How To Clean Legos

How to clean LEGO is the last thing on your mind when buying a brand-new box of LEGO bricks. However, from years ago or bought secondhand, LEGO needs cleaning before you want your kids to play with it.  With some LEGO sets being quite expensive, it’s good to treat them right.  This article discusses the best way to clean LEGOs and other ways users clean in bulk or gets rid of foul-smelling LEGO bricks.

How To Wash LEGOs

According to the LEGO official website, there is a specific way to clean your LEGO. They recommend cleaning your best LEGO set parts by hand using a soft cloth or sponge.

Water should not be hotter than 104 degrees Fahrenheit (or 40 degrees Celsius). If the water is too hot, you may damage the LEGO. Although LEGO does not recommend adding LEGO to fish tanks and aquariums, some LEGO are designed for water play and may even float. Water does not harm standard LEGO bricks, but it is unsafe to immerse LEGO electronic parts like motors, lights, sensors, and battery boxes in water; you may damage the electronics.

You may use a mild detergent or dish soap with warm water. Rinsing correctly is vital to avoid discoloration.

Dry each LEGO piece with a soft dry towel or allow it to dry naturally. Do not dry LEGOs in the microwave, oven, or hairdryer; it may change the LEGO shape and become ineffective.

Despite LEGO’s recommendations on how to clean LEGO bricks, users may attempt other cleaning methods. Here are some do’s and don’ts to consider.

How Do You Clean And Sanitize LEGOs?

If you bought a bunch of slightly used LEGO online or at a garage sale, you might want to clean and sanitize the LEGOS before your kids start building LEGO creations. Be warned; LEGO bricks take a few days to dry, so set enough time aside.

  • Sort and disassemble the LEGO pieces.
  • Remove all electronic parts.
  • Divide the LEGO into two groups, those with stickers and LEGOS without stickers.

Cleaning LEGO With Stickers

  • Do not immerse stickered LEGOS in water; the stickers may come off or damage.
  • Clean stickered LEGOS with a soft cloth or toothbrush. Be careful; the toothbrush may scratch it.

Cleaning LEGO Without Stickers

  • Use a mild soap detergent like dish or clothes detergent to wash the LEGO.
  • Stir the water with your hands to agitate the detergent. If the water is too hot for your hands, it is too hot for the LEGO bricks.
  • Filthy pieces should soak for at least a couple of hours or overnight in the mild soapy solution to get rid of grime and dirt.
  • Sanitize the LEGO with a ¼ cup of white vinegar to every cup of hot water. Alternatively, use a ¼ tablespoon of bleach to every gallon of warm water. Soak for about 10 minutes.
  • Rinse thoroughly. Make sure there is no residue left. Use a colander to help with the rinsing process.
  • Dry each piece by hand or place the LEGO on a towel in front of a boxed fan; stir and turn over every couple of hours. Sunlight and bright artificial light may discolor or fade the LEGO bricks.

How To Remove Permanent Marker and Glue from LEGO Bricks?

Permanent Marker

Use 99% Isopropyl alcohol to remove Paint Pen and Permanent Marker on LEGO bricks. Although nail polish remover contains isopropyl alcohol, the percentage is too low. It takes longer to evaporate, which means you may damage LEGO bricks with sensitive dyes.

Be careful not to use too much isopropyl alcohol; it may fade the plastic. Wipe the excess immediately with a tissue. A Q-tip type of cotton swab may help spread the alcohol evenly, preventing excess spillage.

Removing Glue

Sometimes LEGO bricks are stuck together tightly, or maybe somebody glued pieces together. Use a dental pick to remove the glue or loosen the brick parts.

How To Remove Smoke or Urine Smells from LEGO?

Create a paste by mixing baking soda and water. Try and cover the LEGO with it. Then spray the LEGO and baking soda paste with 100% white vinegar. Make sure you are not close to grass or flowerbeds; vinegar kills plants.

When the vinegar touches the baking soda, it starts to foam. Leave it and repeat the process until the smell is gone—mix 50-50 water and vinegar. Add the LEGO to the mixture and scoop out with a metal strainer.

Lastly, rinse thoroughly with water and allow it to dry.  They will be like new. Their near indestructability is one of the benefits of Legos.

How To Make Clear LEGO Pieces Shine?

Andy Taylor at The Brick Blogger has a suggestion on how to clean scratched and dull LEGO cockpits, windows, and other clear LEGO pieces made from acrylic plastic.

The liquid acrylic self-levels and fills in tiny scratches when you dip the LEGO in it. When dry, polish with a light cloth, and the piece may pop and sparkle again. He recommends using Pledge with Future Shine (aka Future Floor Polish). According to him, it is what hobbyists use.

How Do You Disinfect LEGOs In Bulk? Can You Put LEGO In The Washing Machine?

LEGO recommends not to clean LEGO in a washing machine or dishwasher.

However, people do attempt the machine option as an alternative to washing hundreds of LEGO by hand, one at a time. They handle the LEGOS like delicate laundry, washing using a mesh bag to protect the LEGO.

Ensure you use non-bleaching detergent and a heavy rinse cycle to rinse all the detergent off the LEGO parts. Then you may air-dry the LEGO.

More Resources:

https://www.lego.com/en-us/service/help/bricks-building/brick-facts/cleaning-your-lego-bricks-408100000007835

https://thatbricklife.com/how-to-clean-and-sanitize-lego/

http://thebrickblogger.com/2012/04/make-your-clear-lego-shine/

https://youtu.be/to0ZMEyqZRY

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