What a suncatcher is made of
Each suncatcher is 3mm clear acrylic with the design printed on its frosted back, then cut to shape. It is much lighter than glass. Some suncatchers come with a cut crystal drop that hangs below: the acrylic gives you the glow of colour, and the crystal gives you the rainbows.
The best window for a suncatcher
A printed acrylic suncatcher glows in any daylight. The crystal drop needs sunlight landing directly on it to throw rainbows, so before you hang anything, watch which pane the sun actually comes through and at what hour.
- East facing: lights up in the morning, over breakfast.
- West facing: lights up in late afternoon and evening.
- South facing (in the northern half of the world): the longest run of direct sun in the day. In the southern half of the world, that is your north facing window.
- No direct sun at all: the printed colours will still glow, but you will not get rainbows on the wall.
How to hang a suncatcher
Hang it from one point with room on every side. A suncatcher that can spin sends its colours sweeping around the room. One pressed flat against the window keeps them in one spot.
Hang it high in the window. The beam needs to pass through the piece and carry on into the room, and the higher it starts, the further across the floor and walls it reaches.
Acrylic is light, so a small suction hook on clean window glass is enough.
How to clean a suncatcher
Dust is what dulls a suncatcher. Wipe it with a soft cloth, dry or slightly damp, every few weeks.
Do not use glass cleaner, alcohol or anything abrasive. They can cloud acrylic and wear the print on the back. Plain water on a soft cloth is all it needs.