WEEKLY
Dry wipe
A dry microfibre cloth removes dust from contact points and the cradle. Thirty seconds, once a week.
PRODUCT CARE
Care for your dock. It cares for your MacBook.
A precision-fit dock is only as good as the care it gets. A few simple habits keep yours looking — and performing — like the day it shipped.
CARE ROUTINE
Six small habits. A lifetime of clean.
None take longer than a minute. Together, they keep your dock — and your MacBook — looking factory-fresh for years.
MONTHLY
Damp clean
Lightly dampen a microfibre with water (never solvents). Wipe the dock, dry immediately, and re-seat your MacBook.
QUARTERLY
Hardware check
Re-tension mounting screws every three months — desks settle, and a thirty-second check prevents play developing.
MONTHLY
Liner inspection
The hand-applied protective liner keeps your MacBook scratch-free. Replace if you see compression or wear.
ANYTIME
Visual once-over
Glance for fresh marks, grit between contact points, or cable strain. Catching small things keeps them small.
ON MOVE
Re-mount carefully
Switching desks? Loosen, lift, clean the new surface with the included pad, then re-mount. Don't drag.
MATERIAL HONESTY
Two materials. One honest story.
Every SOLODock is 3D printed in either PLA or PETG. Both are excellent for desk hardware — they just trade strengths differently. Here's what to expect from each, with nothing glossed over.
PLA
Bio-based. Precise. Our default.
STRENGTHS
- Rigid and dimensionally stable at indoor temperatures
- Plant-based, low odour, low VOC — safe to live with
- Holds tight tolerances for a precise MacBook fit
- Bio-based and recyclable through specialist streams
- Premium finish - smoother more uniformed surface finish
HONEST LIMITATIONS
- Softens above ~55°C — avoid hot cars and radiators
- UV-sensitive over years — keep out of direct sunlight
- Brittle to sharp impact — don't drop on hard floors
PETG
Tougher. Hotter. Available on request.
STRENGTHS
- Higher heat tolerance (~75°C) — better for warm rooms
- More impact-resistant than PLA — flex over fracture
- Excellent chemical resistance — shrugs off cleaning
- Glossier, but more varied uniformity across surface finish
HONEST LIMITATIONS
- Slightly heavier than PLA at the same wall thickness
- Less rigid — micro-flex under heavy MacBook Pro loads
- Petroleum-derived — not bio-based like PLA
WHAT TO AVOID
A short list of things your dock won't forgive.
Avoid direct sunlight
Prolonged UV softens PLA over time. Mount in normal indoor light — never inside a hot car or south-facing window.
Avoid sustained heat
PLA begins to soften above ~55°C, PETG above ~75°C. Keep clear of radiators, heat vents and high-wattage desk lamps and heat sources.
Don't use solvents
Alcohol, acetone, ammonia or abrasive cleaners can dull or craze the surface. Water and a microfibre is all you need.
Keep dry
Both materials are moisture-resistant, not waterproof. Wipe up spills promptly and don't leave the dock in standing water.
Keep away from open flame
Obvious, but worth saying: thermoplastics melt. No candles, soldering irons or hot tools resting on the dock.
No sharp impacts
A dropped tool or a heavy bag swung onto the dock can chip an edge. Treat it like a precision part — because it is.
HONEST ABOUT WEAR
Real materials. Real expectations.
Plastic isn't aluminium and we won't pretend otherwise.
Looked after, both PLA and PETG will outlast several generations of MacBook.
Why we're honest about wear
Every material has trade-offs. We'd rather tell you exactly how to make your dock last a decade than pretend it's indestructible. Used right, both PLA and PETG will outlive several MacBooks.
What 'wear' actually looks like
After months of heavy use you might notice faint witness marks where the MacBook rests, a slight gloss on contact points, or a thinned liner strip. None affect function — and all are addressable with a fresh liner set.
When to consider PETG over PLA
If your room runs warm, you live somewhere with extreme summers, or you travel with your dock, PETG is the smarter pick. For a typical UK or EU indoor desk setup, PLA is lighter, more precise, and more sustainable.
PROTECTING YOUR MACBOOK
A clean dock. A scratch-free MacBook.
Most of the wear a docked MacBook experiences comes from outside dust and grit, not the dock itself. Keep it clean and your finish stays factory-fresh.
Why care matters for your MacBook
Your MacBook touches the dock at three or four small contact points. A clean, well-maintained liner is the difference between a dock that protects the aluminium surface and one that slowly wears it. Check the liner regularly — it's the single most important thing you can do.
How to handle the liner tape
If the protective liner shifts, becomes sticky, or peels, replace it. We can supply spare strips for free if this ever occurs. Apply with clean, dry hands onto a clean inner surface, smoothing out bubbles with a soft cloth making sure to remove the old ones before.
Cable etiquette
Coil cables loosely — never tightly around a connector. Disconnect by pulling on the plug body, not the cable. A USB-C plug bent at an angle wears its socket far faster than a straight one. make sure not to bend or put any strain on the connector leaving the back of the dock as this can cause alignment issues.
If you move desks
Loosen, remove, and re-mount — don't use any machine tools or drills to remove or install. Check and Re-tension hardware after the first week if necessary, and re-clean the contact surface before any docking.
WARRANTY
One-year limited warranty.
Every SOLODock is covered against manufacturing defects, worldwide. If something isn't right, message us — a real person will reply.