Action figures are meant to be shown off - in the case of adults, at least. Depending on their quality, they can be highly posable and feature a lot of accessories, making them perfect showpieces for your favourite characters. They’re a great way to honour these characters and also look pretty cool on a shelf.
RELATED:Best Video Game Action Figures
And so, you need to ensure that your action figures are kept clean. Even though you may keep them in a case, there’s always going to be some amount of dust that gets in and dims the lustre of these collectibles. Depending on how you display them, and even the area where you live, cobwebs and dust are sure to find their way to your shelf. Here’s how to clean your action figures.
Things you’ll need:
The first step to cleaning any action figure is to take off all the accessories. Any weapons, backpacks, capes, anything that can come off the figure should come off. Keep in mind, if the figure has replaceable hands or a head, that should come off too. This ensures that you can reach every inch of the figure, especially the grooves and sockets where dust accumulates the most.
After this, use the can of compressed air to blow away any loose particles of dust. This not only helps get rid of the surface level dirt, but will also make the rest of the cleaning process easier. Ensure you spray the entire figure with the compressed air first, and then use the nozzle to target tight spots like sockets, grooves, or folds in the character’s clothing.
Now, there are two ways in which you may proceed next, depending upon the quality and intricacies of the figure.
Low To Mid-Range Action Figures
If the action figure in question is a low to mid-tier one, like McFarlane’s DC Multiverse line or the Marvel Legend series, you can simply dunk them in a bucket of water and use as cloth to clean them up. Then use a cotton swab to reach those hard to reach places. After that, simply dry them off with a dry cloth, and your action figure is good to go back onto the shelf.
If your action figure is a custom job, then it’s best to keep the cleaning process as dry as possible. You may not know what kind of paint the artist may have used, which could result in it coming off with water or cleaning alcohol.
Premium Action Figures
If you’re cleaning a premium, expensive action figure, by brands like Hot Toys or Play Arts Kai, you’ll want to be careful about how you clean them. Dunking them in water and wiping them could result in some wear and tear of the paint, especially at the corners. For these, use the compressed air can in the same manner, followed by a wipe down by a microfiber cloth and cleaning alcohol. You can use a cotton swab with the alcohol to reach the tight spaces. Let the figure dry off a bit, and it’s ready to go back on the shelf.
