Lazily Cleaning All-Plastic Toys like Playmobil and Puppy in my Pocket

[ringwraith10]

I did something crazy last week -- I opened a box of childhood toys that has been closed for over ten or fifteen years. I knew what was in there toy-wise, but I was afraid of how much dirt had gotten in there as well (thus my hesitancy to open the box)...

And my fears were confirmed. There is a ton of dust and ickiness in that box. So all of the toys need to be cleaned (I intend to display at least some of them in my collection). This box contained Playmobil, Puppy in my Pocket, and Littlest Pet Shop. Now, I know I need to be more careful cleaning the LPS items with their moving parts and everything, but with the Puppy IMP and Playmobil, what do you think about me dumping them in a strainer and just rinsing? Honestly, I think there's just a coating of dust on them that could be rinsed off easily.

My fears would be: could I damage the paint on the puppies doing this, and do Playmobil people have any metal in them that could rust? Would they be able to dry off easily if I leave them out on the counter in the sun?

When I clean ponies it's a whole long process, but ponies have hair, and metal washers, etc. -- you all know the drill. I would like to find a lazier way out with these other toys.

[kaoskat]

I dunno about playmobile but I've always just washed my puppy in my pockets that way. These are the first ones right and not the flocked things currently called puppy in my pocket right?

[Haruna]

I agree with Kaoskat about the Puppy In My Pockets (if they're the older ones). The Playmobil people I *think* don't have any metal, but I never really had any to tell you for certain (I just had a collection of Playmobil horses!)

Also, shameless plug: I collect 1990s Littlest Pet Shop, so if you were thinking of selling any, I might be interested.

[ringwraith10]

Yes, just the older Puppy in My Pocket. I don't have any of the new ones (they look so much cheaper!).

Haruna: I actually collect all of these as well -- I've just kept a mental catalog in the back of my head of the LPS that I had as a child (I played with them about as much as I did with my ponies, so I remember what I had pretty well) so that when I felt brave enough to open the box I could put them with my collection.


Honestly -- I've been carrying this box all over with me as I moved, but have always been afraid to open it because I kinda... thought there might be dead cockroaches in there (this has happened to me when I've opened boxes of ponies -- and is always one of my fears when buying mystery pony boxes from people on Craigslist). Dead cockroaches are the second scariest kind. I won't mention the first scariest kind. BUT there were none -- just a ton of dust!

So I guess I will do some investigative work on the Playmobil toys before I start cleaning them. I think they are like lego people and can come apart. Not certain though, so I will have to double check.

Thanks for the answers, guys!

[Haruna]

Vintage LPS are so cute. I played with them a ton, too, when I was little, and still have them in my closet. Like you, I want to take them out and display them! Some favorites are on the bookshelves with my ponies, though.

[palaisdejouets]

As far as I know, the only metal parts in Playmobil are in vehicle axles, which don't strik me as terribly prone to rust because they're relatively open to the air.

The main thing you would want to watch out with re: Playmobil are decals. So if I were you, I would fill a sink or container with hot soapy water and sort into it the pieces that do not have decals.

[ringwraith10]

As far as I know, the only metal parts in Playmobil are in vehicle axles, which don't strik me as terribly prone to rust because they're relatively open to the air.

The main thing you would want to watch out with re: Playmobil are decals. So if I were you, I would fill a sink or container with hot soapy water and sort into it the pieces that do not have decals.

Oh that's true. Hmm... Thanks for the advice!