One habit I’ve picked up after building so many miniatures is spending just five minutes cleaning my workspace before I pack everything away.
At first, I used to leave little scraps of wood, empty sprues, backing paper, and tiny offcuts all over my table. Then the next time I wanted to build, I’d spend more time cleaning than actually creating.
Now, before I call it a day, I always take a few minutes to:
Throw away scrap pieces and packaging. Put my tweezers, glue, and tools back where they belong. Check if there are any unused parts still attached to the boards. Make sure I haven’t left any tiny pieces hiding under the instructions.
It only takes a few minutes, but starting the next build session with a clean workspace feels so much more relaxing.
I’ve even found “missing” pieces during my little cleanup that I thought had disappeared!
Miniature building teaches us that small habits can make a big difference.
What about you?
Do you clean up after every building session, or do you wait until the whole kit is finished? I’d love to hear your routine!
@MamaNheza it depends on how tired I am and where I am in the build. If I am at a good spot to stop I’ll clean up and pick up my mess. If I realize it’s late and I have worked too late I’ll leave it. Or if I am at a critical part in the process and feel like cleaning up will hinder my ability to come back and pick right up. It really all depends on the kit and where I am in it
I always clean up after building. I also keep a bag beside me to throw all bits of rubbish in as I build. Then when I’ve finished, I just tie it off and put it in the rubbish bin.
Aww, thank you! Trust me, it doesn’t stay that clean for very long. Once I start building, tiny pieces somehow end up everywhere. I just like starting each session with a clean workspace… it never lasts!
I completely understand! Sometimes stopping at the right moment is more important thanhaving a perfectly clean workspace. If I’m in the middle of a tricky section, I’d rather leave everything exactly where it is so I can pickup where I left off. Every build has its own rhythm!
I love that idea! Having a little bin rightbeside you makes cleanup so much easier. It sounds like you’ve found a routine that works perfectly, and it’s always nice to start the next evening’s build with everything organized and ready to go.
Throw away scrap pieces and packaging.
Put my tweezers, glue, and tools back where they belong.
Check if there are any unused parts still attached to the boards.
Make sure I haven’t left any tiny pieces hiding under the instructions.
What about you?
Spending a few minutes cleaning up saves so much time later.
