How to clean a 3D printer build plate

Originally Written March 2023 by Thomas Brooks
Updated & Edited December 2024 by Taylor Herrin

There are a variety of 3D printer build plate (also known as the bed, or 3D printer bed) materials, and each material has its own unique properties that affect how the build plate should be cleaned. Some of the most common 3D printer build plate materials include glass, PEI, BuildTak, and Garolite.

As of 2024, flexible, spring steel sheet build plates coated with PEI have become much more common, mostly replacing the old style of rigid glass or BuildTak build plates. Even newer than spring steel PEI sheets are the new "ice" or "cold" build plates that use a novel, special formulation of PEI for significantly improved adhesion when compared to older PEI sheets. Examples of these include the: Bambu Labs Bambu Cool Plate SuperTack build plate, the Darkmoon3D ICE Build Plate, or the BIQU CryoGrip Build Plate.

For American Filament's materials we recommend using a PEI build plate, and we are particularly fond of the Darkmoon3D ICE build plate. 

To maintain optimal adhesion between the print bed and the 3D print and to extend the life of the bed material, it's necessary to regularly clean the print bed. Below are step-by-step instructions on how to clean 3D printer beds based upon the material they are made of:

Spring Steel Magnetic PEI Build Plate (ICE Plate shown above): As of 2024, most commonly used desktop 3D Printers have a removable, magnetic build plate; typically it will be a sheet of spring steel coated in either PEI or a proprietary build surface formulation. These plates can either be smooth or textured; the ICE plate shown above is textured, while the Prusa plate shown below is smooth. 

Steps for cleaning a removable build plate: 
1. Let the build plate fully cool down to room temperature. It is not recommended to clean or touch a build plate while it is hot. 
2. Remove all 3D printed plastic from the build plate, including but not limited to: 3D printed parts, skirts, rafts, brim, or nozzle wipe material.
3. Wash the entire build plate in a sink using warm water and a mild detergent soap, dish soap for example, we recommend basic, name brand Dawn dish soap. Hand soaps are not recommended as they usually contain moisturizers that will stay behind on the build plate, even after the soap has been rinsed off, and these will interfere with build plate adhesion. Most brands do not recommend using Isopropyl Alcohol (or rubbing alcohol) to clean their build plates as it usually is not as effective at removing as wide a range of contaminants as dish soap, and/or it can actually damage certain formulations of PEI or other proprietary build plate formulations.  
4. Ensure that all soap has been rinsed off of the build plate, and then dry the build plate with a lint free cloth or rag. In most instances, a normal paper towel is sufficient. 
5. Place the build plate back onto the 3D printer while being careful to touch the build surface as little as possible with your fingers to prevent re-dirtying the build surface. 

 

 

Glass Bed: Glass beds are known for their flat and smooth surfaces. At the start of the RepRap revolution in the late 2000s, mirrors were retrofitted to become glass beds, so glass beds were immediately readily available. To clean a glass 3D printer bed, follow these steps:

Step 1: Let the bed cool down to room temperature before cleaning. Attempting to clean a hot bed can cause the cleaning solution to evaporate too quickly and produce a high concentration of potentially toxic or flammable gas.

Step 2: Use a scrapper to remove as much hardened plastic as possible from the bed.

Step 3: Mix together water and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) in a spray bottle. You can use 70% to 91% IPA for this solution.

Step 4: Spray the solution evenly onto the bed surface and make sure that the entire bed is covered.

Step 5: Wipe the bed surface with a microfiber cloth. Make sure to wipe in a single direction and avoid circular strokes to get the cleanest bed.

Step 6: Repeat the cleaning process if necessary, but avoid using too much force or pressure when wiping the bed, because this can crack the glass or loosen the structure underneath the bed.

 

PEI (Polyetherimide) Bed (Old Style): PEI is a thermoplastic material that is known for its excellent adhesion properties. It’s closely related to the ULTEM thermoplastic often used in high temperature, industrial 3D printers. Here's how to clean a PEI build plate:

Step 1: Let the bed cool down to room temperature before cleaning. Attempting to clean a hot bed can cause the cleaning solution to evaporate too quickly and produce a high concentration of potentially toxic or flammable gas.

Step 2: Use a scrapper to remove as much hardened plastic as possible from the bed. Be careful that you do not scrap so hard that it scratches the bed.

Step 3: Mix a solution of warm water and a small amount of dish soap in a spray bottle.

Step 4: Spray the solution evenly on the entire build plate.

Step 5: Gently wipe the bed surface with a soft cloth, making sure to avoid applying too much pressure or using abrasive materials that could damage the surface.

Step 6: Wipe a wet towel across the bed to remove any soap residue.

Step 7: Allow the bed to dry completely before using it again.

BuildTak Bed: BuildTak is a thin, durable material that offers excellent adhesion for 3D printing. Here's how to clean a BuildTak 3D printer bed:

Step 1: Let the bed cool down to room temperature before cleaning. Attempting to clean a hot bed can cause the cleaning solution to evaporate too quickly and produce a high concentration of potentially toxic or flammable gas.

Step 2: Use a scraper or spatula to remove any residual material from the bed surface. Be careful to not use the corner of the scraper as that can easily scratch into the BuildTak bed.

Step 3: Dampen a microfiber cloth with warm water and gently wipe the bed surface. Avoid using acetone or other harsh chemicals, as they can damage the BuildTak surface.

Step 4: Allow the bed to air dry completely before using it again.

Garolite Bed: Garolite (also known as G-10 or FR4) is a fiberglass composite that is durable and exhibits excellent bed adhesion (very good), and has a low coefficient of thermal expansion (good), but also a very low thermal conductivity (bad). Here’s how you can clean a garolite 3D printer bed.

Step 1: Let the bed cool down completely before cleaning. Attempting to clean a hot bed can cause the cleaning solution to evaporate too quickly and potentially cause injury.

Step 2: Use a scraper or spatula to remove any residual material from the bed surface, and then wipe the debris away with your hand or a dry cloth.

Step 3: Dampen a microfiber cloth with IPA and gently wipe the bed surface. Avoid using acetone or other harsh chemicals. Continue wiping until the bed is clean.

In conclusion, there are many types of 3D print bed materials, and they all need to be clean differently. Also, they all need to be periodically cleaned so that the beds maintain good adhesion to the 3D prints, and your printer provides a reliable, repeatable 3D printing process. If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave them in the comments!