Best ways to prevent sets getting dusty

[Nonpoint Fan]

Aside from cleaning them each week, are there any good ways to prevent Lego from getting dusty. Would ventilation or glass cabinets be any good?

[General Zen]

When I go to high school and have basically no time for lego, :-( :-( I plan to put a large sheet over my collection. Perhaps you should find a small one you could remove easily. this usually prevents the dust from my experiance. ;-)

Edited January 10, 2008 by General Zen

[Brickmaster]

Taking them off the ole' shelf and playing with them is my preferred method ;-)

[TheFrisian]

When I go to high school and have basically no time for lego, :-( :-( I plan to put a large sheet over my collection. Perhaps you should find a small one you could remove easily. this usually prevents the dust from my experiance. ;-)

That kinda works for when you store LEGO, but I would welcome some effective solutions for models on display. My Sopwith Camel and Red Baron have gotten extremely dusty while on display, still got to find a way to clean them without destroying what's left of the !@#$%^& stickers that don't stick any more.

[adik_sa_lego]

still looking for the compressed air can used for DSLRs. that might do the trick.

[ApophisV]

Put them behind glas (I only have a regular shelf *sad* ) or buy yourself a large, soft brush. I got one myself and for the most models it works great.

I bought it from an art store and it was around 4 or 5 Euro, but it is worth the money. The hair is very soft so it doesn't skratch the plastic or damages stickers and it is flexible enough to reach also smaller gaps of the models. Furthermore it is wide enough (like 2 or 3 cm) to make the cleaning of larger surfaces easy. I really can recommand it! :-)

[KimT]

I've been told by a clever swede that the problem can be solved by putting Your LEGO in a room with reversed ventilation. Meaning that instead of sucking air out of the room, You blow air into the room thus making overpressure and the dust will not settle, but be blown out of the room.

They have this reversed pressure thing in the Vault *wub*

KimT

[ApophisV]

I've been told by a clever swede that the problem can be solved by putting Your LEGO in a room with reversed ventilation. Meaning that instead of sucking air out of the room, You blow air into the room thus making overpressure and the dust will not settle, but be blown out of the room.

They have this reversed pressure thing in the Vault *wub*

KimT

Ooooh, a dream for anybody with dust allergy!!! >:-)

[TheFrisian]

Interesting idea, but I don't see it put to use in our house :-D

[maiq the liar]

With what models i have on display on top of my bookshelf (Namely sentai fortress), i just let the dust pile up... *sad* oh well, i moved my SF to a lower area so it's less suspectable to dust.

[natelite]

invest in an acrylic display case! :-P those things can be more expensive than the lego you put inside it though. :-P or for those on a budget, get an aquarium and use it upside down. works perfectly every time! :-D

[SuvieD]

You could look into getting a filter that uses polarity and a metal sheet to collect dust. They are commonly used in industrial facilities but small household models can be found. They are often labeled as allergy remedies type of equipment. They should remove 90% or more dust.

[Doctor Sinister]

Best to leave them in the box. :-D

I withdraw that comment...I can't stand to see unopened LEGO!

Dr. S.

[Brick Miner]

this is a good topic, as my MOCs sit like scuptures all over my house, only to collect dust. as it is, i wash my display models every 6 months. apo, im surprised the brush works... maybe i will try that, but i think im looking for a more thorough cleaning.

perhaps the best method is prevention. i'd love to try that reverse ventilation system or the allergy remedies machine suvie mentioned. i wonder if that is the same thing as an air purifier. i have one of those, but i only use it during the fall, when allergies are the worse here in the states.

- BM

[voltio]

I use plastic wrap (saran wrap, the thin, stretchy product used to cover food) to encase all of my big models on display. My 10030 UCS ISD and UCS Boeing Dreamliner have been encased for two years, and have attracted zero dust. The plastic wrap looks a little pathetic, but you can still see the model inside. Plus, this technique is very affordable. I use 1x1 plates to attach the wrap.

For serious cleaning, nothing works better than a WaterPik water-jet toothbrush. It's basically a miniature power washer, and its strong jet of water blasts away any dust or dirt.

[Eothein]

The best way (other than laborious dusting every week or so) is to get some good glass cabinets. I used the same thing to display my miniatures (I play Warhammer 40,00 and used them to display my painted armies). However I suggest you get a nice sturdy case as I unfortunately had mine fall over destroying the case and some of my figures. Or if you don't want to spend too much money support it against a wall or weigh down the base.