How to Clean Painted and Unpainted Terrain: A Step-by-Step Guide

Quick answer

Clean terrain with a dry soft brush first, then use a barely damp cloth with mild soap only where needed. Never soak painted pieces, resin, or LED walls, and always dry fully before storage. For routine dust, skip water entirely.

Dust, fingerprints, and the occasional snack spill are normal after a few game nights. The good news is that most terrain damage comes from cleaning too aggressively, not from the dirt itself. This guide walks through a safe order of operations for both painted and unpainted pieces.

Dwarvenite and resin behave differently around water and heat, and painted surfaces add another layer of risk. The steps below keep cleaning quick while protecting the details you paid for.

Before you start: sort your pieces

Separate your terrain into three piles: unpainted Dwarvenite, painted Dwarvenite, and resin or LED pieces. Unpainted Dwarvenite is the most forgiving and can handle a damp cloth. Painted pieces need a lighter touch because scrubbing can dull or chip the finish. Resin and any piece with electronics should stay away from running water entirely.

If you are unsure whether a piece is painted, check for a sealed color coat versus raw grey material. Unpainted Dwarvenite is typically a uniform grey, while painted pieces show color variation and a sealed surface. When in doubt, treat it as painted and use the gentlest method.

• Keep a dedicated soft brush and microfiber cloth for terrain only.
• Work on a towel so small pieces do not roll off the table.

Step 1: Remove loose dust with a dry brush

Start with a dry, soft-bristled brush and sweep dust out of crevices before introducing any moisture. A dry brush lifts dust without pushing it into paint recesses, and it is the only step most pieces need after a normal session. Work from the top of the piece downward so debris falls away instead of settling into the base.

For stubborn dust in deep texture, use a can of compressed air held at a distance, or a soft makeup brush. Avoid stiff brushes and abrasive pads, which can scratch both unpainted Dwarvenite and painted surfaces.

• Checkpoint: if the piece looks clean after brushing, stop here.

Step 2: Spot-clean with a barely damp cloth

For fingerprints or sticky spots, dampen a microfiber cloth with lukewarm water and wring it out until it is almost dry. Wipe the affected area gently, then immediately dry with a separate cloth. Do not submerge pieces, and do not let water sit in the recesses of a painted surface.

If plain water is not enough, add one drop of mild dish soap to a cup of water and dip the cloth, not the terrain. Rinse the cloth and wipe again with clean water, then dry. Harsh cleaners, alcohol, and solvents can dull paint and cloud resin, so keep them away from your terrain.

• Common mistake: soaking a piece to loosen dirt, which can weaken glue joints and trap moisture.

Step 3: Handle resin and LED pieces differently

Resin is more brittle and more sensitive to heat than Dwarvenite, so avoid warm water and never leave resin submerged. Dust resin with a dry brush only, and use a dry microfiber cloth for fingerprints. If a resin piece needs more than that, a slightly damp cloth is the limit, followed by immediate drying.

Pieces with electronics, like LED walls, should never be immersed. Remove or avoid the battery area, wipe the outer surfaces with a dry cloth, and use a dry brush around the LED inserts. If liquid reaches electronics, stop and let the piece air-dry completely before testing it.

• Checkpoint: if a piece has wires, batteries, or inserts, keep water away entirely.

Step 4: Dry completely before storage

Moisture trapped in a storage bin can cause odors, paint lifting, and metal corrosion on any magnetic parts. After any damp cleaning, let pieces air-dry on a towel in a well-ventilated room, away from direct heat and sunlight. Do not stack damp pieces, because trapped moisture between surfaces is where problems start.

Once dry, store pieces loosely in bins or on shelves. If you live in a humid climate, a small silica packet in the storage bin helps absorb residual moisture. Check pieces before packing them away after a convention or long campaign.

• Common mistake: putting pieces away the same night you wiped them down.

Step 5: Build a simple maintenance routine

A quick dry-brush pass after each session prevents most deep cleaning later. Every few months, do a full inspection: check for chipped paint, loose glue joints, and dust in deep texture. Touch up chipped paint while the piece is clean and dry, not after it has been handled again.

Keep your cleaning kit with your terrain storage so the routine stays easy. A soft brush, two microfiber cloths, and a small spray bottle of plain water cover almost every situation. For unpainted pieces you plan to paint later, clean them before priming so paint adheres evenly.

• Checkpoint: schedule a seasonal inspection rather than waiting for visible grime.

Your terrain cleaning checklist

1. Sort by material and finish: Separate unpainted Dwarvenite, painted pieces, and resin or LED pieces before any cleaning begins. If you are unsure, treat the piece as painted and use the gentlest method.
2. Dry-brush first: Use a soft brush to lift dust from crevices, working from top to bottom over a towel. Most pieces are clean after this step alone.
3. Spot-clean with a barely damp cloth: Use lukewarm water and, if needed, one drop of mild dish soap on the cloth, never on the terrain. Never soak painted pieces, resin, or anything with electronics.
4. Dry fully before storage: Air-dry on a towel in a ventilated area, away from heat and sunlight, and do not stack damp pieces. Moisture trapped in a bin is the main cause of long-term damage.
5. Inspect seasonally: Check for chipped paint, loose joints, and dust buildup, and touch up paint only when the piece is clean and dry. A routine dry-brush after each session prevents deep cleaning later.

Terrain care notes for specific pieces

• Rustic Wood - Wall Spacers (Unpainted): This set contains biscuits and includes half and full rustic wood wall spacers plus additional solid walls. Small biscuits and spacer pieces are easy to lose during cleaning, so work over a tray and dry-brush them rather than rinsing.
• Alpha LED Walls Set (Unpainted): The set includes a freestanding LED Wall and two different LED inserts, and it contains biscuits. Because it has LED components, keep this set away from water and clean the wall and inserts with a dry brush or dry cloth only.
• Narrow Door (Unpainted): This is an individual Dwarvenite piece from the Dungeons line and Basic Core Pieces range, offered unpainted. Unpainted Dwarvenite tolerates a barely damp cloth, but dry it immediately and never soak it, since small individual pieces are easy to misplace or warp if left wet.

Clean terrain lasts longer and looks better on the table. Keep the process gentle, dry thoroughly, and your Dwarvenite and resin pieces will be ready for the next session without wear from overcleaning.