Hot Wheels and Model Sanitization: Complete and Detailed Guide
As a collector, one of the best ways to maintain your model in top shape is to learn how to sanitize properly. Sanitizing models prevent the accumulation of dust and dirt. These can harm the model’s parts and paint. Furthermore, a clean model would be a lot shiny than models that aren’t maintained. Thus, this article will talk about how to sanitize hot wheels and model cars.
Here are the basic steps in sanitizing your Hot Wheels or Model Car:
- Remove dirt with a cloth
- Spray a Good Disinfectant Solution
- Wipe with a damp towel
- Air Dry
However, it’s not as easy as that. There are numerous disinfectant solutions that you can work on and things to consider when cleaning such as if the model is battery operated. Thus, I have compiled everything you need to know about sanitizing your model. Lastly, I also presented some tips in order to take care of your model.
How do you sanitize Hot Wheels?
To sanitize Hot Wheels, you first need to remove visible clutter or dirt with a good-quality microfiber cloth. After that, combine 1/4 teaspoon bleach and 1-quart cold water as this solution will act as your disinfectant. Lastly, spray the solution, wipe with a damp towel, and air dry.
With an origin in Latin (sanitas), the root word for sanitize is sanus which stands for both sane & healthy. Sanitization, therefore, is a process of making things healthy by removing specks of dirt that could be pathogenic in nature to ensure we keep our sanity, if you may.
To sanitize your Hot Wheels, therefore, is to make them clean, healthy, and safe to use or play with.
While this is not a class in grammar, I know hobbyists like you will appreciate some depth, without any further ado, have fun reading our step-by-step guide on how to sanitize and take care of your hot wheels.
You’d be surprised where you’d find hot wheels model cars sometimes and in what condition they may be in but all hope is not lost because they can be restored.
Remove any visible clutter or dirt. Combine 1/4 teaspoon bleach with 1-quart cold water (or 12 teaspoon bleach with 1-gallon cold water).
To sanitize, soak model cars for a few minutes, sprinkle them with a spray bottle, or just wipe them down with a damp towel.
After rinsing, air dries the toys.
Alternatively, Wash the model car with warm water and dish soap or maybe just hand soap if it’s trapped in dirt or something sticky.
Give 10 minutes for it to absorb before scrubbing it till it’s spotless.
Is it possible to submerge Hot Wheels in water?
Hot Wheels are considered to be water-resistant meaning they can be submerged into water. Furthermore, they are made from aluminum and zinc alloys which means that they don’t rust. That’s why you can submerge Hot Wheels into water.
The good news is that Hot Wheels are Water-Resistant, so they can be 100% submerged into water for up to 5 months as they are waterproof but bear in mind that the metal can rust
Hot Wheels Cars Splash Rides from Hot Wheels are fun cars with bigger wheels that float, allowing them to go from the track to the water.
What is the bleach to water ratio for cleaning toys, for example?
Keeping Hard-Shelled Toys Clean 1.5 teaspoons bleach to 1-gallon water is the recommended water-bleach ratio for a safe sanitizing solution.
What is the best way to clean diecast metal toys?
Remove any dust and grime from the microscopic crevices of your die-cast metal piece with a cotton swab. If cleaning a small die-cast metal object, fill a dish with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
Fill a bucket with 1/2 gallon of lukewarm water if the object is large. In the water, soak a soft, non – corrosive towel or rag.
Methods on How to Sanitize Hot Wheels
Model diecast toys can become extremely dirty, therefore we’ve devised some strategies to assist you in removing all of the dirt.
When cleaning any surface, toy or otherwise, remember to scrub hard enough to eliminate dirt and grime. Surface debris must be removed before any chemical may be used to clean a toy.
Below is a chart that shows which sorts of toys can be cleaned in certain ways, as well as specific cleaning instructions. Each cleaning procedure is separated into two categories: toys with batteries and hobbies without batteries.
Metal Toys (like Matchbox cars)
Don’t use bleach to clean your metal toys since the chemical reaction could damage the metal over time. Also, make careful to completely dry metal toys after they’ve been wet to avoid rust.
Best Cleaning or Sanitizing Methods
- Soap and Water
- Vinegar
- Baking Soda Scrub
- Wipes
Cleaning with Soap and Water
The mechanical action of cleaning with regular soap and hot water will remove most bacteria and viruses from surfaces.
Unless a toy has been exposed to someone who is presently unwell or recuperating from a recent illness, a regular cleaning with soap and water is sufficient.
You may wish to disinfect children’s toys once a month or two with a moderate bleach solution, but omitting the bleach is unlikely to result in a disastrous pandemic.
When cleaning with water, make sure to check if your model car uses batteries.
Toys that don’t require batteries:
Using warm or boiling water, add a few drops of soap.
Both hand soap and dish soap work well.
Scrub any visible debris away, rinse, and dry the toy.
If the toys need to be softened, soak them.
TIP: If the toy becomes stuck in something nasty, add white vinegar to the water to help the aromas go away.
It should need around 12 cups of vinegar to a sink full of soapy water. (As long as you don’t mind the vinegar smell, feel free to add extra.)
You can immerse the toy for anything between 5 and 30 minutes.
Toys that require batteries:
Remove all batteries from the toy and wipe it down with a cloth or sponge if it has any electrical components.
Keep a dry cloth on hand since any moisture that gets into the toy could harm the circuits, reducing the toy’s ability to create light, sound, or other battery-powered capabilities.
This type of toy should not be submerged in water.
Cleaning with Alcohol and Water:
Many people who want to avoid using bleach on a daily basis use this method. Always conduct a spot test on toys with painted regions, as alcohol is a powerful paint stripper.
Toys that don’t require batteries:
Remove any debris that is visible.
In a spray bottle, make a 70/30 concentration of rubbing alcohol and water.
Allow toys to sit for a minute after spraying them down. Allow drying after rinsing.
Toys that require batteries:
Remove any debris that is visible. Disconnect all batteries from the toy or unplug it.
Wipe out toys with a 70/30 mix of rubbing alcohol and water, making sure no excess moisture reaches the interior regions.
Keep a dry cloth on hand since any moisture that gets into the toy could harm the circuits, reducing the toy’s ability to create light, sound, or other battery-powered capabilities.
This type of toy should not be submerged in water.
Cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)
Hydrogen Peroxide, which is steadily gaining in popularity, is another cleaning option used by those who want to avoid overusing bleach.
H2O2 may harm painted regions of toys, albeit it is less likely to remove paint than alcohol. If you’re not sure how the paint will respond, do a little area test and clean it up with soap and water if it appears to be a problem.
A Toy that does not require batteries:
Remove any debris that is visible.
Combine Hydrogen Peroxide and water in a 50/50 solution. Toys should be placed in a bowl, which should then be filled halfway with the 50/50 solution to cover the toys. Wait until the liquid has stopped bubbling before rinsing and drying the toys.
Toys that require batteries:
Remove any debris that is visible. Make sure the item is disconnected and any batteries are removed.
Clean toys down with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. If desired, more vinegar can be added. Make sure that no moisture gets into the toy’s interior parts, as this can harm any electrical components.
This type of toy should not be submerged in water.
Using Baking Soda as a Scrub
Oil and filth can become deeply embedded at times.
When this happens, the abrasiveness of baking soda can help.
However, use caution because this abrasive action can remove thin layers of plastic, resulting in discolored patches. Scrub smudges away with a cloth or, better yet, an old toothbrush.
When working on painted surfaces, be careful not to scrape the paint off. Be kind to yourself.
Toys that don’t require batteries:
Mix baking soda and liquid soap together to make a paste. It appears that a single drop of soap to a tablespoon of baking soda is plenty. Scrub smudges and streaks away with the paste using a cloth, an old toothbrush, or your finger. Rub in small circles, starting softly until you get a sense of how the surface will react.
Hint: If the paint appears to be peeling off, rinse the area with warm water until most or all of the paste has been removed. When it appears that most of it has vanished, carefully wipe away the reminder with a moist rag.
Battery-operated toy:
Use the same manner as before, except instead of liquid soap, combine the baking soda with water. Because electronic toys cannot be submerged in water, rinsing away the scrub in the event that the paint becomes damaged may be problematic.
Don’t try to clean the toy if the paint begins to flake off during the washing process! Rather, let the paste dry completely (that’s why you’re using water instead of soap) before gently flaking it off.
Sanitizing with Bleach
Bleach is extremely effective, inexpensive, and a small amount goes a long way.
Please make sure you don’t go over the required quantity. Furthermore, bleach degrades quickly in water, so mix a fresh batch of bleach and water each time you need it.
Toys that don’t require batteries:
Remove any visible clutter.
Mix ¼ teaspoon bleach with 1-quart cold water (or 1 ½ teaspoon bleach with 1-gallon cold water) to sanitize. Soak toys for a few minutes, spritz with a spray bottle, or just wipe them down with a damp towel. After rinsing, air dries the toys.
Toys that require batteries:
Remove any debris that is visible. Make sure the item is disconnected and any batteries are removed.
Wipe the toy down with a solution of ¼ teaspoon bleach to 1-liter cold water. Bleach is particularly harmful to electronic components, so exercise extreme caution while cleaning any electric or battery-operated toy. Always have a dry towel on ready in case the cleaner gets into places it shouldn’t.
This type of toy should not be submerged in water.
Wipes for Cleaning and Sanitation
The majority of toys can be disinfected with store-bought disinfectant wipes. Just make sure there won’t be any paint damage. Any chemical residue should be rinsed or wiped away.
But make sure that the wipes are smooth or else they can scratch your models.
How do you take care of Hot Wheels?
To take care of your Hot Wheels, make sure to keep them away from dust and harsh sunlight. These could actually harm your diecast paint. Furthermore, place them into cabinets that are not made from metal since it easily absorbs heat. Lastly, keep them inside their box if possible.
When you have vintage models in storage bins or attics, clean, dust, and show them in curio cabinets or other specialty display tables, cabinets, or furniture with glass doors and lights.
Avoiding damage from handling, sunlight, dust, and mildew are some of the best ways to protect your collectibles investment. To keep dust and debris out, look for airtight cabinets or curio cabinets with a tight seal.
Vintage models can damage from handling, sunlight, dust, and mildew.
To keep dust and debris out, look for airtight cabinets or curio cabinets with a tight seal. If you have vintage models in storage bins or attics, clean, dust, and clean them.
Diecast miniatures can be cleansed with a gentle cloth and warm soapy water.
Strong solvents or alcohol-based cleaning agents should be avoided while care for die-cast collectibles since they can dissolve paint and cause colors to fade.
A damp Q-tip can be used to remove dust or grime from interior nooks or hard-to-reach regions of a model automobile.
After your diecast replica is clean and completely dry, use a little amount of auto polish to shine the outside.
This will keep your model appearing new, bright, and shining, as well as preserving the pain and preventing dust and grime from sticking to any surfaces.
Diecast miniatures can be cleansed with a gentle cloth and warm soapy water.
Strong solvents or alcohol-based cleaning agents should be avoided while care for die-cast collectibles since they can dissolve paint and cause colors to fade.
Auto polish will keep your model appearing new, bright, and shining.
A look at some of the best diecast car models from around the world.
You can find a range of interesting and memorable models to suit all tastes and interests.
Diecast models make wonderful gifts and inspired hobbies for both young and elderly people.
Conclusion
Hot Wheels are an awesome brand of die-cast toy cars from Mattel company that has been the delight of many raving fans since 1968, and because of their durability, they are not designed to be used for a short time and disposed of rather for many years to come.
Hot Wheels is a fantastic brand of die-cast toy automobiles produced by Mattel. Sanitizing your Hot Wheels means making them clean, healthy, and safe to use and play with.
Hot Wheels Cars Splash Rides from Hot Wheels can be submerged in water for up to 5 months. Cleaning with soap and hot water will remove most bacteria and viruses from surfaces. Hydrogen Peroxide is another cleaning option used by those who want to clean their toy’s batteries.
Avoiding damage from handling, sunlight, dust, and mildew are some of the best ways to protect your collectibles investment. Diecast miniatures can be cleansed with a gentle cloth and warm soapy water. A damp Q-tip can be used to remove dust or grime from interior nooks or hard-to-reach regions.
“Only the things I love”
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So, here are the things I love when taking care of my Diecast Models.
Cleaning the Models
The first we are going to talk about is cleaning the models.
Removing Dust
- Air Brush – For me, this is the best since it not just removes dust but you can use it in painting/clear coating.
- Air Duster – This is a good alternative to Airbrush
- Normal Brush – If you are short on budget, you can use a normal brush. However, make sure that the brush has soft bristles because there are some hard brushes than can cause scratches. That’s why I recommended a good brush that can do the job properly.
Cleaning and Shining Hacks
Well, here are some of my cleaning hacks for removing scratches, oxidation, and so much more.
- Removing Decal Adhesive – Use Goo Gone on those hard-to-remove decal adhesives. It works fast and works like charm!
- Waxing and Polishing – Here is something a lot of people don’t know. Waxing protects the clear coat and paint while polishing shines the model. Instead of buying it separately, use a 2 in 1 to save money. Get this instead.
- Beginner Wax – The wax I recommended earlier is good and provides the best results based on my experience. But a beginner might have a problem especially if they’re not good at applying wax. Solid wax reaching hard to reach surface can be hard to remove. You have two choices here. One is to use a qtips to reach those surfaces, another is to use a liquid wax I recommended.
- Cleaning Wheels, Rubber, Plastic – Do not forget that rubber and plastic surface are quite different, especially in the cleaning process. Just wiping it down won’t do the job. That’s why I use Meguiar’s Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner and Conditioner. Works like charm!
- Make the Wheels Shine! – Making our models look good won’t be complete without tiny details such as shiny wheels! Do not forget this because however small this is, the difference can be as big as night and day.
- Remove Scratches Easily – Tiny scratches are not the end for your model. Here is a simple trick I’ve been using to make my models look scratch-free even without repainting. Use T-Cut.
Painting the Models
Painting Tools
Make sure when you paint models, have these ready.
- Tape – A tape is important if you are painting a straight line. Furthermore, it will prevent your paint to scatter on other parts. I recommend Tamiya Tape since it is really made for models. Furthermore, they stick really well preventing paint splatters.
- Brush (Beginner) – Find a good set of brushes to paint your models. Of course, you can opt for an airbrush but it’s quite expensive.
- Airbrush (Intermediate/Expert) – This will yield a significantly better result than an ordinary brush because you can easily spray the paint evenly. I recommend this if you know what you’re doing.
- Stand(Optional) – Stands are good because it can be hard to manually hold the models while painting. It is optional but in my opinion, the price is well worth it for the comfort it gives.
- Drop Cloths – Drop Cloths will protect your surroundings from the paint.
- Primer – The most common beginner mistake I see is painting models without any Primer. A primer will prevent imperfections such as bubbles or paint not sticking to your models. It is a small price to pay for quality results.
- Clear Coat – A clear coat will protect the paint of your models. This will make the paint last longer. Also, it is the one responsible for making your models shine.
Paints
Of course, you can’t do painting properly without paint. So here are the ones I recommend.
- Acrylic Paint – Good for beginners because it dries quickly. However, it doesn’t produce results as good as enamel paint.
- Enamel Paint – Provides a good quality finish and longer-lasting paint. However, it takes longer to dry and requires expertise to use.
Model Maintenance
Model Storage
- Simple Wood Cabinet – While it doesn’t let you display your models, wooden cabinets are good storage for these models. For one, they are not heat conductors which means that the temperature inside will remain constant and remain cool. Furthermore, they prevent light from reaching the models which can cause oxidation.
- Clear Cabinet with Lock – If you want to display your models, then I recommend this. It closes so dust won’t easily get to your models. I also recommend you don’t put more than 1 model in each compartment since metals are good conductors of heat.
Model Photography
So you want to show off your models to others? Well, I got you covered.
Here is my beginner-friendly model photography tutorial that teaches everything from taking pictures to the editing process.
You will also see me doing hands-on photography in that tutorial.
Here is the link: How to Take Pictures of a Diecast Model or Model Kit | Helpful Illustrated and Video Guide
