean Houston Channel Letter Signs Make an Impression
Houston channel letter signs are effective at drawing attention to your business and location. One of the first impressions potential customers may have of your business is directly influenced by your sign. Therefore, you want to ensure that your signage does everything possible to reflect the positives of your company.
A dirty sign with debris stuck in your channel letters can make it seem like you have gone out of business. Even worse, people may perceive grubby signs as an indication that your store will also be dirty on the inside. In the same way that your Houston channel letter signs can make a good impression and attract new customers, they can also have the opposite effect. An unattractive or gross sign may deter potential customers and make you lose out on business.
Additionally, grimy signs may be difficult for people to see. Birds’ nests and buildup of leaves and other litter may obscure your letters from view. Also, as dirt accumulates on the faces of your letters, it may make your signage less effective. Dirty channel letter faces can appear to be a different color that doesn’t grab attention and can also dim illuminated signs.
Regular cleaning should also be part of your preventative maintenance routine, as it helps extend the life of your Houston channel letter signs. Dirt and debris can cause malfunctions that require signage repair and may even cause your signs to fail. Grime can easily get into the electrical and lighting components if you don’t clean your business signs regularly. Therefore, ensure you continue to make an impression and effectively advertise your company by scheduling regular sign cleaning.
How to Clean Your Houston Channel Letter Signs
Because of the huge role your Houston channel letter signs play in your business, it’s best to take some care to maintain them properly. Part of signage maintenance includes cleaning them regularly. Generally, you should wash your Houston custom signs seasonally. However, you may need to clean them more frequently in larger cities like Houston or in industrial areas.
When you first get your sign, you should always ask your signage technician about how to properly care for your signs. If you’re unsure of which products to use to clean your channel letter signs, it’s always best to call your signage professionals for advice.
Tools You Need to Clean Your Signage
If you only remember one thing about cleaning your channel letters, it’s that you must use gentle materials. While a lot of your sign is made of aluminum, the faces are generally made of acrylic. This material, while durable and long-lasting, is also prone to scratching without proper care. Over time, small surface scratches can make your letters look dull or hazy.
Therefore, be sure you have the items you need to properly care for your sign. First, always use a microfiber cloth. These cloths draw in dirt and are soft enough to prevent scratches on your signage. Also, make sure you have access to clean, lukewarm water. You may also need a small amount of gentle soap or detergent. For really stuck-on grime, you might need to find a cleaner specifically formulated for acrylic. You can usually find these at your local hardware store. However, it’s important to ensure they’re designed for acrylic and not for other materials. If you’re ever in doubt, your signage professionals can help you determine if a cleaning solution is safe for your Houston channel letter signs.
Products that Harm Your Signs
There are many cleaning products out there that can harm your channel letters, so it’s important to stay away from these cleaning solutions and tools. For example, ammonia-based cleaners can scratch and degrade channel letter faces. Common cleaning products that contain ammonia include glass cleaners, multipurpose cleaners, and polishing waxes. Also, many degreasing cleaning products and vehicle waxes can also harm the acrylic components of your Houston custom signs.
Scouring pads, sponges, melamine foam, and even regular cleaning rags can also wreak havoc on your channel letter signs. These materials are all abrasive, which can negatively affect your signs. Even using a dry microfiber cloth can scratch the surface of your channel letter faces by pushing dirt into the surface and causing micro-abrasions. Therefore, ensure you never use any abrasive products or materials to clean your signs.
Best Practices for Cleaning Houston Channel Letter Signs
First, remove large debris or clumps of dirt from your signs. For large or difficult to reach signs, try a leaf blower on the lowest setting. For closer signage, you can try simply blowing on them or using a hair dryer on the lowest, coolest setting.
Next, grab a bucket of clean, lukewarm water and your microfiber rag. In most cases, this should be enough to wipe dirt and grime off your signs and make them look good as new. However, if it’s been a while since you cleaned your signs, or they look particularly dirt, try opting for a little bit of mild detergent or an acrylic cleaning solution.
Before you start wiping away, here are a few tips:
- Dampen your cloth with your channel letter cleaning solution. This will help prevent excess moisture from reaching the interior components and will also help prevent scratches.
- Wipe in a gentle, circular motion. Pushing hard or using quick scrubbing motions can damage the channel letter faces and make them look dull and scratched.
- Let your sign air dry or blot it gently dry with a soft cloth.
If you notice that your sign is still a bit dull, or if you’ve accidentally scratched your channel letter faces, you may need help from your signage experts. We can help you determine the best course of action to keep your sign looking great for years to come.
At 4D Signworx, we provide turnkey business signage solutions. From design and installation to maintenance and repairs, our experts take care of everything. We offer advanced services for exterior signage, Houston wall signs, and other types of signs to help you attract customers to your business. Call us today at (713) 984-2010 to learn more and request a free quote. We are here to serve you!