Short answer: hand wash in lukewarm water with mild soap, air dry completely, and keep it out of the dishwasher and out of a parked car in summer.
PLA is a bioplastic made from fermented plant sugars. It is rigid, holds a crisp matte finish, and prints to tight tolerances — which is exactly why a sliding lid can be made to click. Its one real limitation is heat: PLA begins to soften at roughly 55-60 °C (131-140 °F). A household dishwasher's wash and dry cycles run in and above that range, which is why a dishwasher can leave a PLA case warped and a lid that no longer slides straight.
The routine
| Step | Do this |
|---|---|
| 1. Empty | Slide every lid fully open and tip out dust and fragments |
| 2. Wash | Lukewarm water, a drop of dish soap, soft cloth or soft brush |
| 3. Rinse | Cool water, no hot rinse |
| 4. Dry | Air dry with lids open until fully dry — no towel lint, no heat |
| How often | Every refill is ideal; once a month at minimum |
What actually ruins one
- Dishwashers. Heat plus pressure. This is the single most common way a 3D printed case is lost.
- A car in the sun. A closed cabin on a hot day clears 60 °C easily. A glove box in July is a warping chamber.
- Boiling water. Same problem, faster. This case is not designed to be sterilized.
- Alcohol wipes as a habit. Occasional use is fine; repeated soaking can dull the matte finish over time.
- Putting it away damp. Powder residue plus trapped moisture is how a case starts to smell. Dry fully, lids open.
Why heat resistance is a trade-off, not a defect
The alternative to PLA in this category is petroleum-based plastic, which shrugs off a dishwasher and never breaks down. PLA is made from plants and is produced without that petroleum feedstock. The price of that is a case you wash by hand. For an object that lives on a nightstand or in a bag, that has been a trade we are happy to make — and it takes about ninety seconds a month.
Every InnoLab case is 3D printed to order in New York from imported plant-based PLA. If a lid ever stops sliding cleanly, email support@innolabdesign.com — we made it, so we can look at it.
Not child-resistant. Keep out of reach of children.
The softening range stated above reflects PLA's published glass-transition temperature; care guidance is InnoLab Design's own, current as of 2026-08-27.