How To Clean LEGO: Tips And Techniques For Sparkling Sets

LEGO enthusiasts know that these colourful bricks are more than just toys. They are also a gateway to creativity and endless fun. But whether you’re an adult collector, a parent with LEGO-loving kids or both, keeping these bricks clean is essential. 

Not only does it preserve the longevity of your LEGO sets, but it also ensures a safe and hygienic environment, especially when it comes to children who are prone to putting toys in their mouths. 

Children’s plastic toys can harbour viruses, with studies showing viruses with protective shells can survive on toys for up to 24 hours if not more. That includes LEGO, making regular cleaning a must. 
Thanks to our guide on how to clean LEGO, there’s no need to fear lingering germs. Read on as we walk you through various methods to effectively clean your LEGO bricks and sets and keep them sparking, clean and ready for play or display.

How to clean LEGO

Handwashing with mild soap and water

Display Case for LEGO® BrickHeadz The Phantom Menace (40676)

Treat your LEGO to a bubble bath! Hand washing your LEGO bricks is one of the most simple and effective methods to ensure they’re germ and dust-free. It’s also suitable for all types of sets and allows you to clean individual pieces carefully.

Instructions: 

1. Gather all of your dirty LEGO bricks
2. Fill your sink, bucket or large bowl with lukewarm water that’s no hotter than 40°C, as this can affect the quality of the parts. 
3. Add mild soap to the water.
4. Clean your bricks using a soft cloth or sponge and rinse them well with clear water.
5. Lay your bricks out to air dry on a towel.

Machine washing in a mesh bag

Machine washing can be a great time-saving option for those with extensive collections, allowing you to clean larger quantities of LEGO bricks in one go. Just be careful to avoid damaging your more delicate pieces, and always use a mesh bag so no pieces end up at the bottom of your washing machine, causing damage. 

Instructions:

1. Sort out fragile pieces to wash separately.
2. Place your LEGO bricks and Minifigures into a mesh laundry bag.
3. Use a delicate cycle with cold water and a mild laundry detergent. Once your bricks are clean, spread them out on a towel to air dry.

Dry brushing to remove dust and dirt

When it comes to how to clean LEGO sets, dry brushing is key. Dry brushing requires minimal effort and is perfect for removing surface dust and dirt from display models and assembled sets without dismantling them. 

Instructions: 

1. Choose a clean, soft-bristled brush, like a make-up brush, to clean your bricks without damaging or scratching them. 
2. Gently brush your LEGO models, reaching into crevices to carefully remove dust. 

Soaking in a vinegar solution for tough stains

Vinegar contains antibacterial properties, making it a great tool for sanitising your LEGO bricks naturally and getting rid of tough stains left by sticky fingers. It’s also great for banishing any unwanted, lingering smells.

Instructions:

1. Add a ¼ cup of white vinegar to a cup of hot water and add it to your container of lukewarm water.
2. Soak your pieces for at least 10-15 minutes. You can use a mesh bag for larger quantities of bricks.
3. Rinse them well with clear, cold water by placing them in a sieve or colander and allow them to air dry. 

Using a soft-bristled toothbrush for intricate details

Display Case for LEGO® Spring Festival Auspicious Dragon (80112)

Many collectors recommend using a soft-bristle toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach areas and intricate details on LEGO sets that you just can't bear to take apart. Avoid a toothbrush with thick, plastic bristles, which can leave scratches.

Instructions:

1. Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush with a narrow head to reach all the little nooks and crannies. 
2. Applying a light touch, gently clean your model and remove accumulated dust. 

Compressed air for hard-to-reach areas

If you’re wondering how to clean LEGO sets from dust, compressed air is fantastic for dislodging dust and dirt from tight spots and assembled models. It can even remove several layers of dust in mere seconds, making it a great choice if speed is a priority. 

However, it’s good to note that compressed air can be powerful and should be used carefully to avoid damaging or knocking off loose or fragile pieces. 

Instructions:

1. Purchase a can of compressed air or an air blower. 
2. Hold your can upright and about 6 inches away from your model.
3. Direct the nozzle towards hard-to-reach areas and apply quick, gentle and short bursts of air to blow dust and dislodge debris.
4. Repeat as necessary, working your way around the model.

Steam cleaning with a handheld steamer

Steam cleaning uses superheated steam, which can be used to loosen dirt and sticky grime from your LEGO bricks without using harsh chemicals like bleach. The hot steam will also sanitise your LEGO.

Instructions:

1. Fill a handheld steamer with water according to the instructions.
2. Apply steam to your bricks or model, holding it several inches away from your LEGO to avoid damage.
3. Use a soft cloth to wipe away loosened dirt and wait for the pieces to completely cool and dry. 

Thorough and gentle ultrasonic cleaning

An ultrasonic cleaner works well on small, hard plastic pieces like LEGO, penetrating small crooks and crevices easily thanks to its powerful vibrations. It provides a deep and gentle clean, ideal for delicate and valuable LEGO sets. 

Instructions:

1. Fill the ultrasonic cleaner with water and add a few drops of mild cleaning solution.
2. Submerge your LEGO pieces in the cleaner and turn on the machine.
3. Once your pieces are clean, rinse them with water and allow them to air dry.

Dishwasher cleaning on a gentle cycle

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It’s worth saying straight away that LEGO does not recommend using a dishwasher to clean your bricks. Not only could it damage your LEGO, but it could also jam your dishwasher.

However, some people use this method successfully and have found it convenient for cleaning large quantities of bricks quickly. If you do end up choosing this method, make sure to proceed with caution. 

Instructions:

1. Place your LEGO bricks in a mesh laundry bag to avoid loose pieces damaging your dishwasher.
2. Use a gentle cycle with a low-temperature setting.
3. Once the cycle finishes, remove the bricks and spread them out to air dry.

Toothpick cleaning for small crevices

Using a toothpick is a surprisingly effective way to remove specific dirt and crumbs from even the tiniest crevices and most intricate parts of your LEGO sets. However, this method is only suitable for targeted cleaning and isn’t great for cleaning larger models or quantities of bricks. 

Instructions:

1. Use a toothpick to carefully scrape out dirt from crevices. For even more precision, use a magnifying glass to see better before cleaning off any dislodged debris with a soft cloth. 

Rubbing alcohol for disinfecting and sanitising

Alcohol is a cheap and effective disinfectant that can kill germs and bacteria. However, it should be used with caution. Alcohol can be risky to use on LEGO, as it can weaken or discolour the plastic. 

Instructions:

1. Use alcohol wipes or a bottle with a little bit of rubbing alcohol.
2. Lightly spray the LEGO bricks and wipe them using a clean, soft cloth.

Vacuuming with a soft brush attachment

Vacuuming with a soft brush attachment is a great way to remove dust and dirt from large LEGO displays without scratching or disassembling them. Just be careful to avoid settings with a strong suction that could suck up small pieces. 

Instructions:

1. Attach a soft brush to your vacuum cleaner.
2. Gently run the brush attachment over your LEGO model, using a low suction setting, if possible. 

Hydrogen peroxide for whitening yellowed bricks

Hydrogen peroxide helps restore white bricks that have become yellow over time back to their original, bright selves again.

Instructions: 

1. Pick out all of your yellowed and discoloured white bricks.
2. First, clean your bricks in a container with soap and lukewarm water.
3. While wearing safety glasses and gloves, soak your LEGO bricks in 3% hydrogen peroxide, placing the container in direct sunlight for several hours.
4. Check periodically to ensure that all your bricks are submerged.
5. Once your bricks have whitened, transfer them to a sieve or colander and rinse them properly with water before allowing them to air dry. 

Cleaning wipes for quick and convenient spot cleaning

Cleaning wipes can be a quick and convenient way to clean up small messes or for routine maintenance, as long as they don’t contain harsh chemicals that could potentially damage your LEGO pieces. 

Instructions:

1. Purchase disinfectant or baby wipes that are safe to use.
2. Gently wipe your LEGO bricks with the cleaning wipe, focusing on dust and dirty areas. 
3. Allow your bricks to fully dry before using them again.

How to clean LEGO without taking it apart

We know how painstakingly long it can take to build your creations — especially if you dare assemble models like the LEGO Art World Map, which contains over 11,000 pieces, or the whopping Titanic, which has 9,090 pieces. 

For those who love a challenge, it’s no exaggeration that taking your creations apart to give them a clean can be heart-wrenching. But did you know there are ways to clean LEGO models without dismantling them? 

Here are some of the best methods for cleaning LEGO sets without taking them apart:

1. Dry brushing: Using a clean, soft-bristled brush to gently remove surface dust is a quick and safe way to clean models with intricate details.
2. Compressed air: Use short bursts of compressed air to blow out dust from hard-to-reach areas and tight spaces in more delicate structures. 
3. Vacuuming with a soft brush: Using a soft brush attachment, gently run your vacuum over the model to suck dust without dismantling it.
4. Cleaning wipes: For targeted spot cleaning or a general wipe down, use gentle disinfectant or baby wipes to get rid of dust and dirty areas.

How to clean LEGO in bulk

For those with big and growing collections, cleaning your LEGO in bulk is the best way to save time and effort. 

What is the best way to clean LEGOs in bulk? You can do this by:

1. Machine washing in a mesh bag: Mesh bags are a great way to group and contain loose bricks without causing damage to your washing machine. Wash on a gentle cycle with cold water and a mild detergent to avoid damaging your bricks. 
2. Using the dishwasher: Load your LEGO bricks into a dishwasher-safe container or mesh bag and run them on a gentle cycle with low heat. While this method can be convenient for bulk cleaning, it isn't recommended by LEGO.
3. Giving them a soak in mild soap and water or a vinegar solution: For a natural bulk-cleaning option, soak LEGO bricks in a soap and warm water solution, or white vinegar and water. Leave your bricks to soak for at least 15 minutes before rinsing and leaving them to air dry. 

Keeping your LEGO clean

Display case for LEGO® ‘Up’ House (43217)

Now that your LEGO has been given some TLC, is germ-free and looks as good as new, it’s equally as important to keep it looking pristine with regular maintenance and effective storage and display solutions. 

Storage solutions

• Prevent dust and dirt buildup by storing your LEGO bricks in sealed, airtight containers.
• Make it easier to find and keep your LEGO pieces clean using organisers and drawers with compartments.

Display solutions

• Use clear display cases to showcase assembled LEGO sets while keeping them protected from dust and little ones with curious hands. 
• Place them on shelves, in cabinets or mounted on walls, away from direct sunlight to prevent discolouration.

Regular maintenance

• Remember to regularly dust your displayed LEGO sets using a soft-bristled brush or compressed air. 
• Keep cleaning wipes and toothpicks handy for quick spot cleaning to eliminate smudges, crumbs and other unwanted debris. 
• If your models and bricks are frequently handled (especially by children), give them a thorough clean from time to time. You can do this using soap and warm water or vinegar to get rid of lingering bacteria and germs. 

Show your LEGO some TLC with Wicked Brick

Taking good care of your LEGO and regularly cleaning your sets helps them stay spotless and in tip-top condition. This guarantees your bricks’ longevity and keeps away nasty germs and bacteria that can survive on plastic toys for 24 hours or more. 

From handwashing individual bricks with mild soap and water to using advanced techniques, like compressed air for assembled models, you can keep your LEGO and family safe. 

Ensure your LEGO stays as vibrant and enjoyable as the day you got it with Wicked Brick’s wide range of premium display cases, podiums and more! Our storage solutions are specially designed to protect and showcase your creations in all their glory, keeping your LEGO sets clean and in top shape for years to come. Click here to browse the Wicked Brick range.