How to Care for Vintage Dolls
If you have a vintage doll collection, or are planning to start one, it is very important that you learn the proper care for vintage dolls. Even if you only have one treasured vintage doll that brings back fond childhood memories, giving that special doll the proper care will ensure that she remains in excellent condition for many more years to come.
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Things You'll Need
- Soft tightly woven cotton cloth
- Magic cleaning eraser
- Dish washing soap
- Acne cream
- Plastic wrap
- Small soft sponge rollers or drinking straws cut to size
Instructions
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Clean your doll. Use the proper cleaning method for the type material the doll is made from, such as a hard plastic or a composition material.
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Style your vintage doll's hair by wetting it and wrapping it in small hair curlers made of foam, or use pieces of drinking straws in place of the curlers. Allow your doll's hair to dry for 24 to 48 hours before removing the curlers and then fluff using a hair pick.
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Keep vintage dolls away from heating or cooling systems that use forced air as this can cause any paint on the doll to flake. It can also cause many types of vintage dolls to dry out.
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Maintain a constant temperature and avoid exposing the doll to drastic temperature changes, as this will cause a composition doll to expand and contract; and could cause permanent damage to some vintage dolls.
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Store your vintage dolls in a room where the humidity stays between 45 and 55 percent. Buy a humidity gauge at most hardware or museum supply stores.
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Use glass doll display cases whenever possible to store your vintage dolls. If you have a large collection, consider building storage cabinets with glass doors for your expanding doll collection. You'll enjoy your dolls and protect them at the same time.
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Tips & Warnings
The ideal room temperature of storing vintage dolls is between 65 and 70 degrees F.
Humidity Indicator Cards, sold at such places as the Conservator's Emporium in Reno, Nevada, can monitor the humidity inside vintage doll display cases. The Conservators Emporium is located at 100 Standing Rock Circle and their telephone number is (775) 852-0404.
Remove most marks from vintage fashion dolls with a magic cleaning eraser dabbed with a small amount of dishwashing soap.
If your vintage doll is made from vinyl, it is possible to remove ink stains by applying acne cream over the ink spot. Cover the area with plastic wrap and put the doll outside in the sunshine for several hours. The ink spot might need several applications of the acne cream before it disappears.
Never submerge a vintage doll completely in water, as water could seep into the joints and cause a mold or mildew growth that will lead to an odor from the doll. It is also best to avoid submerging any of the doll's joints, for the same reason.
Smoke from cigarettes can be very damaging to a vintage doll. The smell of the cigarette smoke will permeate the doll's clothing and hair and will also leave a residue on the finish of the doll.
Never use anything on a composition vintage doll to give it a shine. Use a soft, tightly woven cotton cloth to bluff your doll's finish lightly.
Many of the pieces of vintage doll clothing are very fragile and it is best to just take them to a professional dry cleaner for advice on how to clean them properly. Some vintage doll garments can be gently steamed over a teakettle if they are made of one color.
