Mark notes
Dust Wipes
A practical floor note on wiping panels and shopfront surfaces before any graphic goes down.
Dust is one of the quickest ways to spoil adhesion on a panel, window or painted shopfront. In local install work, a clean wipe before application can mean fewer lifted edges, bubbles and redos. Dust Wipes is our note on surface prep before vinyl and graphic fitting.
Dust Wipes is written for installers dealing with shop windows, ACM panels and painted fascias that pick up grime during a normal trading day. In Gauteng, KZN and the Western Cape, airborne dust, traffic film and hand marks can sit on a surface long before the vinyl is peeled. Use the note with the contact form if a job needs surface detail added to the brief.
Surfaces that need a wipe first
- Shop window glass near entrances
- Painted fascia photo before cleaning starts
- Panel finish noted on the job card
- Store contact named for site access
Dust Wipes sits alongside the material pages so the prep step is not missed when vinyl is booked for print. Turn to these checks with the product information to match the prep method to the actual graphic being fitted.
How Dust Wipes help before vinyl goes onto shop windows
Dust Wipes is a basic step that affects how well vinyl holds. Panels and shopfront surfaces should be properly wiped before any graphic goes down, especially on busy retail sites.
Name the substrate before anything else. Glass, powder coated metal, painted board and perspex each hold dust differently, especially on busy retail fronts in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Add site conditions like roadside grime, construction dust or sea air so the wipe-down method matches the surface.
A current site photo matters because residue is not always visible on artwork proofs. Early morning condensation on glass, chalky paint on an older fascia and stockroom dust blown onto panels can all affect tack. Keep a reference image with the job so the installer can compare the surface before fitting.
Checks before vinyl application
The aim is a surface that is visibly clean and dry, with no powder, grease or loose dirt where the adhesive must sit. One correct wipe on the actual panel is more useful than repeated reworks after edges start lifting. Dust Wipes helps the brief mention the panel condition, not only the artwork size.
Pair Dust Wipes with related notes when a window set, fascia panel or counter graphic is being prepared for fitting. Confirm sizes, quantities and the actual installation surface before dispatch leaves the workshop.
- Surface prep matched to the actual substrate
- Wipe check done before backing paper lifts
SA conditions that affect adhesion
Older painted shopfronts, airport freight handling and retail centre trading hours all change how a panel arrives at installation. Some sites look clean from a distance but carry fine dust from nearby roads or building work. If a pack is being refitted onto existing surfaces, note that clearly with the job.
Coastal locations can leave a light film on windows and metal signs, while inland stores often pick up dry dust quickly after cleaning. Load shedding can also shift install windows, which means a wiped surface may stand longer before vinyl is applied. Samples in the showroom help compare finishes and contamination marks under good light.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
Job card notes for Dust Wipes
A practical floor note on wiping panels and shopfront surfaces before any graphic goes down.
Keep this note with the artwork record and installation paperwork so the surface prep instruction stays with the job. That helps when a buyer, branch contact or installer needs to check what the panel was cleaned for before fitment. Dust Wipes is most useful when the substrate, location and condition are written down while the order is still active.