A new way to remove dirt from your locomotives

Several years ago, I discovered a putty called "Flarp." It's a goofy product made to make flatulent noises. However, I discovered that it has an interesting property: It can easily remove dust and dirt from locomotives.

Two cans of Flarp next to our dirty locomotive.

You can buy Flarp online, or at Walgreens or Walmart. It costs between $1.50-$2 per can, and one can does quite a bit of work. Bob Keller generously donated a locomotive that was dusty for this project. (Come back to our blog soon to read more about this locomotive!)

Beware, dirt!

Flarp has an interesting consistency. It's like putty, semi-firm and not gooey.

Flarp out of the can.

Take a small section of Flarp and press it onto the surface of anything you'd like to clean. You don't need to press firmly, but you can give it a little pressure.

Testing a spot.

Look at the difference!!

Since Flarp is a putty, it's easy to get into tight spaces.

The putty easily smooches into tight places.

Keep moving the putty around the locomotive, kneading the putty as it becomes dirty.

Check out the dirt!

I know some of you have concerns with applying harmful products to your equipment. I did some checking into the ingredients. While there is no label on the container, the consensus online is that the ingredients are white glue, water, and a small amount of Borax cleaner. I have used this product on many pieces around our house, including O gauge locomotives, and have not had any damage. Of course, you may opt to test a hidden area first.

Happy cleaning!