You've probably put up your Halloween decorations by now. Y'all've already been to your local Spirit Halloween shop (a few times) to store for animatronics , décor , costumes , and more. You're watching your favorite horror movies , carving jack-o'-lanterns , and planning more fun October events.

As y'all gloat the Halloween flavor by unpacking older animatronics, or when you first to put them abroad at the end of the flavor, you want to practice your best to make sure they haunt your home for the long haul. Y'all spend your hard-earned cash to create the scariest, virtually impressive display of Halloween decorations that your neighborhood (or social media) has ever seen, so you lot want to keep it all in good shape. This guide volition assistance you have the steps to properly care for your Spirit Halloween décor and animatronics.

Taking animatronics and decorations out of storage

Information technology might sound obvious but exist careful when you lot remove items from boxes and packaging to prevent accidentally breaking something. Also, make sure you lot read and follow directions for every animatronic and piece of Spirit décor y'all own. Doing then volition ensure that you're giving these exciting items the best chance of existence fix for yous to employ next Halloween.

Once y'all've carefully removed everything from storage, y'all can use a soft towel to wipe plastic pieces clean and canned air to clear dust from all hard-to-reach areas, similar joints and electronics. Dust tin can curt electronics or clog gears in your animatronics over time if they aren't properly cleaned.

Ability supply

In terms of power, check the adapter or batteries when you take items out of storage to ensure that everything works properly. Do non plug in an adapter if an item is also connected to batteries, as that could damage the mechanism. Either use batteries for an animatronic or plug it in using the correct adapter. Using the wrong adapter could besides harm the mechanism.

Displaying your décor

Make sure you avoid displaying your animatronics and décor in constant, straight sunlight. Sunlight can cause the decorations to discolor or their costume materials to deteriorate. Prolonged, direct sunlight can likewise cause latex rubber to dry out and fissure.

Detailed animatronic maintenance

This start-of-the-season maintenance tip will help you preserve your animatronics and moving parts for many Halloweens to come up! Start past opening up the machinery or gearbox on your animatronic while running it. Make sure there isn't any impairment and employ a coat of white lithium-based grease (oil-based grease can damage the plastic gears and any latex).

If there is any burnt grease inside the mechanism, mix blistering soda with hot water, use a cloth to apply the mixture to the grease, and scrub it off. Then use a soft cloth with warm water to clean all residue, permit information technology air dry, and use a new glaze of white lithium grease. This volition keep your motors and gears working properly.

Are animatronics rain-condom?

No. Animatronics must be kept in covered, relatively dry areas. Condensation, morning dew, and rain can all destroy your precious animatronics. We know that's hard to hear, but just know that you tin can extend the life of your animatronics if you accept care of them properly!

What animatronics can be left outside?

Spirit Halloween has lots of outdoor decorations , simply the presence of lawn stakes is usually a telltale sign that decorations tin can exist left outside in the thousand. Spirit has all the items you need to plough your front yard into a Halloween nightmare, from door coverings to door mats and gravestones to inflatables.

How to care for outdoor decorations

Dry everything completely before putting items back into storage. Let everything air dry out or use a soft towel, merely never use a hair dryer; these can cook the adhesives anchoring internal electronics.

How to clean your fog motorcar

Information technology'south always a adept idea to quickly exam out your fog automobile when you accept it out of storage. Plug everything in, test your remote and timer, and decide if you need more than fog fluid. Yous don't desire to realize that your fog machine needs supplies right earlier yous intend to use it!

When you're set up to pack it abroad subsequently Halloween, unplug the unit and brand certain it has time to completely cool before cleaning. E'er remove or use up any excess fog fluid and supercede it with fog machine cleaner . Run the machine until the cleaner is gone. You tin then pack your fog auto away after it has completely stale out. For more data, run across our weblog mail service on how to use a fog machine .

Latex care

Make certain y'all take care of all the various materials in your décor and animatronics, especially the latex that is oftentimes used in the heads and hands. Earlier storing, wash the latex with make clean, warm water, without soap. Wipe off excess water with a soft towel, allow the latex to air dry out, then apply a light coating of talcum pulverization before storing.

If the latex gets marked, smudged, or dirty in whatever style, clean information technology with a small corporeality of rubbing alcohol on either a soft towel or a cotton wool swab. Then use warm water without soap to wash the area, earlier letting it air dry.

Basic animatronic care

As nosotros've said before, reading the instructions guarantees the well-nigh successful animatronics and décor care. Knowing how different mechanisms work (swinging versus dropping, for instance) tin help you sympathise how to all-time intendance for them.

Always remove batteries before storing your Halloween décor. If the batteries are damaged and leak while inside your animatronics or décor while they're in storage, they tin can ruin the entire item. This like shooting fish in a barrel stride is 1 of the best ways to extend the life of your Spirit decorations.

Besides, brand sure you disassemble your animatronics before storing them. All of their various mechanisms will benefit from being taken apart earlier storage. Removing spring-loaded pressure from a mechanism, for case, can ensure that the mechanism works well the following year.

Packing up items for storage

Storing props and animatronics in a temperature-controlled, dry location is platonic. High temperatures can damage latex, while common cold temperatures tin can damage electronics. Over again, remove any batteries before storing your animatronics and decorations.

You should besides release any external or internal springs in the prop mechanisms. Disassembling the prop can remove undo spring tension on the welds which could otherwise lead to mechanical failure.

Lastly, when storing, be mindful of what is placed on top of the animatronic. Pressure from backlog weight tin can cause damage to welds or possibly crush the item. We love our animatronics likewise much to meet this happen.

When in need, telephone call the Zombie Tech Squad

If all else fails, the Zombie Tech Squad is a Spirit Halloween call center for all your animatronics and décor repair needs. They're available via alive chat, e-mail, and phone from 12 p.k. to 10 p.m. ET, Mon through Friday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.thou. ET on Saturdays, and 12 p.one thousand. to six p.m. ET on Sundays.

They bear parts for the electric current year of animatronics, which are supplied on a first-come, first-served footing. However, the Zombie Tech Squad cares about your animatronics and décor, and then they will help you troubleshoot your items or send them in for repair.

There's goose egg quite like the excitement of starting to decorate for Halloween. Whether you pull indoor decorations out of boxes or bins at home or you store large animatronics for your dwelling haunt, nosotros'll help you protect the tools of your Halloween trade. Maintain your animatronics and decor by staying upward-to-date with our web log , bank check out the extensive FAQs on the Zombie Tech Squad page , or reach out to them direct with whatsoever additional questions!