Posted on October 2nd, 2022

Action figures are a fun way to relive your favorite TV shows and movies, but it can be hard to take care of a big collection. Your figures should always be kept in a dry place that is at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. They should also be dusted and cleaned on a regular basis. For extra safety, you can even buy special ways to store action figures.

1. Dust your figures once per month with canned air and a brush

The first step to keeping your figures clean is removing dust regularly. Start by dusting the shelves with a duster if they’re on display, and then use a soft bristle brush, such as a makeup brush or paintbrush, to remove particles from your figures and packaging. For delicate figures, spray them with pressurized air to remove the dust without touching them.

You can find pressurized air at most grocery or department stores. If you want to buy a few cans at a time, search online retailers like Amazon to see if you can get a better deal.

2. Use water and effervescent tablets to clean figures without batteries or decals

 Place dirty or sticky plastic figures in a bowl of warm water. Then, drop an effervescent dental tablet into the water, and wait for it to begin bubbling. Once the tablet is about halfway dissolved, flip your figure over in the water to clean the other side.

Pro tips:

• Never place an action figure that has a battery compartment or sticker decals directly into water. This can irreparably damage your figure and can be dangerous to you!
• The bubbles from the tablet work to "scrub" away the stains and other residue on the plastic.
• You can find effervescent tablets at most grocery stores in the dental care section, or you can order them online.

Rub soap and water on stains if your figures have decals or batteries

Make a mixture of 1 cup (240 mL) of water and 1-2 drops of mild dish soap, stirring until bubbles form. Then, dip a cotton swab or microfiber cloth into the water, and remove excess water by squeezing or pinching. Rub the stained area until the mark disappears, and wipe the area with a dry towel to soak up any leftover water.

It may take a few sessions of scrubbing for the soap and water to remove the mark completely. Be patient and use more soapy water as needed. Never use water on an area where there is a sticker decal or near the battery compartment of a figure.

4. Use isopropyl alcohol to remove ink and other stains

Dip a cotton swab into 70-90% isopropyl alcohol, and then dab the alcohol over the mark. Keep dabbing until the mark disappears, and then wipe the area with a damp towel to rinse it. Dry your figure with a towel and inspect the area to make sure there is no discoloration.

Leaving the alcohol on your figure can cause extreme discoloration. Be sure to rinse it completely before putting it into storage.

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