<ul>
<li><p>If you are printing with ABS (or PLA), acetone will dissolve it.  Simply pour
some on the bed and wipe it off (beware, acetone can damage beds that have a coating or a plastic sheet over them, be sure to test this first).</p>
</li>
<li><p>Heating the bed back up may make the plastic softer and easier to
remove.</p>
</li>
<li><p>If you are using tape on the bed, you could remove the tape to remove
the plastic stuck to the tape.</p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-13T21:15:53.077Z
So, acetone will not work if I'm using PLA?
HDE 226868
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-13T21:18:20.403Z
After doing more research, I stand corrected.  Acetone will dissolve PLA, but it is less efficient that ABS.  It would also turn it white so it is not used for standard printing.  I will edit my answer.
Eric Johnson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-16T19:07:03.423Z
As Eric Johnson says, Acetone will work with PLA, but I've had just as much success with hot soapy water and a sponge on my glass surface.
PostEpoch
CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-01-13T21:11:48.290Z
2020-08-29T04:38:15.443Z
2020-08-29T04:38:15.443Z
Eric Johnson
<p>My usual solution for cleaning the glass bed on my printer is a glass scraper (basically just a razor blade with a handle on it):</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/03af0.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/03af0.jpg" alt="glass scraper"></a></p>

<p>Regardless of what kind of filament (abs/pla/nylon) or surface treatment (glue/painters tape/abs slurry) I've used the glass scraper always takes it right off, and with the style I posted a picture of the blade is flexible and thin enough it's also useful for peeling up the edge of prints that are stuck to the bed.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-17T13:36:29.103Z
I have just now used this exact tool and managed to make a cut into the print bed itself. So a word of warning for everybody, be careful if going this way
Martin Melka
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-20T16:23:58.757Z
This and warm water should get you taken care of.
Davo
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T22:24:36.573Z
2016-01-14T22:24:36.573Z
1337joe
<p>When I print PLA on glass plate, I clean the glass with cold water and dishwashing liquid. Cold water! And no wipe! Cold water should take all dishwashing liquid "to the ground". Now you have glass as clean as possible. Now the filament sticks to the glass far better than when glass is not clean.</p>

<p>But of course it doesn't fix problem of cleaning HB after print. To reduce this  problem I use glue stick (paper glue). I don't know if it's common but I do like this technique.</p>

<p>So having clean glass I spread (grease) some glue stick. It doesn't really matter if HB is cold or hot. This gives me a VERY strong adhesive force between the extruded filament and the glass. It's so strong that there is almost no way to detache it by hand. I use a paper knife.</p>

<p>Now you still have thin layer of glue and you can print again / add another layer of glue (but not more than 2..3 times) or wash it with hot water. After few times it's good to clean it again with dishwashing liquid and cold water.</p>

<p>This technique is amazing.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-15T11:52:22.740Z
2016-09-27T08:49:03.237Z
2016-09-27T08:49:03.237Z
darth pixel
<p>I use hair spray directly on my glass bed , then just a  little bit of rubbing alcohol on a small piece of paper towel to clean it...that removes all surface materials... I don't use tape any more... Russ</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-19T18:51:34.187Z
Oh I should say that I use hair spray at the start of the print, and a bit of rubbing alcohol to lean it... Russ
Russ Campbell
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-19T18:50:09.917Z
2017-09-19T18:50:09.917Z
Russ Campbell
<p>I have a glass bed and I use plastic razor blades from Scraperite specifically black blade to clean it up. Looks like it's the best alternative to metal blade so far.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-02T12:57:06.530Z
2017-08-02T12:57:06.530Z
Nick
<p>I use a razor blade scraper to get stuff off that is sticking.
Priory to printing I heat and level the build plate, then wipe it down with alcohol to get any greasey fingerprints off of it.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/make:177038" rel="nofollow">My Scraper</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-15T01:34:48.243Z
2016-04-15T01:34:48.243Z
EvilTeach
<p>I've occasionally had issues with excess filament residue getting stuck to the print bed. <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/78/how-can-i-stop-my-print-bed-tape-from-sticking-to-the-filament">There are ways to prevent this</a>, but sometimes even these precautions aren't enough. Over time, residue can build up. I've observed this in some printers, though not others.</p>

<p>Are there any techniques to best clean print beds? In the past, I've used various typical cleaning supplies, with different degrees of success. However, I don't know if this will lead to damage to the printer over time.</p>

<p>The printer I'm using has a glass print bed, which I occasionally partially cover with blue painter's tape during printing.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T05:36:01.713Z
There are too many types of bed material (glass, aluminum, granite, ceramic, plastic, PEI, PET, specific manufacturer material, plastic, garolite, etc) with too many adhesion methods (Kapton, slurry, tape, glue, etc) to be able to answer this.
tamarintech
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T21:30:10.287Z
@tamarintech I narrowed it down to my situation,
HDE 226868
<maintenance>
How can I best clean the print bed after a print?
HDE 226868
# How can I best clean the print bed after a print?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-13)

I've occasionally had issues with excess filament residue getting stuck to the print bed. [There are ways to prevent this](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/78/how-can-i-stop-my-print-bed-tape-from-sticking-to-the-filament), but sometimes even these precautions aren't enough. Over time, residue can build up. I've observed this in some printers, though not others.

Are there any techniques to best clean print beds? In the past, I've used various typical cleaning supplies, with different degrees of success. However, I don't know if this will lead to damage to the printer over time.

The printer I'm using has a glass print bed, which I occasionally partially cover with blue painter's tape during printing.

**Tags:** maintenance
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There are too many types of bed material (glass, aluminum, granite, ceramic, plastic, PEI, PET, specific manufacturer material, plastic, garolite, etc) with too many adhesion methods (Kapton, slurry, tape, glue, etc) to be able to answer this.  
> **username_0**: @tamarintech I narrowed it down to my situation,  

---

## 6 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-01-13. Score: 11

* If you are printing with ABS (or PLA), acetone will dissolve it. Simply pour
  some on the bed and wipe it off (beware, acetone can damage beds that have a coating or a plastic sheet over them, be sure to test this first).
* Heating the bed back up may make the plastic softer and easier to
  remove.
* If you are using tape on the bed, you could remove the tape to remove
  the plastic stuck to the tape.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So, acetone will not work if I'm using PLA?  
> **username_2**: After doing more research, I stand corrected.  Acetone will dissolve PLA, but it is less efficient that ABS.  It would also turn it white so it is not used for standard printing.  I will edit my answer.  
> **username_3**: As Eric Johnson says, Acetone will work with PLA, but I've had just as much success with hot soapy water and a sponge on my glass surface.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-01-14. Score: 9

My usual solution for cleaning the glass bed on my printer is a glass scraper (basically just a razor blade with a handle on it):

[![glass scraper](https://i.sstatic.net/03af0.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/03af0.jpg)

Regardless of what kind of filament (abs/pla/nylon) or surface treatment (glue/painters tape/abs slurry) I've used the glass scraper always takes it right off, and with the style I posted a picture of the blade is flexible and thin enough it's also useful for peeling up the edge of prints that are stuck to the bed.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: This and warm water should get you taken care of.  
> **username_5**: I have just now used this exact tool and managed to make a cut into the print bed itself. So a word of warning for everybody, be careful if going this way  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2016-04-15. Score: 3

When I print PLA on glass plate, I clean the glass with cold water and dishwashing liquid. Cold water! And no wipe! Cold water should take all dishwashing liquid "to the ground". Now you have glass as clean as possible. Now the filament sticks to the glass far better than when glass is not clean.

But of course it doesn't fix problem of cleaning HB after print. To reduce this problem I use glue stick (paper glue). I don't know if it's common but I do like this technique.

So having clean glass I spread (grease) some glue stick. It doesn't really matter if HB is cold or hot. This gives me a VERY strong adhesive force between the extruded filament and the glass. It's so strong that there is almost no way to detache it by hand. I use a paper knife.

Now you still have thin layer of glue and you can print again / add another layer of glue (but not more than 2..3 times) or wash it with hot water. After few times it's good to clean it again with dishwashing liquid and cold water.

This technique is amazing.


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2017-09-19. Score: 3

I use hair spray directly on my glass bed , then just a little bit of rubbing alcohol on a small piece of paper towel to clean it...that removes all surface materials... I don't use tape any more... Russ

> **Comments:**
> **username_8**: Oh I should say that I use hair spray at the start of the print, and a bit of rubbing alcohol to lean it... Russ  

---

### Answer by username_9 on 2017-08-02. Score: 2

I have a glass bed and I use plastic razor blades from Scraperite specifically black blade to clean it up. Looks like it's the best alternative to metal blade so far.


---

### Answer by username_10 on 2016-04-15. Score: 1

I use a razor blade scraper to get stuff off that is sticking.
Priory to printing I heat and level the build plate, then wipe it down with alcohol to get any greasey fingerprints off of it.

[My Scraper](http://www.thingiverse.com/make:177038)


---

