Hand-wash care is the occasional deep-clean rule for Modu Drawer modules: lift the module out of the grid base, wash by hand in lukewarm water with mild soap, rinse, dry thoroughly, snap back into the base. The frequency is low — once every few months for most modules.
When to hand-wash vs wipe-clean
- Wipe-clean covers everyday: crumbs, light spills, surface marks. Daily, on the module in place. See wipe-clean care.
- Hand-wash covers occasional: built-up residue, post-spice-dust accumulation, post-cooking-oil film. Once a quarter, lift out for the deeper clean.
The three-step routine
- Lift the module out. Snap-lock fit releases with a firm pull from the front; the module pops free of the grid.
- Wash in lukewarm water + mild soap. Lukewarm means under 40 °C — well within PLA's heat envelope. Mild dish detergent is fine.
- Dry thoroughly, snap back. Towel-dry plus a few minutes air-dry at room temperature. PLA absorbs ambient moisture slowly, but a wet module returned to a closed drawer will trap the moisture for a day or two.
What to avoid
- Hot water (over 50 °C). Approaches the heat envelope; risks softening.
- Soaking. Brief immersion is fine; extended soaking (over 30 minutes) starts to weaken the polymer.
- Abrasive scrubbers. Scratch the surface; the scratches collect more residue over time, defeating the deep clean.
- Solvent-based cleaners. Acetone, paint thinner — PLA dissolves in some solvents.
Drying matters
PLA's hand-wash failure mode is rare but worth knowing: a module returned wet to a closed drawer can develop a faint surface bloom over a few days. The bloom wipes off easily but signals the module wasn't fully dry. Towel + 10 minutes air-dry per module solves it permanently.