I bought a couple of cars that I want to clean up a bit. They're by no means mint, but I would like to stop any damage being caused now by the dirt and dust on them. I've never bought any older cars and I'm concerned about damaging them any further if I clean them. Is there a concern for preserving the patina, as with other collectibles (i.e., copper or bronze collectibles), or is the point just preserving the painted/plated surfaces? Any advice would be appreciated.

Soft toothbrush, warm water in kitchen sink, let them air dry. My wife of 25 years has come home numerous times with all the counters in the kitchen full!

Thank you for the info. My new acquisitions aren't mint, but I want to get the dust and dirt off of them. Thanks again.

One thing I learned the hard way: don't use Dawn dishwashing liquid on anything but dishes.

I don't know how it might affect diecast paint, but I found out that it stains marble. Whooda thunk it?

Somehow it's more than just "soap".

For some of the hard-to-reach spots, you might want to try the aerosol air (it's mainly used for electronics, but I've used it on my diecast). I bought some at Staples. Microbrushes come in handy, too.