These days, our Lego pieces go everywhere with us - to the dinner table, the playground, the bath. When sticky to the touch, we usually soak them and brush scrub them with some soapy hot water but with the number of pieces we've amassed, we don't think we can keep up. While reading ParentHacks, we saw a post about a quicker way to wash Legos.
A Parenthacks reader suggests putting the pieces into a colander and covering with a plate. Then running the whole thing through the top rack of the dishwasher. Other readers have suggested putting the pieces in a lingerie mesh bag and running them through the washing machine (although some have warned against this). We like the idea of gathering all the pieces into a mesh bag and running them through the dishwasher minus the dry heat cycle. If you've got a clever way to clean Legos or similarly small piece toys, let us know your secrets!
(photo via The Struggling Writer)
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I put my kids toys in the dishwasher all the time. I've even put wooden toys and blocks through the dishwasher (then dry them in the sun), and they come out just fine! (I'm a big fan of thrift store toys, so I run everything through the dishwasher before I let my child play with it).
There are some great dishwasher baskets on the market that secure items so they don't float away, like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Lionheart-DELUXE-Toddler-Dishwasher/dp/B0013FL0ZA/ref=pd_sim_ba_4
view lisamfb's profile
Dishwasher. It does an adequate job, even on quick wash cycle. Possibly the washer, but I find that overkill.
view stickyricemama's profile
I've always used the dishwasher as well--TOP rack only, in a little basket that came with the machine (they sell them at hardware stores if yours doesn't have them.)
view amy-in-sf's profile
I work in a very busy daycare and the mesh bag in the dishwasher is the way we wash all of our small toys. Works great, and fast.
view mcheerio's profile
I keep the old dishwasher basket that I used for bottle parts when my daughter was a baby. It is great for those little forks and spoons and straw cup parts and it also fits small toys. For a whole batch of Legos, though, the colander sounds like a great idea, as does the bag!
view standupstapler's profile
A salad spinner works well for drying.
view Comicgeek's profile
Wash, wipe or rinse toys with water then soak in a solution of 3/4 cup bleach per gallon of water for 5 minutes. Rinse, then let air dry. Good as new.
view lortiz's profile
I clean my boys legos but filling a rubbermaid tub with water and a little bit of bleach let it soak for a bit and rinse them off and air dry.
view Icanmakeit's profile