Gooey fingers. Tropical rainstorms of saliva. Runny noses. Sticky spilled grape juice. Last night’s dinner crumbs.
I’m grossed out. Need I say more?
Oh dear, those poor Lego bricks are absolutely filthy. Don’t blame the kid; these things happen, it’s a part of the joys of being a parent...right??
It’s just time you get a handle on this war of germs without taking away the fun--perhaps just temporarily. I digress.
Okay, so there is a way to clean Lego bricks that isn’t too much of a pain. YouTube channel, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago, tells you how to give your Lego bricks a good ole washin’ in the video below and their facility's sanitizing methods.
It’s as simple as tossing your Legos inside of a laundry mesh bag and popping it in your washing machine. Make sure your Legos are broken apart from each other to get the best cleaning action. You’ll want to make sure to set your wash cycle on the cold setting only; hot water for those little bricks is just asking for bad news, like discoloration and warping. As LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago suggests, you don’t want your water temp to exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s totally fine to use your regular, mild laundry detergent to get the job done, too. That’s it—but, of course there are more tips to be shared.
For instance, you can substitute a pillowcase if you don’t have a laundry mesh bag on hand for the plastic bricks. The pillowcase scenario is perfect for uber small pieces or if stickers are on the bricks. The only catch is to tie the pillowcase with a rubber band or a simple knot to do the trick. Now, I know the video quality isn’t all the best—give them a break; it was their first one and is still filled with Lego washing goodness.
There are other options too, if you don’t feel comfortable giving the bricks a swirl in your washing machine. You can bathe your Lego bricks in the sink, using a colander. A 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar to bathe your bricks is perfect to disinfect and remove any residue. This second option is perfect if you don’t have a ton of bricks to cleanse, or they’re in need of some serious sanitizing action.
When your Lego bricks are finished in the washer, I don’t mean to state the obvious here, but please, do not place them in the clothes dryer.
Hello melted plastic. Hello warped bricks.
As the video suggests, it’s best to place a few towels down and lay your bricks evenly across. Grab up a fan, turn it on, point it towards your Legos, and allow the airflow to do the work for you.
Now, what are you waiting for? Besides a spontaneous road trip to LEGOLAND, you’ve got dirty Lego bricks to clean.
Have you tried these cleaning methods before?
Photo by: Bill Ward | Flickr
