How to Clean and Sanitize LEGO

Cleaning LEGO bricks does not sound like fun, but it needs to be done sometimes! Learn how to clean and sanitize LEGO!

You’ve just hit the jackpot by finding hundreds of LEGO bricks at a garage sale for next to nothing. Woohoo! Or maybe you’re tickled to death about the steal that you found of gently-used LEGO at the store that only cost you a fraction of what you’d pay for brand new LEGO? 

While you certainly struck gold, you need to stop and think about all the germs and bacteria that you could be bringing into your home. It may even be time to freshen up your children’s grungy looking bricks at home. You’re probably thinking with the thousands of tiny pieces that this chore will turn into an all-day task?

Here’s how to clean and sanitize those LEGO bricks.

Separate the Pieces

As awful as it sounds, every piece will need to be taken apart in order for them to be cleaned to your satisfaction. Get your kids involved with helping you with this to save yourself some time. 

Set Stickered Pieces Aside

You’ll want to keep stickered bricks apart from the rest of the bunch and use an old toothbrush (be careful not to brush too hard) or soft cloth to clean them. That way the water doesn’t cause the stickers to loosen or come off.  

Use Soap Or Detergent 

Depending on how many LEGO bricks you’re dealing with, you can fill up a sink or bathtub using hot water, but no hotter than 104 degrees. You can use dish detergent or clothes detergent and agitate by stirring with your hands. You don’t have to clean each one by hand unless you really feel it’s necessary.    

Add White Vinegar to Sanitize 

One easy and painless way to sanitize your LEGO pieces is by adding ¼ cup of white vinegar to every cup of hot water that you use to put them in. Some LEGO owners decide to use bleach to sterilize their bricks, by adding ¼ tbsp to every gallon of warm water. Allow them to soak for at least 10 minutes and then rinse them off. You can use the kitchen sink sprayer to make this easier.  

Easier Way to Dry

While you could sit there and dry off every single piece by hand, you could also lay them out on a towel in front of a boxed fan and stir them every few hours. By the next morning, they should be completely dry.    

Magic Eraser To Remove Scuffs

If you’re noticing small scuff marks on your pieces, try using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to help with this. Just be sure that you don’t do it too hard or it might leave scratches.  

 

While it’s definitely going to take you time, cleaning and sanitizing your children’s LEGO bricks isn’t a bad idea. Have you discovered any other safe ways to make cleaning and sanitizing LEGO easier?