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Top tip. Buy used Lego cheap from ebay (or similar) and stick it in the dishwasher in a string bag. Try to avoid Lego from a smoker's house or that has been hea

Top tip. Buy used Lego cheap from ebay (or similar) and stick it in the dishwasher in a string bag. Try to avoid Lego from a smoker's house or that has been heavily gnawed. And keep the dishwasher heat low, unless you want Salvador Dali Lego.

bombcar 3y ago
Hotter tip - if you live near a Goodwill auction site, you can pickup "in store" and so you can bid for their bulk Lego without shipping.
- prawn 3y ago
  In case you never read this at the time - he's talked about it on HN a few times: Sorting 2 Metric Tons of Lego https://jacquesmattheij.com/sorting-two-metric-tons-of-lego/ https://jacquesmattheij.com/sorting-two-metric-tons-of-lego/
JKCalhoun 3y ago
The Persistence of Playtime
makeitdouble 3y ago
Another tip: the quality difference between a Lego brand piece and its doppleganger from an AliExpress shop exists, but is usually negligible. I never saw a piece that doesn't fit, and the difference was mostly color and durability, where the no-brand technic bricks would fail earlier than the Lego ones when (ab)used for mechanically straining purposes, like a coat hangers, cup holder etc. The more interesting part: this opens up access to more original and specialized parts that Lego doesn't want or cares about, like a go pro mount for instance.
- 4gotunameagain 3y ago
  How about regulations on plasticizers and chemicals that your kids will put in their mouth ? Or the environmental impact, for which an EU company will care much more and be regulated for ?
  - makeitdouble 3y ago
    Technic bricks (or really pins, axles, wheels) are a nightmare for any house with small kids either way, I think food grade plastic is irrelevant on that side. On the environmental impact it's a good point, especially EU regulations. I'm not sure yet how much Lego's stance is marketing and how much it actually makes a difference, especially as they also have a factory in China and the bricks I'd get would come from there, but one can hope.
dtgriscom 3y ago
I'd love Salvador Dali Lego, as long as the pieces still clicked together.
Biganon 3y ago
I feel like low heat would be beneficial to bacteria, instead of killing them...?
- bowsamic 3y ago
  Dishwashing and clothes washing are not designed to kill bacteria, even at high temperatures. They are designed to wash away bacteria. Detergent is a surfactant, it lifts bacteria/stains/dirt out of the material and then we wash them away. They are not usually anti-bacterial unless you buy a specific detergent that is

bombcar 3y ago

Hotter tip - if you live near a Goodwill auction site, you can pickup "in store" and so you can bid for their bulk Lego without shipping.

prawn 3y ago
In case you never read this at the time - he's talked about it on HN a few times: Sorting 2 Metric Tons of Lego https://jacquesmattheij.com/sorting-two-metric-tons-of-lego/ https://jacquesmattheij.com/sorting-two-metric-tons-of-lego/

JKCalhoun 3y ago

The Persistence of Playtime

makeitdouble 3y ago

Another tip: the quality difference between a Lego brand piece and its doppleganger from an AliExpress shop exists, but is usually negligible. I never saw a piece that doesn't fit, and the difference was mostly color and durability, where the no-brand technic bricks would fail earlier than the Lego ones when (ab)used for mechanically straining purposes, like a coat hangers, cup holder etc. The more interesting part: this opens up access to more original and specialized parts that Lego doesn't want or cares about, like a go pro mount for instance.

4gotunameagain 3y ago
How about regulations on plasticizers and chemicals that your kids will put in their mouth ? Or the environmental impact, for which an EU company will care much more and be regulated for ?
- makeitdouble 3y ago
  Technic bricks (or really pins, axles, wheels) are a nightmare for any house with small kids either way, I think food grade plastic is irrelevant on that side. On the environmental impact it's a good point, especially EU regulations. I'm not sure yet how much Lego's stance is marketing and how much it actually makes a difference, especially as they also have a factory in China and the bricks I'd get would come from there, but one can hope.

dtgriscom 3y ago

I'd love Salvador Dali Lego, as long as the pieces still clicked together.

Biganon 3y ago

I feel like low heat would be beneficial to bacteria, instead of killing them...?

bowsamic 3y ago
Dishwashing and clothes washing are not designed to kill bacteria, even at high temperatures. They are designed to wash away bacteria. Detergent is a surfactant, it lifts bacteria/stains/dirt out of the material and then we wash them away. They are not usually anti-bacterial unless you buy a specific detergent that is