For those who love collecting models, learning how to clean and preserve character models is very important. The model will quickly degrade, the paint will fade, and it will be covered with dust if you clean and store it incorrectly.
How to preserve character models
There are 5 main reasons why character models are no longer intact. You can preserve your character model better if you understand the following 5 factors.
Dust
Dust is everywhere, clinging to every object, and our models are no exception. Of the 5 causes we mentioned, dirt is the least harmful to the longevity of the model, but it greatly affects the aesthetics of the model. However, if you do not clean it regularly, dirt will accumulate and stick to every corner of the model, making cleaning much more difficult.
Thick accumulation of dirt will cause the model to deteriorate
Preserving character models from dust and dirt is also very simple. You can put products in glass cabinets, both reducing dust accumulation and creating an eye-catching display for models.
Stains from the assembler's hands
In fact, even if you wash your hands thoroughly before assembling the model, the product can still get dirty. The reason is that when you hold the character model in your hand to assemble or play, natural oil stains from the skin will stick to the collection. If you do not clean the product immediately, the stains will become thicker and thicker, causing the product to become yellow or have black stains that look very unsightly. This will greatly affect the preservation of the character model . The solution here is that you need to clean the product immediately after installation, or equip rubber gloves while assembling and rearranging the product.
Sunshine
Few people expect that natural light is also one of the formidable enemies when preserving character models . When you display the model in a sunny place, after only a short time the product will change color. Some models will have faded colors or become mottled, dark and light, looking very unsightly. You need to place the model in a cool place, without direct sunlight.
Sunlight becomes an enemy in preserving the paint color of products
High humidity
If your display area is near high humidity, you will need to change the location to place the model. In case you accidentally get the collection display area wet, you need to dry that location as well as the model thoroughly. Because when the product is exposed to moisture for a long time, it will cause the statue to quickly lose its outer coating, causing a negative impact on the decal. Too much humidity will cause problems with the model's joints.
High temperature
Most character models on the market today are made from PVC/ABS plastic. Therefore, when the product is exposed to high temperatures, it will lead to bending and warping of parts. Some severe cases also cause the model to foam and melt.
In addition to sunlight, you also need to limit displaying your model directly underneath indoor light bulbs. Instead, you can place the product under an LED light, which both provides light and does not increase the temperature.
How to clean when the model is dirty
After knowing how to preserve the character model , we also need to know more methods to clean it, helping the model return to its original beauty.
Prepare
Soft-bristled toothbrush (you should buy a new one, make sure the brush is free of toothpaste residue that can affect the paint)
You should choose the right type of brush so as not to affect the model
Hand sanitizer/dishwashing liquid does not contain moisturizers (moisturizers make the surface of the model oily, damaging the paint layer)
Soft towel or soft tissue
8 steps to clean the model cleanly
Step 1: Remove the model's limbs and body joints. You should observe which joints have dirt or oil stains for more thorough cleaning.
Step 2: Soak the model in warm water for about 5 minutes to remove the dirt on the outside and help clean faster.
Step 3: Pour a little soap onto the brush and rub evenly on the model. You should rub gently and thoroughly on joints and hard-to-reach areas.
Step 4: Wait for the soap to penetrate the model's surface within 2-3 minutes to dissolve all stubborn stains.
Step 5: Use a toothbrush to scrub the stains one last time
Step 6: Rinse the model with plenty of water to remove all detergent remaining on the surface.
Step 7: Dry the model by gently patting it with a soft towel, then air-dry it with a fan.
The towel is very soft and will not scratch the model
Step 8: Store the character model at the appropriate temperature for 6 hours. Only after the model is completely dry can it be assembled and displayed in its original position.
Things to absolutely avoid when cleaning the model
Do not scrub vigorously when cleaning stains
During the cleaning process, there will be some stains stuck to the model that make us frustrated because it is difficult to clean immediately. However, if you try to clean it by rubbing hard on the streak, you may peel off the paint on the surface of the product. In some cases, when rubbing too hard, you accidentally press on the model, causing the product to become bent and distorted. You will no longer be able to maintain the beauty of the model you love.
Do not use a hair dryer to dry
Waiting 6 hours to dry is too long, so should I use a dryer to dry it faster? Absolutely not! As mentioned above about the material of the model, using a dryer to dry it will definitely cause the model to deform because the dryer temperature is even higher than the light bulb. Even if you choose the cool mode to dry the model, the heat generated is still relatively high, it is best to keep it in a cool place and dry it with a fan.
Using a dryer will be faster but will harm the product
Do not use a stiff towel to dry
Hard towels will easily scratch the surface of the model, causing loss of aesthetics. Household towels, such as bath towels or washcloths, have become hard and rough after many washes and sun exposure. You should not use these towels to clean products. To best preserve your character model , you should buy a soft cotton towel that can only be used to clean the model.
Do not immerse the model in hot water
Hot water is also classified as high temperature that affects the structure and joints of the product. It is best to use water between 40-50 degrees.
Do not use strong detergents that contain too much alcohol
Cleaning detergent should be mild so as not to affect the outer paint layer. If you use alcohol, then the model will have a high risk of peeling.
The cleaning and preservation method is extremely simple. Please preserve your character models carefully so that our collection is always brand new. If you want to "buy" a few new models to increase the richness of your home collection, please refer to products from the brands BANPRESTO, POP MART , OTHER ART TOYS ... on sale at Mykingdom. Please.
