How to clean Lego bricks

Key steps

• Dust regularly using a feather duster or small brush.

• Wash Lego with a mixture of warm water and Persil.

• Soak Lego which is particularly dirty.

• Use a toothbrush to remove loosened dirt.

• Don’t wash or soak electronic Lego parts.

• Allow Lego to air dry on a towel.

• Use liquid acrylic to fix scratched Lego.

Lego bricks come into contact with little fingers every day and then they get put away in dusty storage boxes. This means that a lot of grease, grime and bacteria can build up around their fiddly surface area. Our guide will show you how to clean Lego bricks easily, efficiently and effectively, leaving them sanitised and safe for play.

Leave the Legos to soak overnight in soapy, warm (but not hot) water to loosen any stubborn grime.

How to clean Legos: tips for making child’s play of cleaning Lego bricks

Knowing how to clean Lego sets and restore them to tip-top condition means you can keep building masterpieces.

1. Regularly dust the surface of your Lego. A few tools you can use for this include:

   • A feather or synthetic duster.

   • A small paint brush or an old make-up brush.

   • A compressed-air duster.

2.  To get grease and sticky dirt off, here's how to wash Legos with soapy water:

   • Use water no hotter than 40°C.

   • Add a few drops of a mild detergent like Persil washing up liquid to the water.

   • Dip a soft cloth or sponge into the soapy water.

   • Wipe down the surface of the Lego.

   • Rinse under clean, fresh water.

3. If your Lego is extra dirty, use these steps:

   • Mix up the same soapy water solution.

   • Leave the Lego pieces to soak in your soapy water for around 24 hours.

   • After the soak, use a toothbrush to remove the loosened dirt and grime.

4. Never put Lego into the washing machine or dishwasher.

5. Avoid using water to clean any Lego parts which have electronics.

6. Always allow Lego to air-dry.

   • For the best results lay them on a towel.

   • Leave them until they are fully dry, before building with or letting your children play with the Lego bricks.

7. Never use the oven, microwave or a hair dryer as this could warp the surface of the Lego.

8. If you have scratches on the surface of the Lego, you can even smooth them out:

   • Fill a small bowl with liquid acrylic.

   • Dip the Lego pieces into the liquid.

   • Allow it to dry.

   • Once dry, polish the surface with a soft cloth.

The best way to clean Legos is to follow a little-and-often approach. Rather than once in a lifetime, clean them a few times per year and you’ll avoid the otherwise inevitable build-up of grime. For advice on how to keep other toys sanitary and play-friendly, read our article on how to clean kids toys safely.