Copag Playing Cards

If you already own a deck or two of Copag plastic playing cards, then you know that they are superior to paper cards in many ways and last many times longer. You should have also noticed that the dirty, dingy, and sticky feel that can be noticed on paper cards after one session does not appear on 100% plastic cards for quite some time.

One of the great things about Copag plastic playing cards is that when they do begin to exhibit signs of needing to be cleaned, there is a proper way to clean them that will not harm the cards and will put the deck back to nearly new condition. This cleaning method could also be used if a drink is spilled on the cards.

According to Copag USA, the first step in cleaning their cards is to simply use cold water and a non abrasive cloth. Note: paper towels do not qualify as a non abrasive cloth and you should not use any other type of paper based towel or cloth. It is also recommended to only clean a few cards at a time and to rub gently on each side. Harsh rubbing, even with cold water only could damage the cards. If cold water does not work, then you should try cold water with a neutral soap. Most likely, the closest you will get to a neutral soap is a soap with a pH of 4. This basically means that it is not a strong acid or a strong base on the pH scale. After cleaning your Copag cards, each one should be dried with a non abrasive cloth and spread out to air dry for at least one hour on each side.

While these are the basic cleaning instructions, there are several cautionary do not’s that we found on the Copag USA website. Here is a list of these things to avoid while cleaning your Copag cards:

• DO NOT wash COPAG cards in the washing machine.
• DO NOT scrub COPAG cards with tools.
• DO NOT place COPAG cards in boiling water.
• DO NOT wash COPAG cards in a dishwasher.
• DO NOT leave COPAG cards outside to dry in the sun.
• DO NOT dry COPAG cards with a hair dryer.
• DO NOT apply excessive pressure when cleaning COPAG cards.
• DO NOT use detergent or alkaline soap on COPAG cards.
• DO NOT use any chemicals to clean your COPAG cards.
• DO NOT stack COPAG cards on top of one another when wet.
• DO NOT submerge COPAG cards in water for long periods of time.