After finishing any kind of resin craft project, all you are left with is an amazing looking project and a handful of dirty resin molds. Where on one hand you want to sit and appreciate your project, dirty molds look like a nightmare. No matter how much you want to throw them away, it’s cost-effective to clean resin molds. There is no need to buy new resin molds for every project. You can buy some good quality resin silicone molds and use them over and over again. It is important to keep your molds clean and in good shape so they can last longer. But please note this guide is only for cleaning machine made mold. If you want to clean handmade molds, especially those with a crystal shine effect, you'd better only use tapes to clean them.

How to Clean Resin Molds?

There are a few very effective ways to clean resin molds. You can use any one of them and make the molds look like new again. However, it is important to make sure your molds are clean both before using and after using them.

How to Clean Molds Before Use

It is very important to use clean molds for every project because dust and residue will ruin your project. As a result, your resin art work won’t look perfect with all the impurities inside it. Here is how you can clean resin molds and silicone molds before using them.

Use soft brush

Resin molds and silicone molds can be cleaned with a cosmetic brush or any other soft brushes. Gently rub the brush on the dust and dried residue. It is easily available. You don’t need to buy a new brush as you can use any soft brush lying around.

Use soapy water

Before starting a new resin project, make sure your resin molds are clean. If you already cleaned them after using them last time, it is better to clean them again. The molds may look clean but inevitably there will be some dust. Soapy water can instantly make the surface of all molds smooth and prevent dust from adhering. But be careful if the water is too hot, the high temperature will make your molds dull.

Use tape/the blu-tack

Paste blu-tack or the sticky side of the tape on the surface of resin molds and it will take off any dust, glitter or residue from the surface of the mold. It is readily available and will clean the resin molds without damaging them. Best for cleaning dust, glitter and not stubborn stains but not OK for the holographic molds as they might lose their effect.

How to Clean Molds with Tacky Resin

If your molds have tacky resin that won’t cure at all, it’s a pain in the ass. If you’ve ever experienced it, you will know it’s quite frustrated to clean all the sticky resin. Many people might quit after trying and end up buying a new mold. But no worries now, we suggest you try the ways below to make the resin easy to be removed.

Use freezer

The first way we suggest is to put the molds in a freezer. A few hours in freezer are good enough for residue resin to solidify and pop out easily. This is our favorite method. Be sured to wrap the mold in a separate bag to prevent it from polluting the food. When you have removed major chunks, use sticky tape or other tools to clean smaller chunks or wash the molds for thorough cleaning.

Pros

-Super easy to operate.
-If the resin is frozen, it can be popped out as easily as the cured resin.
-It will not damage the surface of resin molds.

Cons

-You need to wrap the resin first to prevent it from contaminating other things in the freezer.
-There’s a chance that this way wouldn’t work and the resin is still tacky.

Use baby wipes

The second way we found useful is baby wipes. They are also great for cleaning resin molds and silicone molds. But you need to scrape off most of the resin first. And then simply wipe your molds with baby wipes and repeat the process with fresh wipes until your molds are clean. Make sure the corners are also cleaned.

Pros

-Easily available and won’t hurt the molds at all.

Cons

-It might take more effort and more time then other ways.

Use acetone

The third way we recommend is to spray some acetone on the sticky molds. Let them stay for a while to loosen the resin and then use an acetone-soaked soft cloth to clean it. This solvent can break down resin and help you easily remove it.

Pros

-It is highly effective and easy to clean tacky resin. You can always trust the solvent.

Cons

-Not easily available comparing to other methods.
-It’s a chemical anyway so make sure you wear gloves and follow the product instructions to take other necessary safety measures.

How to Clean Resin Molds After Resin Is Cured

Once the resin is cured/hardened, it will be much easier to clean. Here are a few ways to clean resin molds after the resin has cured.

Use tape/the blu-tack

Same thing as we clean the molds before use, make a ball with the blu-tack or paper tape (sticky side out) and wipe the insides of the resin molds. Clean the flat parts by simply sticking the tool on flat surfaces and peel off. You can also use a lint roller or other tools that have the same function.

99% isopropyl alcohol

If the resin has dried and is difficult to remove from molds, you may spray some 99% isopropyl alcohol on the mold to help. Many people said this way can work like a charm.

Warm soapy water

Wash resin molds thoroughly using a soft sponge and warm soapy water. Never use steel wool, tooth brush or scrubbing sponges for cleaning the molds as they can scratch the surface of the mold. Dry resin molds with paper towels and store them in a dust free, cool and dry storage area.  

Conclusion

Resin molds need proper care and storage. You can increase the life of your resin molds and resin silicone molds by keeping them in good shape. Mentioned above are some great ways to keep your resin molds clean so you don’t need to replace them often. Let’s get the most out of the molds we love.