A well-made engraved plaque is built to last for decades, but "built to last" and "needs no attention at all" aren't quite the same thing. A little care now and then keeps a plaque looking as sharp as the day it arrived, whether it's a memorial plaque outdoors in all weathers or a business nameplate that gets touched every day. Here's how to clean and care for each of our most popular materials, and a few mistakes worth avoiding.
Cleaning Brass Plaques
Brass (CZ120) is a beautiful material, but it's the one that needs the most attention if you want to keep its bright, golden finish rather than let it develop a natural patina. For routine cleaning, warm water with a mild washing-up liquid and a soft cloth is usually enough to remove dust and light grime. For a deeper clean or to remove tarnish, a proper brass cleaner or metal polish applied with a soft cloth works well - always test a small area first, and rub gently in straight lines rather than circles to avoid visible swirl marks. Rinse off any polish residue and dry thoroughly afterwards, since leftover polish can attract dust and actually speed up tarnishing.
If you'd prefer the low-maintenance route, it's worth knowing that many customers deliberately let their brass plaque develop a natural aged patina rather than fighting it - this darker, weathered look is common on memorial and heritage-style plaques and isn't a fault, simply the metal ageing naturally. There's no need to polish a brass plaque at all if you like this look.
Cleaning Stainless Steel Plaques
Stainless steel (316L) is the easiest of our materials to maintain, which is one of the reasons it's so popular for outdoor memorials, medical practices and anywhere that gets handled or cleaned often. A wipe with a damp cloth removes most everyday marks, and for fingerprints or smudges, a cloth lightly dampened with warm soapy water followed by a dry cloth to buff will bring back the shine. Avoid abrasive scourers or wire wool, which can scratch the surface finish permanently - if a mark won't shift with soapy water, a proper stainless steel cleaner is a safer next step than anything abrasive.
Cleaning Aluminium Plaques
Aluminium is naturally resistant to rust and generally low-maintenance, making it a sensible choice for plaques that will sit outdoors with little attention, such as tree stake plaques or bulk office signage. A soft cloth and warm water is normally all that's needed; for more stubborn marks, a small amount of mild detergent works, but avoid strong or acidic cleaning products, which can dull the anodised finish over time.
Caring for Outdoor and Memorial Plaques
Plaques positioned outdoors - on benches, trees, gates or memorial stones - face a different set of challenges to indoor signage: rain, mud splash, bird mess, and in some cases mower or strimmer damage nearby. A quick check every few months is usually enough to catch anything before it becomes a problem: look for loose fixings, ground movement around stakes, or built-up dirt in engraved lettering. For built-up grime in fine engraving, an old, soft toothbrush with a little soapy water is a gentle way to work dirt out of the letters without scratching the surrounding surface.
Avoid pressure washers on any engraved plaque - the force can drive water and grit into fixings and, on brass in particular, can strip away the patina unevenly, leaving a patchy rather than uniform finish.
A Few Things to Avoid
Across all materials, a handful of habits cause more harm than good: bleach and household cleaning sprays, which can discolour or pit metal surfaces; wire wool or abrasive pads, which scratch; and leaving polish residue to dry on the surface, which attracts more dirt than it prevents. When in doubt, warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth will do the job safely on any of our materials.
If you're ever unsure how to care for a specific plaque you've bought from us, get in touch - we're always happy to give material-specific advice, particularly for older plaques or ones that have been outdoors for several years.
Thinking about a new plaque and want a material that's easy to live with? Browse our stainless steel plaques for a low-maintenance option, or explore our full range to compare finishes.