If you love Lego, chances are you’re wondering how to clean Lego sets and build. Whether you’ve got a load of completed builds on your shelf, or have a child with a box full of dusty Legos, you need to know how to clean them without causing any problems.
One of the biggest worries people have when cleaning up Lego is that they’ll either damage the bricks or have to break down their builds. Thankfully, we’ve investigated the best way to clean Lego sets and we’re written all about it. These are tried and tested methods.
The best thing about Legos is that kids and adults alike can enjoy spending hours constructing the sets. Sadly, it’s always the job of the grown ups to clean them up. Luckily for you, these are child-friendly Lego cleaning methods, so you can rope the kids into some spring cleaning too!
Aside from the absolute misery of accidentally stepping on scattered pieces of Lego, cleaning dust off Lego sets can be the second least favorite thing to do for a Lego enthusiast. Keep reading to find out how to clean Lego sets (and try and rope the kids in too, they probably made them dirty to begin with!)
5 Common Problems with Lego Set Cleanups
Some longtime Lego fans who follow general instructions found some issues with common cleaning methods (soaking in soap and rinsing afterward). If you have a garage full of Lego sets and need more specified and effective cleaning, you have probably scratched your head about:
Nicks and scratches on clean pieces of Lego
This happens when you scrub too hard with rough brushes or sponges. It can sometimes happen if you put Lego in the dishwasher with other things besides the bricks. They can knock into other hard objects in the dishwasher and chip, so if you’re going to use the dishwasher, definitely take care.
You can put the Lego pieces in a mesh bag and then put them in the dishwasher with no other objects in. If it has a cooler setting, I’d definitely use it to prevent any accidents.
Discoloration of the bricks
In the quest for cleaner Lego pieces, you may unintentionally lose some to fading: reds turn pink or black pieces become gray. Solvents and harsh chemicals can discolor plastics, so don’t use anything harsh unless you have experience it already works.
Melting and warping the bricks
Sanitizing is good, but too much hot water can melt pieces. Not good. To avoid warping the bricks, keep the heat on low. Don’t boil Lego pieces to kill germs. Warm soapy water should be sufficient to clean them thoroughly, but if you want them extra clean you can always use gentle antibacterial sprays after cleaning them for an ultra germ-free results. Check t
Pieces becoming difficult to fit together
Overcleaning might make pieces feel rough, making sets challenging to disassemble or for reassembly. This can be more of a problem for reassembly as if you wear down the pieces, they may fit together loosely and you could have difficulty getting them to stay in position. The only thing you can really do is prevent this. Clean carefully, don’t scrub hard, don’t clean alongside anything other than other Lego blocks and don’t let your water get too hot.
Tough grime and mold that even long soaks can’t solve
Mould and mildew can grow on Legos that you’ve soaked but not dried properly. It can get into all of those nooks and crannies and be really difficult to clean off. Mould remover sprays can kill mould, but your Legos might not like the chemicals. Your best bet is to soak and scrub again, then make sure you dry everything properly this time.
The Lego Company’s “Official” Guidelines for Cleaning Lego Pieces
The Lego company offers the following instructions to keep pieces clean and spotless:
- Handwash your Lego parts with warm water (but it should only be up to 40°C/ 104°F).
- Use a sponge or soft cloth with a mild detergent.
- Rinse with clear water.
- Avoid putting Legos in the washing machine or dishwasher.
- Never dry Legos in an oven or microwave. Avoid using hairdryers too.
Fun Ways to Clean Your Legos from Hardcore Enthusiasts
When it comes to cleaning Legos, you’re either a Zen person who enjoys doing it piece by piece or an avid collector who knows how to hack it and cleans whole sets without taking a piece off. Either way, people who have extensive builds have found surprising tools and techniques to clean up even the toughest dirt on the tiniest pieces:
Small Brushes
Brushes are a great way to prevent dust buildup on Lego sets. You can use fine-haired camel makeup brushes or computer keyboard brushes to get between hard to reach spaces.
Silly Putty
It sounds silly, but all you need to do it just put on dry Lego sets and lift dust off to your heart’s content. The dust and debris will stick to the silly putty and your Lego will be clean at the end!
Small Mesh Bag
If you really must put your Legos in the dishwasher or washing machine, make sure to use fine, tight-mesh bags and wash with cold water and no soap (they can leave residue). Avoid dryers at all costs because your Legos will melt, it’ll stink and it’s be noisy as anything. It would probably ruin your dryer too, actually.
Compressed Air
You can clean anything that’s dusty with a can of compressed air. Sure, it’s an expensive way to give that Lego collection a shine, but it’s unbelievably satisfying. For some reason, cleaning anything at all with a can of compressed air will bring you great joy. It’s probably not that good for the environment though, or a very efficient use of your time!
To Sum Up the Best Way to Clean Your Lego
Basically, the best way to clean Lego is to avoid doing anything that’ll ruin it. No excessive heat, scrubbing, or harsh chemicals. Just keep on top of dusting them so they don’t get a dust and dirt build up, and if they really need a deep clean, get them in some warm soap water, give them a gentle scrub and make sure you let them dry really well.
The best advice of all is to regularly dust off Legos so that you don’t have to deep clean as much.