Outdoor and indoor signage plays a critical role in helping drive new business through the front doors of your Seattle business or organization. It’s also a pretty hefty financial investment and why you should strongly consider performing regular maintenance.
Outdated information, yellowing corners, and graffiti are just a few issues that could cause your signage to give people the wrong impression about your establishment.
A few months ago, we wrote a blog post that gave a few tips on how to perform a sign maintenance audit—it’s now time to learn how to perform proper maintenance. Read on to discover a few tips on keeping your Seattle signage looking as good as it did the day it was installed.
Remove the Dirt
Dirt can accumulate on an outdoor sign faster than you realize. In addition to air pollution, the exhaust from nearby motor vehicles can add a thin layer of haze. Over time, your sign becomes less shiny while colors begin to dull.
Grab a damp rag, a bucket of water, and some mild dishwashing detergent. Add 1-2 drops of detergent to the bucket of water and get the rag wet. Wring it out and gently wipe down your outdoor signage. You might be surprised at how much dirt the rag will pick up on a seemingly clean sign.
Remove the Dust
While outdoor signs collect dirt, indoor signs collect dust—and lots of it. When was the last time you grabbed a feather duster and gave your indoor signage a good once-over? If you see your indoor signage daily, there’s an excellent chance that you might not notice it getting dusty and less shiny over time.
A quick dusting and perhaps a wipe down with a damp rag will reinvigorate your indoor signage and make them look as good as new. Try to avoid harsh household cleaning chemicals as they could potentially cause damage to the sign.
Remove Graffiti
If one of the local budding “artists” has left their mark in permanent ink on your outdoor signage, take the time to clean it up. Yes, it royally sucks having to clean off graffiti marks but consider how much damage it’s causing your brand when people see it.
If you go to your local hardware store, there’s a good chance that they’ll have a product that can clean up even the most permanent paint markers. Several other products on the market even claim to add a protective shell to whatever they coat—if you buy one, be sure to test it out on a small non-visible part of your sign to ensure it’s safe.
Repair Your Signs
Outdoor and indoor signage installed on or near the ground level is susceptible to damage from pedestrians, cars, and bicyclists. Just one errant steel shopping cart can cause your signage to crack or get damaged.
Repairing broken signage is a roll of the dice. In some situations, you might be able to get away with it. However, keep in mind that adding some proverbial duct tape to your signage will be seen by your customers and potential customers, and give off a poor impression.
If you’re unsure if your sign can be fixed, contact the experts at McNamara Signs. One of our friendly signage gurus will take the time to learn more about the damage and offer suggestions on what you can do.
Clean off Bird Droppings
As nasty and foul as they may be—take the time and make an effort to clean up all the bird droppings on your outdoor signage. When people see a sign with bird poop all over it, their subconscious mind unintentionally associates that image with the company’s brand.
Clean Up the Rust
Unless it’s part of your brand and company décor, rust on signage also gives off a poor first impression. In addition to the aesthetics, rust can also eat away at metal over time and cause outdoor signage to fall to the ground.
Check Your Info
Be sure to confirm that all of your outdoor and indoor signage information is accurate. One of the places that many business owners tend to overlook is the vinyl graphics on their front door.
Have your hours, phone number, email address, website URL, and so on changed since you added the info to your store windows and front door? Ensuring your everything is up-to-date will help keep your customers and prospective customers happy.
Signage Shop in Seattle
A little bit of maintenance goes a long way. The above tips will help you clean up your signs and have them look as good as new. At McNamara Signs, we have been helping Seattle businesses design and create the perfect indoor/outdoor signs for well over 20 years. To learn more about how McNamara Signs can produce and design your next project, give us a call at (206) 284-0809 or send us an email.