Hey guys, let’s cut to the chase—if you’re reading this, you’re either a coach with a stack of sports trophies in a storage closet, a small business manager whose team got custom resin awards for hitting a target, or even someone who won a big prize and doesn’t want their shiny resin trophy to turn dull before next year’s ceremony. As a resin trophy supplier, I’ve seen every kind of neglect: trophies stored in damp garage corners, wiped down with Windex that eats at the finish, even ones that got left outside during a cookout and got caked in barbecue grease. I’ve spent way too long fixing customers’ messed-up trophies, so today I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly what works to keep that glossy, eye-catching shine—no fancy tools, no confusing jargon, just what I actually tell my clients when they ask for tips. Resin Trophy
First, let’s get one thing straight: resin is way sturdier than people think, but it’s not invincible. A lot of folks think “if it’s hard, I can scrub it with anything” or “glass cleaner is fine for this”—nope. Resin is a type of plastic polymer, right? Its shine comes from a cross-linked molecular top layer, and harsh chemicals, rough abrasives, or prolonged moisture will break that layer down over time. I see this all the time: a customer emails me saying their trophy went matte after a month, and when I ask what they used to clean it, 9 times out of 10 it’s rubbing alcohol, bleach, or even a paper towel with some glass cleaner. Those things strip the clear coat that makes resin shiny. So rule number one I tell everyone: skip the harsh stuff. Stick to mild, non-abrasive products that play nice with plastic surfaces.
Let’s start with the basics of regular care, because consistency is way more important than doing a deep clean once a year. Most people only notice their trophies when they drag them out for an event, but dust and grime build up slowly in between. Here’s what I recommend for a quick weekly wipe-down (or whenever you notice dust): grab a microfiber cloth—you know, the kind you use for phone screens or sunglasses. Don’t use paper towels; they have tiny wood fibers that scratch the resin’s finish, even if you can’t see it right away. For most light dust, just a dry microfiber cloth will do. Gently wipe the entire trophy, including the base, the top figure, and any engraved parts (wait, engraved parts—super important: don’t press too hard there, or you might push grime deeper into the text).
If there’s a little more than dust, like a smudge from a finger or a spot from a nearby candle, dampen a corner of that microfiber cloth with plain, lukewarm water. No soap, no detergent. Wipe the spot gently, then dry it immediately with a clean, dry part of the same cloth. I know it’s tempting to use a spray cleaner for this, but even “gentle” dish soap has fragrances and additives that can eat away at resin over repeated use. I had a high school coach client a few years back who used mild dish soap once a month, and after 6 months his trophies started getting that cloudy sheen. He switched to just water, and the shine was back in a couple of weeks. Easy fix, right?
Now, what if your trophy is already a little dull? Maybe it’s been stored in a basement, or got spilled on, or you forgot to clean it for a while. That’s when a deeper clean comes in, but only when necessary—don’t do this every month, it’s a little more involved. First, grab a bowl of lukewarm water, add a tiny drop of baby shampoo—like the kind you use for babies’ sensitive skin, no scents, no moisturizers. Stir it up so it’s sudsy but not foamy. Dip your microfiber cloth into this, wring it out really well (you don’t want excess water seeping into any seams between the resin figure and the base, or the base’s material might get ruined), and gently wipe the trophy. For any tough grime—like barbecue sauce splatter (yes, I’ve seen that) or a sticky spot from a price tag someone left on the base—use a Q-tip (the cotton kind, not the plastic for cleaning ears) dipped in that same soapy water. Get in the engraved text or any small crevices, don’t scrub hard. Once you’re done cleaning, rinse the whole trophy with a damp microfiber cloth to get rid of any soap residue, then dry it immediately with a separate, dry cloth. No air-drying here, because water spots are the worst, and they leave those dull rings that are super hard to buff out.
Wait, what about stuff you shouldn’t do? Let’s make a quick list of no-nos I’ve picked up from 7 years of supplying resin trophies: first, never use abrasive sponges, steel wool, or scouring pads. Even the “soft” green ones will scratch resin’s clear coat. Second, no window cleaners, rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or bleach. I can’t tell you how many times a customer has texted me a photo of their dull trophy and said “I used rubbing alcohol, what did I do wrong?” That alcohol breaks down the resin’s top layer permanently. Third, never leave your trophy in direct sunlight for long periods, or in damp, hot spaces like a garage or bathroom. Sunlight causes resin to yellow over time, and moisture leads to mold or mildew buildup in crevices. I had a small business client who kept their team’s trophies on a windowsill, and after 3 months they were all pale yellow. Moving them to a shelf away from direct light fixed the yellowing, though, so that’s a reversible one—good news. Fourth, don’t handle the trophy with bare hands if you can avoid it. The oils from your skin get on the resin, and over time they cause spots. If you do have to move it, use the base (which is usually a different material, like wood or metal) instead of holding the figure or the shiny parts.
Now, what about that extra step to make the shine pop, if you really want to keep it looking like new? A lot of people ask me if they can use a polish for plastic, and the short answer is yes, but only the right kind. Don’t use car wax or furniture polish—those have oils and silicones that leave a greasy film and can damage the resin’s finish long-term. Instead, look for a “clear plastic polish” that’s specifically for acrylic or resin, available at most hardware stores. I swear by this stuff for customers who have display cases with their trophies. Here’s how to use it: make sure the trophy is completely clean and dry. Put a tiny amount of the polish on a clean microfiber cloth (like, the size of a pea—you don’t need much), rub it into the resin in a circular motion, light pressure. Wipe off any excess immediately with another clean cloth. Don’t do this more than once every 6 months, because over-polishing can thin out the clear coat. A little goes a long way, and it keeps that glossy finish bright.
Wait, what about engraved trophies? So many of our clients have custom engraved resin trophies, and the text is the part everyone shows off. Engraved areas are porous, right? So they trap grime and dust way more than the smooth resin parts. I tell clients to clean engraved areas with that baby shampoo solution and a Q-tip, gently scrubbing the text to get out any gunk. Once they’re dry, you can even run a dry Q-tip over the letters to make them pop—no polish needed there, just keeping them free of dust makes the black engraving stand out. I’ve had clients whose engraved text was almost invisible after a year, just from not cleaning those crevices—so that’s a quick win.
Now, let’s talk storage, because a lot of people’s trophies spend most of their time in storage, not on display. If you’re putting a trophy away for a few months (like for an off-season), don’t just toss it in a cardboard box with old receipts or other trophies. Wrap it in a soft cloth—we actually give our customers free microfiber cloths with every order, perfect for this—and place it in a plastic bin with a lid (not a sealed garbage bag, because that traps moisture). If you have multiple trophies, don’t stack them on top of each other, especially the shiny parts—they’ll scratch each other. Put a piece of acid-free tissue paper between them, and store the bin in a cool, dry place, not a basement or attic. I had a coach once stack 10 youth sports trophies in a box, no wrapping, and when he took them out half had scratches on the figures. Wrapping them solves that problem.
Let’s be real, accidents happen. What if your trophy gets a scratch? I know it’s devastating, especially if it’s a special one for a championship. For light, surface scratches (the kind that are just on the clear coat, not deep into the resin), there are scratch removers for acrylic/resin that work pretty well. I’ve used this on a few customer trophies, and it takes out 80% of light scratches. For deeper ones, though, you might need a professional, or if the trophy isn’t super sentimental, it’s not the end of the world—most people won’t notice a tiny scratch unless they’re really looking. Also, if your trophy starts to yellow, the sunlight kind, some clear plastic polishes can help with that too, by buffing away the discolored top layer.
Wait, let’s circle back to what I do as a resin trophy supplier, because a lot of customers ask me for custom tips, not generic ones. When we send a trophy out, we always include a little care sheet, but most people lose it, so that’s why I’m writing this. For custom trophies with intricate details (like tiny sports figures or logos), we tell clients to avoid using any kind of spray cleaner, because it can seep into the small gaps and dull the details. For bulk trophies, like if you ordered 50 for a company event, the same basic care applies—just set a reminder to wipe them down once a month, and keep them away from windows.
I get it, not everyone has time to pamper a trophy. That’s why these tips are designed to be low-effort, high-impact. You don’t need to spend hours, just 2 minutes a week with a microfiber cloth, and your trophies will stay shiny for years. I’ve seen trophies from our first year of business (that’s over 10 years ago, for context) still looking brand new, just because their owners follow these simple rules.
If you’re in the market for new resin trophies, whether it’s for a sports team, corporate awards, or a personal prize, I’m here to help. We make custom, durable resin trophies that hold up great with basic care, and I can even send you the same care tips I give our regular clients. If you have questions about maintaining your current trophies, or want to order something custom, just reach out to us and we’ll walk you through it. No sales pressure, just straight answers from someone who’s been in the trophy game way too long, and has fixed way too many dull trophies from people who didn’t know the right tricks.
Crystal Trophy References:
- Plastics Institute of America. “Care and Maintenance of Thermoplastic Resin Products.” 2021.
- International Trophy Manufacturers Association. “Best Practices for Resin Trophy Longevity.” 2019.
- Consumer Reports. “Cleaning Tips for Plastic and Resin Surfaces.” 2022.
- American Cleaning Institute. “Safe Cleaning Practices for Sensitive Surfaces.” 2020.
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