Moldy smell on Lego pieces

[Toatapio Nuva]

I recently bought a package of Lego-related board games and comics alongside some Lego pieces. Upon opening the package, I didn't really check the pieces (which were in small plastic bags) and ended up mixing them with my other pieces, but later realized that the board games and comics had an intense smell of mold on them (plus some small visible yellow spots). I ended up sending the games and comics back to the seller for a refund, but kept the pieces. However, I later noticed that some of the pieces smelled pretty bad as well, though there's no visible mold or dirt on any of them.

I proceeded to wash the pieces that were in the mold package - some ended up smelling alright, others kept smelling bad (I even threw a piece out cause the smell could not be removed). I even washed some of the pieces that had been in contact with the foul-smelling pieces, but I can't be certain I covered them all.

My concern right now is whether it's possible that I might have "spread" any potential mold to my other Lego pieces by mixing them together at the start. Even though most of the pieces smell fine now, or only have a faint musty smell, I'm concerned about mold spores being all over my pieces at this point. Does anyone have any experience with this type of thing, or knowledge of how mold may affect Lego pieces (or worse, instruction manuals - I sometimes keep the pieces and instruction manuals close together)? Is there anything I should do at this point? When can I consider a piece "safe"?

Thanks for your advice!

Edited February 2, 2022 by Toatapio Nuva

[1963maniac]

I'd clean all Legos. Found this on Google:

How to Remove Mold from Plastic Toys

1. Make a solution of one part distilled white vinegar to 20 parts warm water (½ cup of vinegar per gallon of water).
2. Submerge the toy in the vinegar solution.
3. Let sit for 1 hour.
4. Squeeze out any excess water and rinse the toy off.
5. Let it air dry completely.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Would raw vinegar damage the pieces? I'm thinking it would be more effective.

[MAB]

Vinegar is mainly (like 95%) water anyway, so using undiluted vinegar won't do harm. Interestingly though very high concentrations of acetic acid can be used as a stress test solvent for ABS.

[Toastie]

Oh well - just checked The Internet ...

There is DONT and there is NEVER ...

Just very briefly: Paper is food for "mold" (= a biological entity); ABS is >not<. ABS is a nice place to "breed", because it is flat, non-toxic, not transporting well "cold/warmth" well - it is dead. So being there poses no harm. Nothing wrong for "mold" to extend out to such surfaces, when food is either available elsewhere (but in reach to the Borgs, no, the mold), or moisture and airborne + adsorbed "edible" stuff is available. Again: ABS wrapped in paper, or in contact to = plenty of food everywhere.

Now, let separate the food from the ABS. Throw the paper away (here are means to clean paper as well; it is a bit more - no, a lot more elaborate), or send it back, that was smart.

Put the ABS pieces into a washing machine set to 30°C (provided you have a LOT of pieces - if not, use a bucket or whatever and stir occasionally, same temp), apply (plenty of) detergent; we want to get the fatty = "non water/aqueous acid soluble (vinegar)" stuff first. Get rid of that stuff will let the next treatment do the work. Then wash with water.

Now do the NEVER DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT thing: Same procedure as above with plain vanilla bleach applied. In contrast to what is out there: Mold does >not< penetrate into ABS. It sits on the surface. Some say bleach only works on the surface. Yes. So, just do it, this is where it works - and where the mold resides. Also, don't spray bleach onto the ABS, >immerse< it into bleach. As you would do with clothing to be bleached. Ever seen remaining mold on bleached clothes? Or smell? I haven't. When you have: Use more bleach + more time. On ABS, it will work swiftly, for sure.

Then wash with water. There should not be a whiff of smell anymore. Maybe residual "chlorine" smell, which is indeed hypochlorite, but who cares. Just wash with water again. No smell = clean, actually disinfected surfaces. They did it in hospitals for decades (on >surfaces<); nowadays, there is more powerful stuff than bleach. But possibly not available to everyone.

All the best,
Thorsten

P.S.: Been there, tried it, worked. Always.

   

[AmperZand]

8 hours ago, Toatapio Nuva said:

Would raw vinegar damage the pieces? I'm thinking it would be more effective.

Not in my experience. I’ve used undiluted clear malt vinegar to remove mouldy smells from parts including printed ones and, years later, the parts are perfectly fine.

[Maple]

My neighbor washed his 80s LEGO for his children. They didn't want the old LEGO, only new LEGO. So they were never dried out correctly. I just added dish soap, maybe even a splash of bleach to the 18 gallon container and the pieces are still fine.