How to Safely Clean Vintage Dolls
Many of us have amassed a vast collection of dolls over the years. Childhood dolls often live on shelves that never see the light of day, only growing older (and dirtier) with each passing year. But if you want to preserve your doll collection (or are interested in collecting vintage dolls), consider these tips to keep them in pristine shape.
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Instructions
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Cleaning Vintage Dolls
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Wash your hands frequently. This is of utmost importance. You do not want to transfer oil from your hands to your vintage collection. This can potentially damage the dolls.
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Use a white cloth when wiping your doll. This way you can check if you are accidentally wiping away any paint in your effort to clean.
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Do not eat or drink while cleaning your doll. Crumbs or a simple spill may completely ruin her so you'll want to stay clear of food.
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Cleaning your doll with water is sometimes your best bet, but only use a little at a time. Never soak your vintage doll since this could create mold. Depending on what your doll is made of, you can use cleaner that's specific to that material to wash her. For example, use plastic cleaner if your doll is plastic.
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Use a magic eraser or dishwashing soap to clean marks. Do not scrub the entire body with it, however.
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Brush her hair with a wig wire brush to style her hair gently. Avoid pulling excessively. You can also use foam curlers to help style her hair, wetting it gently. Never use a hot tool such as a curling iron to style your doll's hair.
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Sketch your doll if you are taking her apart to clean the insides. This way you will know exactly how she goes back together when you are finished.
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Never wash your doll's clothes in the washer or try to wash them out by hand. It is best to take them to a professional dry cleaner.
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Clean your composition dolls with acrylic paint. Purchase some at a craft store and make sure the color matches that of the doll. Gently wipe her off with the paint, but be careful around her facial features as the original paint has a tendency to come off very easily.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Sherry Rose
