Ah our children’s toys…..they don’t take care of them and we don’t always know how to deal with them to keep them clean and in good nick. Here are 9 tips for how to do it.
1/ Wash Lego in the washing machine. Obviously, put the pieces in a closed net bag before putting them in the machine. It will be much easier to retrieve them afterwards and you won’t risk losing pieces.
2/ Use AAA batteries instead of AA. Many children’s toys need batteries, and we don’t always have the exact size to hand. Instead of going out to the shop, used any AAA batteries you have lying around and add a little tin foil to the ends. It works just as well!
3/ Use fabric softener to untangle dolls’ hair. Conditioner will also do the trick. When you are brushing the hair, make sure to grip it at the roots so as not to pull the hairs out.
4/ Use hot water for figurines that have become warped. Make sure the water isn’t boiling. Dip the figurine in the water and leave for one minute. The plastic will become soft and malleable and you should be able to manipulate it back into the correct shape.
5/ Use perfume or benzoyl peroxide to remove traces of marker or ink from a doll. Apply with a cotton bud or some cotton wool and leave it in direct sunlight. The stain should completely disappear.
6/ Use toothpaste to clean a whiteboard. With a some toothpaste and a damp cloth, the whiteboard should soon be as good as new.
7/ Use lemon juice or bicarbonate of soda diluted in water to clean a battery compartment in which the batteries have leaked. Use lemon juice for alkaline batteries and bicarbonate of soda for acidic ones.
8/ Use boiling water to restore a battered ping pong ball. In the heat, the air on the inside will expand and the ball will go back to its original shape.
9/ Use nail varnish to restore the joints of old figurines. With a lot of use, the joints can get worn down and become too loose. By applying a little nail varnish to them, they will hold perfectly again. You simply need to let the varnish dry before trying to move the joints again, and presto, it’s as good as new!