How to clean photo magnets

Photo magnets live in a kitchen. They pick up fingerprints, a film of cooking, and the occasional splash. Cleaning is simple if you treat them like a small glossy print, not like a ceramic tile.

Craftigure magnets have a glossy crystal finish. Gloss shows marks. That is expected.

Everyday fingerprints

1. Take the magnet off the fridge.
2. Wipe the face with a soft, dry microfibre or cotton cloth.
3. If it is still smudged, barely dampen the cloth with water. Wring it out. Wipe. Dry immediately with a second cloth.

Do not run the magnet under the tap. Do not leave water sitting on the edges.

Kitchen film (oil, steam)

Same method, a little more patience. Water on a cloth, not spray on the magnet. If you need a drop of mild dish soap on the cloth, rinse the cloth, wipe again, dry. Keep soap off the magnetic back as much as you can.

Do not

• Dishwasher
• Soak in the sink
• Magic Eraser, scouring powder, or oven cleaner
• Alcohol, acetone, or “just a bit of Windex” on a guess
• Paper towel if it scratches — try microfibre first

Those shortcuts can haze the gloss or lift the print. There is no recovery for a scoured photo.

The back of the magnet

Wipe dust off the magnetic side so it sits flat. If the fridge itself is greasy, clean that too — a magnet that keeps sliding is often the door, not the magnet.

After they are clean

They last longer if they stay indoors and out of a sun patch. How long photo magnets last. How they are built: how photo magnets are made.

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