How do you clean styrofoam?

Modeling Subjects Dioramas
1

There are two sheds at my house that are side by side. One my brother uses constantly and the other one containing random junk and is rarely ever opened. Today I thought that the ‘other one’ might have some stuff in there that I could collect for my first dio’. And surprise surprise, I found a small heap of styrofoam. Some of it from a 30+ y/o scaextric box set. Although physically the foam is immaculate, over the years of it sitting up in the shed amongst high levels of dirt and grime and creepy crawlies and what not it has acumeulated excessive amounts of dust and dirt. I figured that it would ruin something. At the moment, me getting my hands on decent sized and shaped blocks/plates of this stuff is hard, so I’m really hoping I can use the foam I’ve found.

Is the foam useable or salvageable? It’s not all completely covered in grime.

Is there a way for me to clean enough of the crap off so I can use the foam?

Or is all I need to do being to just dust of the prominent grime, wipe it down with a damp cloth and proceed.

Thanks in advance.

2

Soap & water will do just fine. Styrofoam is not disturbed by either

3

if you have a regular air compressor {the kind for power tools, I think our hobby ones are too small} hit it with the air hose first blowing off the major amount of dust, then as above soap and water, with a SOFT sponge [swg]

4

Make sure you are not devaluing the scalectric set by using the packing. Remeber these toys have most of their value in the packing and box. Check it out firsst before you start pillaging.

BTW soap and water works fine.

5

with gasoline or paint thinner. Really cleans it right up! won’t even know it’s there, in fact![swg]

6

If you have been paying attention to chemistry class you will know that the non-polar solvents like gasoline or paint thinner will dissolve the polystyrene…you need a polar solvent. See how school can help with your hobby.

7

Jusy curious, but do you have a hobby chain like Michael’s or A.C. Moore’s near? They have all sorts of potting foam (used in fake flower arrangements) for like, a dollar a block? YOu can pick up a whole slew of it for $10.00 or so; enough to keep you in dio’s for months! [:)]