Are you looking at how to clean Legos bricks, Minifigures and parts?
In this essential guide, I’ll be showing you how to wash old Lego bricks, how to dust bricks, and remove scratches.
There’s a whole host of reasons you might want to clean your Lego bricks. Whether it’s a personal Lego collection that needs some TLC, or some Lego bricks you’re planning on selling on Bricklink or eBay.
Washing Lego is something we recommend in a variety of circumstances, however in certain cases, it can be very time-consuming and frustrating.
I’ve created this guide to cleaning Legos to take out the stress and confusion of restoring your Lego bricks and minimise the time and effort required;
How To Wash Legos
If you’re Lego is generally dirty then you’re going to want to clean it through washing.
In most cases, you’ll be able to wash the dirt off with some lukewarm water (no hotter than 40°C) alongside some mild soap or detergent.
It kind of goes without saying (I hope) that you shouldn’t wash your electric Lego parts in water.
If the Lego is particularly grubby then you might opt to soak the Lego in a soapy solution for up to 24 hours. This should help loosen up the dirt and grime stuck to them.
Once you’ve finished you’ll want to use an old toothbrush (more warn = fewer scratches) to gently clean between the studs on the top and the bottom of the brick.
You can also opt to disinfect Lego with a mild bleach solution. One tablespoon per gallon of water is the optimal ratio for a solution.
A small amount of rubbing alcohol can also be used if you wish. However, if you are to do this be sure to keep the exposure of the brick minimal as it can fade the plastic.
Once you have finished washing the bricks be sure to rinse all bricks thoroughly. Ensuring there is no leftover residue.
It may be tempting to use the washing machine or dishwasher to clean a vast amount of Lego however in most cases I’d recommend against it.
Both of these applications use heat which can warp the plastic. If you have no other choice then always use a netted bag and the weakest cleaning option available.
Once you’ve cleaned you’re Lego bricks you’re going to need to dry them. The easiest way to do this is by laying down a town and spreading the Lego out over the towel.
It can easily take up to two days for the Lego to dry naturally although you can set your hair drier to cold and use it to cover the bricks to speed up the process.
How To Dust Lego
Not all Lego cleaning is the same. Which is why I’ve also designed this section to show you how best to deal with DUST!
If you’re displaying your Lego creations on an open surface then they are going to collect dust.
Due to the design of Lego bricks, it’s hard to simply wipe the exposed studs on your creation to get rid of the dust as you’re unable to get between the studs easily.
Instead, there’s a number of tried and tested dusting methods you can use;
DUSTERS: A feather or synthetic duster can in some cases work quite well. A quick dusting of your creations once a week can really help to keep that dust at bay.
BRUSHES: Natural fibre paintbrushes are super useful to get in the small crevices of your bricks. Examples include; Makeup brushes or paint brushes. I’d recommend dusting your Lego creations with this small brush post your dust with a larger duster.
COMPRESSED-AIR DUSTERS: If you’re serious about cleaning your Lego creations of dust then you can opt for the slightly more expensive option which is a compressed air duster.
How To Remove Scratches From Lego
If you’ve got some clear Lego pieces then you might note that they seem to be scratched, dull and foggy.
Parts that could once be seen through now look as though they’ve been scraped along with a piece of sandpaper.
However, there is a way to get these pieces looking new once more. You see the fogging or dullness and loss of shine comes from minor scratches.
The way to fix these scratches is to give the piece a quick dip in a bath of liquid acrylic.
To use this for your Lego all you need to do is dip the Lego into the polish making sure it’s fully covered. Then let it dry.
The polish will then fill any micro-scratches. Once fully dry you can polish the Lego brick lightly with a soft cloth.
Conclusion
That’s our complete guide on how to clean Legos.
As always we’d love to know how you clean your Lego, what tips and tricks have you found that work really well?
Did you find any problems following the Legos cleaning strategies listed above?
Let us know in the comments below.