How to Protect and Clean Anime Figures

Dusting

Dusting is the most common method of cleaning you’ll use. Your collection and its display should be cleared of dust at least once a month, but once every two weeks is ideal. Here are the best tools for dusting:

Swiffer Duster:

A hand-sized Swiffer duster has multiple folds and can get into crevices and curves that a regular cloth or duster can’t. Many collectors use them to effortlessly clean up their figurines and swipe the dust free of their displays. Additionally, Swiffer dusters don’t just brush dust aside, they absorb it, meaning you’re getting rid of that dust on your collection for good.

Canned Air:

Also known as a “gas duster,” canned air is the best way to get dust out of tight, adjoining spaces—places that your Swiffer duster won’t reach. Simply spray a bit of canned air into the crevice to blast the dust free and keep it from caking up where you don’t want it. Note that canned air doesn’t get rid of dust, but simply loosens it and “blasts” it away from where it isn’t wanted. Use a Swiffer duster to clean up the rest.

Washing

Sometimes regular dusting isn’t enough to keep wear and tear at bay. Maybe that used figurine you bought online or found at your local secondhand store is a bit dirty, or perhaps it’s just that time of year that your collection is due for a bath. Whatever the case, here’s the process we recommend for cleaning your figurines.

1. Fill a container with lukewarm water.

If the water is hot, it could warp your figurine, but warm water helps loosen the grime off of your figurine and kill the germs.

2. Optional: Disassemble your figurine.

If your figurine is one that comes apart, such as a Nendoroid, be sure to take it apart so that each of the individual pieces can be thoroughly cleaned.

3. Soak your figurine in the water for about 5 minutes.

This helps loosen the grit and clear up any lingering dust.

1. Fill a container with lukewarm water.

2. Optional: Disassemble your figurine.

3. Soak your figurine in the water for about 5 minutes.

4. Squirt soap on a new, soft-bristled toothbrush and begin gently brushing the figurine.

Don’t scrub too hard, as this could possibly rub off some of the figurine’s paint. Use a soap without moisturizer or scent to avoid leaving a greasy residue on the figurine. For especially dirty figurines, hold the figurines under the warm water in the container and scrub with the toothbrush.

5. Rinse all the soap off the figurine using warm water.

Don’t let soap dry on the figurine, as this will leave a residue.

6. Pat your figurine dry and then allow it to air dry.

Sponge up any excess water you can, and then let your figurine dry naturally. Do not lay your figurine out in the sun or use a hair dryer to “speed up” the process, as this can warp and damage your figurine.

Other Methods

Not all figurines are suitable for the submersion wash method, either because they are too sensitive to be submerged or because they have stickers and other decals that could come off. In these cases, we recommend wetting and soaping a q-tip and wiping down the figurine. Q-tips are ideals because their size and shape allow for easy reach into details and crevices. You can use a toothbrush to similar effect.