Wipe-clean care is the everyday cleaning rule for Modu Drawer modules: a damp cloth, mild detergent, and a wipe over the surface. The phrase is shorthand for "don't soak, don't dishwash, don't pour boiling water onto it" — the three things that damage PLA bioplastic faster than any other cause.
What wipe-clean covers
- Crumbs and dust. A dry cloth or a quick brush picks them up.
- Light spills. Tea, oil, juice. Wipe with damp cloth + mild detergent; rinse with damp cloth.
- Surface marks. Cutlery scuffs, light scratches. Won't damage; can be wiped clean.
- Daily kitchen grime. The thin film of cooking residue every kitchen surface accumulates.
What wipe-clean doesn't cover
For deep cleaning — lifting baked-on residue or sanitising before food storage — see hand-wash care. Wipe-clean is for everyday; hand-wash is for occasional. Neither involves a dishwasher.
Why wipe-clean works on PLA
PLA is plant-derived but doesn't love high heat or extended water immersion. The combination most damaging is heat + moisture over time — exactly what a dishwasher cycle delivers. Wipe-clean keeps both off the modules: the cloth is damp not soaked, the cleaning is brief, the temperature stays at room temperature.
Cleaning agents
Mild dish detergent at standard kitchen dilutions is fine. Three things to avoid:
- Solvent-based cleaners (acetone, paint thinner). PLA dissolves in some solvents.
- Bleach. PLA tolerates short exposure but extended bleach contact degrades the surface.
- Abrasive scrubbers. The textured floor of some modules holds the abrasive afterwards.
Treat the modules like a wooden chopping board, not a stainless tray.