How to Clean Rust from Littlest Pet Shop Toys

Last Updated: August 29, 2022

The neck section of Littlest Pet Shop toys can be subject to rust if it gets wet or is kept in conditions of high humidity. This rust can stain around the neck area of the toy, leaving unsightly marks or circles. If you have rust on any elements of your Littlest Pet Shop (LPS) toys, using one of the following methods should help to remove it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Dish Soap and Water

1
Find a clean Q-tip (cotton swab). If you don't have one around, you can also use a tissue, paper towel, or cotton ball.
2
Place the Q-tip under running water. Dampen it well but do not leave it dripping. Too much water will still leave rust.

Advertisement
3
Squeeze a little dish soap on the Q-tip. Don't add too much, just a dab. If it starts dripping, massage the soap into the swab.
4
Push the Q-tip under the neck of the toy. Rub it back and forth over the area affected by the rust. Sometimes it can take a lot of scrubbing, so be patient.
- You can also try scraping off the rust using a soft toothbrush, a long fingernail or a toothpick. Be aware though, this can scrape off any paint.
5
Keep cleaning in this manner until the rust ring or stain has been removed from the neck of the LPS. Then, rinse off the soap with warm water soaked into a sponge. (wring it before use) If it's too chunky, you can use another dampened cotton swab.
6
Allow to dry thoroughly. Rub it with paper towel or a clean cloth to remove any water, then allow it to air dry before using again. Be aware that you might need to do this again, depending on how bad the rust is. Always be careful with your LPS around water.
7
Enjoy! You are done with cleaning the rust.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Vinegar

1
Fill a small container with white vinegar. Use this for dipping the Q-tip into. Make sure it's not dropping wet, but damp enough.
2
Rub the vinegar soaked Q-tip around the rust ring or stain on the LPS toy. Continue doing this until the stain lifts. Sometimes it takes a lot of scrubbing.
- You can also try scraping off the rust using a soft toothbrush, a long fingernail or a toothpick. Be careful, it might lift off the paint.
3
Rinse off with warm water soaked into a sponge (wring it before use), but you can use a cotton swab if the sponge was too big.
4
Rub a paper towel or clean cloth to remove as much liquid as possible.
5
Allow to air dry in a warm place.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Commercial Cleaners

1
Choose a commercial cleaner to remove the rust rings or stains. Some options include:
- A natural stain remover pen
- A commercial rust remover (but be very sure to read what surfaces the remover works on; you don't want the toy to dissolve).
2
Sponge wash the area affected by the rust. Use warm water and gentle dish detergent. Then apply the commercial cleaner in very small amounts, using the Q-tip or a soft old toothbrush.
3
Scrub gently until the stain lifts. If it's hard to come off, scrub a little harder, but don't scrub too hard for it might lift off the paint, too.
4
Rinse off with warm water soaked into a sponge (wring it before use), or you can use a damp cotton swab.
5
Rub a paper towel or clean cloth to remove as much water as possible, this will keep it from rusting again.
6
Allow to air dry in a warm place.

Community Q&A

Question

Will these methods work on any kind of Littlest Pet Shop toys?

Community Answer

Yes. I tried them on my different LPS, and they all worked the same.
Question

What if the rust comes back?

Community Answer

If the rust comes back, you can follow the instructions to clean it again.
Question

Will the vinegar come off?

Community Answer

Sure, as long as you rinse it off.

Warnings

Marks on LPS reduce their value, as does damage from cleaning. Be careful if you want to retain the value. If you're just hoping to preserve the toy in as good as condition as possible for playing with, focus most on removing marks the eye can see without fussing too much about those marks hidden under the neck.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 25 Not Helpful 7
If using a commercial cleaner, test an inconspicuous part first, to ensure that it won't mark the LPS toy. Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully and avoid using anything that isn't suitable for the LPS material.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 18 Not Helpful 6
Rust rings and stains are commonplace on LPS that have been subjected to bathing, rain, high humidity and getting wet in any other way.^{[1]
X
Research source} Help children to understand that LPS are not suitable as bath toys or for playing with in any water source. It is not recommended to submerge the toy for cleaning, as water fills the head and you cannot get it out easily from all the crevices, meaning that no matter how hard you squeeze and shake the toy, some water risks being left inside, ready to create new rust. Prefer an external-only sponge bath instead to keep the LPS toy clean.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 18 Not Helpful 6