How to Restore a Barbie Doll

Sometimes all it takes is a little soap, water and time to turn a grungy Barbie into a gorgeous doll.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Nail Polish Remover
• Shampoos For Normal Hair
• Drinking Straws
• Toothpicks
• Toothpicks
• Liquid Fabric Softeners
• Hobby Paintbrushes
• Barbie Dolls
• Barbie Bazaar Subscriptions
• Barbie Clothes
• Barbie Jewelry
• GooGone
• Conditioners With Lanolin
• Hobby Paints
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Irons

1. Check your doll completely and decide what parts need to be fixed and what must be replaced.

2. Wash the body and face with warm water and a mild cleanser. Dry with a soft cloth.

3. Use a blunt toothpick to clean out crevices.

4. Try alcohol or nail polish remover if you can't get dirt off with water. Do not use these substances on old dolls, as they can remove the paint.

5. Shampoo the doll's hair and condition it with lanolin. If it is matted, wash it with GooGone, then soak it in fabric softener. Rinse and style.

6. Curl the hair around straws or plastic tubing. Hold it in place with a pin while it dries.

7. Repaint the doll's face if needed. This is a very delicate procedure, so don't try it if you don't have experience.

8. Buy replacement limbs if needed. You can get them from Barbies that match yours, but are in poor condition except for the parts you need.

9. Wash the clothes and use stain remover if necessary.

10. Iron clothes that are wrinkled and not made of a material that will melt.

11. Clean plastic accessories with warm water and mild cleanser.

12. Consider having the hair professionally re-rooted if it is in very bad shape.

13. Purchase new clothes and accessories or make your own.

Tips & Warnings

• Realize that any restoration you do will ruin the Barbie's value to collectors, even though it may make the doll look much better.

on 1/16/2006 If you're nervous about practicing on the doll you want to restore, many larger dollar stores sell 11 inch fashion dolls for a dollar. You can always give the doll's clothes to a child who plays with them.

on 1/13/2006 If you want to restore Barbie clothes, but you don't want to risk putting them in the washing machine or ironing them - don't worry. If the Velcro or button is coming out from the back, take a glue gun and put it back. Glue guns are clean, precise, and efficient and easier than using a magnifying glass to sew. Also, if the color is fading, this is a good thing to do; Let's say you have a red fading shirt. Take some cranberry juice and soak the shirt in it, wash it, and it will come out with the stain looking red - which is what you wanted! If you paint the shirt or try to duplicate it, it won't look as natural as this. For blue - use blueberry juice, for purple - use grape juice, for orange - use spaghetti sauce.

on 11/22/2005 When people say "don't try it if you don't have experience" it's NOT true...How are you ever going to get experience if you don't try? Find a really old Barbie that's in horrible condition, pop off the head, and rub all the paint off the face with nail polish remover. Now try and paint a new face on with acrylic paints. Use the smallest brush you can find. Soon you'll get the hang of it and you can try it on a better doll!