Questions tagged [cleaning]

What's the best way to clean your bricks? What's the best way to care for them? These sorts of questions and more should be tagged with this tag.

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My minifigs have been doodled with marker pens. How can I clean them?

So simple question really, child drew on figures with marker pens, how can I clean them off with out removing the original prints ?
Skeith's user avatar
  • 193
3 votes
1 answer
256 views

How can I stop bricks 'skating' over plates?

I've just read all around the question about 'clutch power' from nine years ago and the changing molds, both here and on Rebrickable, but these don't answer my problem. Has anyone else had the problem ...
MocBird's user avatar
  • 143
16 votes
2 answers
2k views

Remove 3, maybe 4, decades old PVA glue from Lego

A friend of mine gave me a large crate of Lego that he found in the house he just bought. It appears to be several sets from the late 70's. (I spotted the building instructions for the 850 and 851 ...
Tonny's user avatar
  • 1,242
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

What kind of soap can I use to clean LEGO?

I have some LEGO bricks I would like to clean some old sets and parts I bought from Brick Owl. So I would like to know what soap is the safest for cleaning the LEGO parts I was thinking maybe soft ...
Justan 's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
196 views

Paint and marker removal from minifigs? [closed]

When I was little, I sometimes painted or colored on LEGO minifigures. Is there an easier solution for cleaning off the marks, especially the paint? Glass cleaner was recommended but after leaving ...
Mason's user avatar
  • 143
6 votes
1 answer
249 views

Lego Duplo Train Track Switcher washable? / Best way to clean them?

I've found some pretty old Lego Duplo train track parts, that I'm looking to sell on Ebay. As these are pretty old and caked with dust, I wanted to used my usual method I usually use to clean all ...
Vincent Guttmann's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
265 views

Separating old 2 x 4 brick with wheel holder

I am wondering if anyone knows of a way to separate the clear bottom piece from the brick on part# 7049b "Brick, Modified 2 x 4 with Wheels Holder Old and Trans-Clear Bottom" without breaking anything....
JohnnyB's user avatar
  • 3,264
5 votes
3 answers
2k views

Restoring valuable minifigures

I recently purchased a lot of LEGO minifigures. Included in the lot was a first issue green goblin. The figure is in great condition aside from having a permanent marker line on the torso. Is there a ...
Wendy Stoneback's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
199 views

Why are different ID informations printed in the inside of the same sort of bricks?

While sorting old bricks I observed that the inscriptions printed inside show a different coding. As you can see the outside it is always a ordinary "1x2 tile with groove in good old Light Gray (item ...
fabian's user avatar
  • 1,285
4 votes
1 answer
583 views

How To Deal With Hydrogen Peroxide After De-Yellowing?

I was able to remove the annoying yellowing effect from old white and lightgray bricks with the usage of hydrogen peroxide. With great results I have to say. Now I wonder what to do with the remaining ...
fabian's user avatar
  • 1,285
3 votes
1 answer
4k views

Is it possible to sand/polish LEGO bricks?

I have an old white and rare brick which got scratches and dirtying which I cannot wash away. Any ideas on how to clean it? I thought about fine sanding or polishing but I am afraid that I damage the ...
fabian's user avatar
  • 1,285
2 votes
1 answer
291 views

Cleaning Bricklink pieces bought as "new"

I'm just preparing my first Bricklink order and I've got a simple question - Is there a reason to clean pieces bought on Bricklink which were sold as "new"?
Ktosiek's user avatar
  • 21
14 votes
2 answers
782 views

Is it possible to dismantle and refurbish an original 870 Technic motor?

I have a couple of ancient 870 motors (the 4.5v ones) that run but don't sound great. I've looked for, but can't find, a guide on how to dismantle them. I'd like to either get in there and clean/...
Chris's user avatar
  • 243
3 votes
1 answer
861 views

What is an effective way to clean clear LEGO bricks?

What kind of cleaning products are good and safe to remove smudges and finger prints off clear LEGO parts? Normally I would just use the Clorox wipes. The parts in question are 1x2x2 panels in clear ...
JM Kraemer's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

How to protect my LEGO city from the dust?

I have a LEGO city with all the modular LEGO in my bedroom. But the dust is killing me at nights. How can I protect them? Where can I get those display domes?
Vladimir R's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
13k views

How can I remove old LEGO bricks that are stuck together?

Brought my childhood LEGO sets from 1970's and 80's for my kids. The pieces attach much tighter together than sets purchased recently. Can something be done to loosen the attachment without damaging ...
emagar's user avatar
  • 165
4 votes
2 answers
527 views

How to clear off oils in a way that will not damage the plastic?

Especially with the pneumatic cylinders, so it has to not make the metal rust too. Also, it is oxidized vegetable that is stuck in there, inside the pneumatic cylinders. And it started to make it all ...
CC_22224's user avatar
  • 298
1 vote
0 answers
61 views

LEGO cleaning dust? [duplicate]

I'm a LEGO seller and buy around 20-50kg of LEGO bricks a week. I need to clean these items before I sell them. Currently I'm using the standard method using a bucket and soapy water. However, this ...
pwghost's user avatar
  • 31
0 votes
2 answers
4k views

LEGO Cleaning/Sterilisation [duplicate]

I am just looking to see if anyone knows of a LEGO product that exists that allows you to sterilise your LEGO using your dishwasher. Thanks
Cleandude's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
142 views

How to clean dirty white tiles? [duplicate]

I ordered a couple of tiles from bricklink.com, but they arrived a bit dirty. I'd like to make them look shining new before using them for my creation. Is there a quick and reliable way to do it?
Legocake123's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
2k views

How to help a yellowed brick with a sticker?

My parents recently finally decided they can return me my childhood toys with 1990s Technic sets including the 8880 Super Car. All other sets were in boxes, but this one spent the last 15+ years ...
jkadlubowska's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
7k views

Does soaking Lego pieces in isopropyl alcohol discolor or otherwise damage them?

I need to clean my Lego including minifigures, printed pieces and cloth pieces from smoke (apartment fire). I have found that soaking the pieces in isopropyl alcohol removes the smell, but am I ...
brick_dev's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
977 views

Neutralize brick scent

I store some used Lego sets in household plastic boxes originally used for candy. I thought they were ideal, but now I found out the bricks have caught an unpleasant candy scent -- despite cleaning ...
Gruber's user avatar
  • 1,678
3 votes
1 answer
246 views

Remove decals from LEGO Friends mini-dolls

I am trying to remove the decals from my LEGO Friends mini-dolls. Does anyone have any suggestions for doing this? I tried rubbing alcohol on a minifigure once, and it made it all gross looking, so I ...
rioforce's user avatar
  • 282
10 votes
9 answers
5k views

How can I remove permanent marker from a LEGO brick?

I need to remove permanent marker from hard plastic. How can I do it?
user3902's user avatar
  • 151
5 votes
1 answer
363 views

How do they keep the outdoor models so clean at the various Legoland parks?

I've visited Legoland in California a few times and was always impressed with the lack of accumulated grime or bird "strikes" on the outdoor displays. How do the park employees accomplish this feat? ...
Major Stackings's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
81 views

What's the most effective way to clean dusty builds? [duplicate]

I have a large airplane build that I haven't touched in quite a while, and it has built up quite a large amount of dust. I've tried using a wet washcloth to wipe off the dust, but when cleaning that ...
DatEpicCoderGuyWhoPrograms's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Pneumatic pistons getting sticky

My sons "9641 Pneumatics Add on Set" now suffers from stiction. How can this be fixed? Can it be cleaned? Is there a recommended lubricant?
Simon Featherstone's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
929 views

Battery Acid Dust Issue

I was recently digging through some old boxes looking for old LEGO bricks I had as a kid. In two of the boxes I found old double A batteries that had busted (the boxes were in a building that has got ...
Age243's user avatar
  • 51
4 votes
1 answer
680 views

Retrobrite cleaning on old cellulose acetate bricks?

Is Retrobrite (cleaning with hydrogen peroxide, oxyclean, sunlight) effective or ineffective or, worse, downright destructive on old cellulose acetate bricks? My understanding is that method of ...
Jessica Brown's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
745 views

How does cleaning yellowed Lego bricks affect their clutch power?

Will cleaning yellowed bricks (via the retr0brite solution) decrease the clutch power of lego bricks? I've also heard that certain colors of embellishments on the minifigs or bricks do not hold up ...
Jessica Brown's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
3k views

What can I do to clean a minifigure's torso?

I have the old General Grievous figure from 2005, and it is almost 10 years old. Due to its age, the torso now looks yellow-painted. What can I do to clean it?
Marcelo barrantes's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
3k views

Does cleaning LEGO parts affect their value?

I have a LEGO collection consisting of a number of rarer sets such as the monorail and 9V train sets. I want to clean the pieces but I am curious if cleaning the parts affects their value? I plan on ...
user1822824's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
436 views

DeathStar maintenance [duplicate]

I have a LEGO Deathstar and have already built stage one of four. However, I haven't been able to get to it lately and it has become rather dusty. How should I clean it? And I travel a lot, so is ...
Artemisia's user avatar
  • 131
15 votes
3 answers
13k views

How can odors be removed from bricks?

I recently purchased some used bricks. They currently smell like cigarette smoke. What is the best way to clean these parts to remove the odor?
jncraton's user avatar
  • 40.3k
10 votes
2 answers
5k views

Damage Boiling LEGO Bricks

I bought some LEGO bricks from shop on Bricklink and received them yesterday. In order to make sure that the pieces were nice and clean (they were used) so that my two year old can play with them, I ...
mj_'s user avatar
  • 1,119
11 votes
1 answer
572 views

Can I take an old LEGO winch apart?

I have an old LEGO winch that looks like #73037 It has been "restrung" but it is very stiff and it looks like it has some of the old string stuck between the rotating and non-rotating parts. It also ...
Mike Crowe's user avatar
15 votes
4 answers
2k views

How to remove printed decoration

This is probably heresy, but how can I remove the printed decoration on a brick? I managed to buy a large number of bricks with an eye decoration cheap and found that rubbing a long time with ...
Gnubie's user avatar
  • 853
11 votes
1 answer
753 views

How do I remove orange (rust?) stains from white elements?

I'm building with some yard sale Lego, and have several elements that have orange stains on them. If I had to guess, I'd say something seeped onto the bricks while they were in storage. At this point ...
Major Stackings's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
8k views

How to remove scratches from LEGO windshield parts?

I was storing my windshields from cars with other my bricks. Now they are scratched, nearly not transparent just translucent. Is there a way to sanitize transparent parts from scratches?
roslav's user avatar
  • 293
12 votes
1 answer
5k views

How many hours of travel does it take to wear out LEGO monorail tires?

I've seen some pretty impressive LEGO tire driven/cushioned monorail displays that put miles of wear on the track and the train cars that ride on it. I'm hoping a monorail expert can tell me (about) ...
Major Stackings's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

What disinfectant can I use on used LEGO parts? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: LEGO cleaning techniques and tools I usually purchase LEGO parts at yard sales and the like and would like to disinfect them before using them. Can I use any spray ...
Ivan's user avatar
  • 221
19 votes
9 answers
5k views

Cleaning between the studs of a build

I've unpacked a few of my models after moving home some time ago, these models have been in a cardboard boxes for several months and need cleaning: I've tried compressed air, which only makes some of ...
Ambo100's user avatar
  • 17.6k
22 votes
5 answers
2k views

Technic axle corrosion? What happened here?

I got my LEGO from storage from when I was a kid (1980s) and while almost all bricks are in good condition, the Technic axles are in a pretty bad shape. They seem to have corroded(?). Please see the ...
greye's user avatar
  • 513
14 votes
1 answer
612 views

What method do you use to safely remove creases from fabric sails from the Pirate sets?

I have creased sails. Is it safe to iron them, or is there a better method?
Major Stackings's user avatar
23 votes
4 answers
9k views

Are all the Magnet minifigs now glued on and how should I remove them?

A couple of years ago (around 2010 I think), I bought a number of the Star Wars magnet sets, as they looked like a (slightly) economical way of buying a number of specialist characters (including the ...
Zhaph - Ben Duguid's user avatar
14 votes
6 answers
1k views

What is the best way of getting muck out of bricks?

I purchased a large bulk load of bricks for my 7 year old. Most have washed up quite well, but some of the bricks have various substances stuck in their underside. The types of foreign substances ...
Kramii's user avatar
  • 9,121
23 votes
9 answers
18k views

How can I efficiently pick up bricks off the floor?

My floor is covered in bricks. My bare feet can't take much more abuse. Is there a way of collecting up the bricks easily, or should I just get on my knees and start scooping them up with my hands?
fredley's user avatar
  • 3,214
1 vote
0 answers
120 views

Cleaning a lot of bricks after a very long time in storage [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Lego cleaning techniques and tools I have a lot of bricks that have been in storage for a few years. They've been stored in a closed big box. They're now very dirty. It's ...
applechief's user avatar
27 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why are old LEGO bricks more brittle than new ones?

My vintage LEGO sets (circa 1980) are difficult to unbuild. Some pieces are prone to break. Did the plastic recipe change with time or are the bricks simply degrading?
jfyelle's user avatar
  • 3,242