Home >> Toys >> Toy Vehicles

How to Care for a Toy Truck

Whether you have an old collector's toy truck or a newer model, it is important to clean and care for it properly if you want it to last. Over time, dust and gunk can build up in the tires. It can also leech the color from the toy. You must be careful anytime you clean your truck, though, or you may damage the toy or ruin its classic value. Harsh cleaning chemicals can even strip the finish from the toy truck.

Things You'll Need

Cloth
Cotton swab
Ear swab
Rubbing alcohol
Shelf

Instructions

- 1
  Scrub the surface of the toy truck with a towel soaked in a mixture of warm water and dish soap. Most dish soaps can remove the grease from the toy truck without harming the paint on the toy truck. Scrub the entire exterior of the toy truck until the cloth comes away clean.
- 2
  Dry the outside of the toy truck. Do not let the water sit on the toy or it may lead to rust. Scrub off any remaining dirt with your dry towel.
- 3
  Scrub out the bed of the toy truck with a cotton swab. Use your fingers to press the swab into the corners of the truck bed. The corners can accumulate dirt you may at first overlook because of the compact space.
- 4
  Dip an ear swab into some rubbing alcohol. While it is still wet, swab out the insides of the vehicle tires to remove any buildup that may cause the tires to stick. It may take several ear swabs to complete the tire cleaning.
- 5
  Store the toy truck on a shelf that faces away from the sunlight. Continued exposure to sunlight can bleach the color of the paint and cause the toy to become brittle.

Toy Vehicles