How Do You Clean Them?

Kanduu · Post by **Kanduu** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:40 pm

A few little questions for people. Some to help me, and some just curious.

What is that nice website that tells ways to clean bricks? I was on there last week, but I can't remember what it was (and my web history isn't helping).

Has anyone tried washing bricks in the washing machine, as is suggested on that site?

How would you recommend washing the cloth sails, and other cloth? I have some water spot looking things, and I tried Oxi-Clean... Maybe I should've asked here first. I'll tell you if it works. (By the way, I'm considering selling an SES that I have "extra"...)

Dunechaser · Post by **Dunechaser** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 2:13 am

Washing machine?! Washing machine?!?! That's a new one...

Try this article on BrickWiki instead:

http://brickwiki.zapto.org/index.php/Ca ... O_products

J1A3L5 · Post by **J1A3L5** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 2:15 am

The washing machine concept isn't new. I understand that it can actually work, if you put all the pieces in some sort of bag (Pillowcase!) and they're all basic bricks. Personally, I've be afraid they'd scratch each other a lot. I prefer hand-washing. I do know some people have tried it, and thought it worked well.

-John.

ottoatm · Post by **ottoatm** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:41 am

J1A3L5 wrote:The washing machine concept isn't new. I understand that it can actually work, if you put all the pieces in some sort of bag (Pillowcase!) and they're all basic bricks.

I've heard of this tactic too - and I've heard some people are very sucessful at it. However, I also am a little afraid to just dump my bricks into the spin cycle, as it were.

When I was my bricks, I usually try to just soak them in cold water, and then brush them with an old toothbrush. If that doesn't work, I will then add some soap, but I prefer to clean them with as few chemicals as possible... because I am paranoid about this kind of thing I guess.

Post by **JoshWedin** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:03 am

The one time I have had to wash Lego, I filled up the kitchen sink with hot water and a little soap and let them soak for a bit. Then I rinsed them off and laid them out on a couple of cookie sheets over night to dry. It took the smokey smell right out, which is what I was hoping for.

Josh

PS. This was for a 15lb lot I got on Ebay, so it works on large quantities...

Webrain · Post by **Webrain** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 7:00 am

Washing machine is a great cleaner tried it once but it demages the bricks unfortunatlty so I wouldn't suggest it. Usually I use a thooth brush, liquied soap and water but it's a lot of work.

Recluce · Post by **Recluce** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:42 pm

I had about 40 lbs of unsorted dirty lego to deal with and I did the washing machine thing. Put them all in laundry bags (with zippers), then in another laundry bag. Worked fine. A few pieces escaped but it was no big deal. And, the pieces came out looking great. Because they were already a bit dinged up I had no problem using this method.

The Hordesman · Post by **The Hordesman** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:39 pm

A fine brush- brush the bricks, then blow.

All you need is a brush and a mouth.

Tanotrooper · Post by **Tanotrooper** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:45 pm

The Hordesman wrote:A fine brush- brush the bricks, then blow.

All you need is a brush and a mouth.

hmm... have to try that out, but where do I find this socalled "mouth" ?

lol, that wasnt a good joke.

but: i tried just water and soap. I havent tried it on really dirty bricks... but a washmachine? My mom would freak out if she heard it! lol

TT

Sheen · Post by **Sheen** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:02 pm

Thanks, I'm glad someone asked this question as I've been looking for answers as well. I was hoping for something a little faster than individually brushing each stud, but perhaps if I get a big enough brush it won't be so bad. Before you all showed me that building your own MOCs could be fun I used to just build the main design in the instruction booklet and let them sit up for months on end collecting dust. I have so many dusty pieces now!

HenrytheV · Post by **HenrytheV** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:20 pm

I just use warms soapy water. Hot water can warp the pieces, and hurt your hands too. I also just let them air dry. And sometimes if I'm impatient I'll stick the pieces in a towel and swing the towel around, thus slinging all of the water out.

Jonathan

J1A3L5 · Post by **J1A3L5** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:06 pm

I'll add that I'm another person who goes with water and a brush, with some soap. I've never had the soap damage bricks.

I wash all "used" pieces coming into my collection, if they're from sources such as garage sales. It takes a while, but it's worth it if you are patient. I hand-washed, counted, weeded, and sorted this tub I got from a friend once: It was ~6000 pieces. A big job, but worth it.

-John L.

mandysbus · Post by **mandysbus** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:56 pm

handwashing legos with a brush is a time consuming pain in the butt. we had picked up a Lego Dacta table w/bin at an auction (probably came from a preschool or daycare or something so the bricks were really dusty and dirty) and i washed them by hand (warm water and dishsoap)...took forever. but it was worth it, its quite a neat table, has a flip top lego surface for regular and duplo bricks and a lamanate cover to turn it to a regular table.

i have since gotten a zipper mesh bag and have been considering the washing machine method, i'll have to try it out sometime.

Brickboy · Post by **Brickboy** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:03 am

Would a dishwasher work? Just out of curiosity

-Alan-

Kanduu · Post by **Kanduu** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:40 am

Great to know the washing machine works, more or less. I might have to try it some time. The handwashing is definitely time-consuming.

I'm not too sure about the dishwasher, it might be too hot. Unless, of course, you could control the temperature. If so, it might be better--not rolling everything around and all.

As for the Oxi-Clean... Amazingly enough, it worked very well. Not only does it not hurt "even lace!" but the sail turned out nice and white. I soaked it for about an hour, in about half a cup of water, with half a teaspoon or so of the cleaner. That was after I scrubbed with a toothbrush with paste version of the Oxi stuff.

Water makes the usually stiff cloth very soft and bendable, but it also takes out those annoying wrinkles. Don't worry, when it drys, it goes back to normal.