Care Instructions
TheDarkside Workshop
Caring for Your 3D Print
Every piece is printed, cleaned, and inspected by hand in our little workshop. With a bit of care, your print will stay looking sharp for years to come.
01 — Keep it fresh
Cleaning & Dusting
- Dust with a soft, dry makeup brush or microfibre cloth — layer lines love to collect dust.
- For smudges, use a barely damp cloth with a drop of mild dish soap, then dry right away.
- Compressed air (short bursts, from a distance) works great on detailed models.
- Skip alcohol, acetone, bleach, and abrasive scrubbers — they dull or melt the finish.
02 — The big one
Heat & Sunlight
- PLA softens around 55–60°C (130–140°F). A closed car in summer can easily beat that.
- PETG is tougher (roughly 75–80°C / 165–175°F) but still isn't a fan of a dashboard.
- Keep prints out of direct, prolonged sun — UV fades colour and makes PLA brittle over time.
- Never place near radiators, ovens, stovetops, candles, or a hot window sill.
03 — Air & water
Humidity & Moisture
- Finished prints handle a splash fine, but they aren't waterproof — water can seep between layers.
- Not food-safe or dishwasher-safe unless we've explicitly said so for that item.
- Avoid long soaks, steamy bathrooms, and outdoor rain exposure.
- If a print gets wet, pat dry and let it air out fully before storing.
04 — Show it off
Display & Storage
- Shelves away from windows and heat vents are the happiest home.
- Store spares in a box with a little tissue padding — no heavy items stacked on top.
- Room temperature, low humidity, out of the attic and garage.
- Articulated pieces: move joints gently every so often so they stay free.
05 — Handle with love
Handling & Drops
- Lift by the body or base, not by thin spikes, tails, wings, or antennae.
- PLA is stiff and can chip or snap on a hard floor; PETG flexes more before it breaks.
- Small breaks are usually fixable with a dab of super glue (gel works best).
- Got a bad break? Message us — we'll always help you sort it out.
06 — Please don't
What to Avoid
- 🚗 Hot cars & dashboards
- 🧽 Dishwashers, microwaves, and ovens
- 🔥 Open flames, heaters, and hot lamps
- 🌞 Long spells in direct sunlight
- 🧴 Acetone, bleach, and harsh solvents
- 🍽️ Serving hot food or drink (unless marked food-safe)
Quick reference
Not sure what yours is made of? Check your product page or ask us.
Filament Comparison
| Material | Heat tolerance | Flexibility | Best used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | Low — softens ~55–60°C | Stiff, can be brittle | Indoor décor, figurines, display pieces, fine detail |
| PETG | Medium — ~75–80°C | Slightly flexible, impact resistant | Everyday items, functional parts, occasional outdoor use |
| Other (TPU, ABS, ASA, specialty) | Medium to high, varies | From rubbery (TPU) to rigid (ABS/ASA) | Flexible pieces, tough or outdoor-rated items — see the listing |
✨ A little note from the workshop
Each piece is made-to-order on our own machines, so tiny layer lines, faint seams, and slight colour shifts between batches are completely normal — they're the fingerprints of a handcrafted print, not flaws. Thank you for giving one of ours a home.