How do you clean trophies and awards?

Dust with a dry microfiber cloth, then clean with a barely damp cloth and mild soap; never spray cleaner directly on an award. Ammonia products fog acrylic, abrasives scratch metal plate finishes, and moisture trapped in crevices tarnishes brass, so dry every piece fully.

Crystal and glass

Wipe with a microfiber cloth dampened in warm water with a drop of dish soap, then dry immediately with a second cloth to prevent water spots. Hold etched crystal by the body, not the etched face; skin oils collect in etching. Never run crystal awards through a dishwasher; heat and detergent dull the polish.

Acrylic

Acrylic scratches easier than glass and fogs under ammonia. Use only water or a cleaner labeled acrylic-safe, applied to the cloth first. Light scratches can be polished out with plastic polish; deep scratches are permanent, so store acrylic pieces where they do not slide against other objects.

Brass, gold-tone, and metal plates

Most modern award plates are lacquered brass or anodized aluminum; they need only dry dusting. Brass polish belongs only on unlacquered solid brass, and using it on a lacquered plate strips the coating and starts the tarnish it was meant to prevent. When in doubt, dry cloth only.

Wood plaques

Dust with the grain and refresh occasionally with furniture polish applied to the cloth. Keep plaques off walls that get direct Florida sun; UV fades wood finish unevenly and yellows brass-toned plates. Interior walls away from windows preserve the finish for decades.

Repairs and restorations

Broken figures, lifted plates, and worn engraving are all repairable. A trophy shop can replace a snapped figurine, re-engrave a faded plate, or move an old plate onto a new board. Family pieces and perpetual boards with decades of history are worth restoring rather than replacing.

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