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How to Clean Mah Jong Tiles

Most modern sets of mah jong tiles are constructed of some form of plastic, such as nylon or bakelite. Some prized sets are made out of bone and bamboo, as well as ivory. With more than 100 different tiles, cleaning each piece individually can be a time-consuming task. There are processes, however, that can make quick work of cleaning and preparing the tiles for your next game.

Things You'll Need

Soft cloth
Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
Bowl or bucket
Paper towels or cloth towel
Wooden manicure stick

Instructions

- 1
  Dampen a soft cloth or paper towel with isopropyl alcohol and rub down all six surfaces of each tile. Sandy Beach, of the Maj Jongg Exchange, suggests doing this task while watching television.
- 2
  Concentrate your cleaning efforts on removing grime and leftover adhesive from the tile surfaces. A wooden manicure stick can be used to remove small spots of dirt without damaging the tiles.
- 3
  Quickly dunk individually cleaned tiles in a bowl or bucket of cold water.
- 4
  Spread paper towels or a cloth towel on a flat surface. Allow the tiles to dry before replacing them in the set. Remember to turn the tiles over to make sure both sides are dry.

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