how to clean?

#1, these aren't "Google Groups", you're reading Usenet News through Google. Usenet News has been around "forever". I started reading and posting in

1987. This is long before Google and even before html and web browsers.

#2, this has to be a FAQ somewhere. Go to Google and type in "FAQ Lego washing" and you'll find the answers on the web (look for "Subject: 9) How to wash LEGO pieces"):

Note that this newsgroup isn't very active anymore, so the FAQ doesn't get posted very often (if at all), but as you can see above, it's still archived in many places.

#3, Lego is NOT diswasher safe. I've seen the effects of the overly hot water and drying cycle on Lego and it's *not* pretty.

A good place to visit is

Jeff

Dear James, In order to clean the lego peices you bought off of ebay simply put them in a net bag the sort you put socks in to save them getting mixed up with all the other stuff in the washing maching, then place the lego peices in the net bag then place the net bag with the lego peices in it in the washing machine and the put on at its hottest setting and when the lego bricks come out of the washing machine they should be shining like you bought them brand new!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be careful here! Some people have their hot water heater set high enough to soften Lego. If you wash them in too hot of water, you could damage their "clutch power". Lego has always had a warning about this (used to be on instructions and catalogs).

Here it is on the Lego website:

How can you sanitize/wash LEGO bricks? We recommend that you clean or wash your LEGO parts only by hand at max. 40°C or 104 degrees (F) Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures may affect the quality of the LEGO parts. You can add a mild detergent to the water, followed by rinsing with clear water. Please don't put your bricks in the washing machine or dishwasher or attempt to dry them in ovens, microwaves or with hair dryers. Any electrical parts, such as cables, motors, battery compartments, can only be wiped off with alcohol. Air-dry parts at room temperature. For disinfecting please use mild bleach.

I've only used the washing machine for really old Lego that was really dirty and was already scratched up. The washing machine is generally too "hard" on the Lego and they'll scratch up each other as the machine smashes them together. If you must use the washing machine, make sure the water isn't very hot. At my house, I'd use the "warm" setting which puts out luke-warm water that's maybe 95 to 105 degrees.

A better way is to hand wash them in the bath tub. Just make sure they don't go down the drain (stick that mesh clothes washing bag over the drain). I use a small amount of hand dish washing liquid to clean them since it's a very mild detergent.

Another way I've cleaned Lego is in a clean 5 gallon bucket with holes drilled in the lid so it's easy to drain without loosing pieces. You can news ones cheap at hardware stores (maybe $5 for a bucket with lid).

I dry them by spreading them out on top of bath towels. Move the Lego around every few hours or so to get the water out and to let all sides dry.

Never wash any electrical pieces as they can easily be ruined. Lego heads are especially delicate (the printing on them) and should be washed individually, only when really necessary.

Jeff