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.
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Things You'll Need
- Nail Polish Remover
- Shampoos For Normal Hair
- Drinking Straws
- Toothpicks
- Liquid Fabric Softeners
- Hobby Paintbrushes
- Barbie Dolls
- Barbie Bazaar Subscriptions
- Barbie Clothes
- Barbie Jewelry
- GooGone
- Conditioners With Lanolin
- Hobby Paints
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Irons
Instructions
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1
Check your doll completely and decide what parts need to be fixed and what must be replaced.
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Wash the body and face with warm water and a mild cleanser. Dry with a soft cloth.
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3
Use a blunt toothpick to clean out crevices.
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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.
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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.
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Curl the hair around straws or plastic tubing. Hold it in place with a pin while it dries.
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Repaint the doll's face if needed. This is a very delicate procedure, so don't try it if you don't have experience.
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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.
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Wash the clothes and use stain remover if necessary.
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Iron clothes that are wrinkled and not made of a material that will melt.
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Clean plastic accessories with warm water and mild cleanser.
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Consider having the hair professionally re-rooted if it is in very bad shape.
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13
Purchase new clothes and accessories or make your own.
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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.
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Comments
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I have a 1960 Ken doll.I'm wanting to fix the head part and can't because the stem part of he's head that go into the body is tearing a way from he's neck to hold it in place. Is there really away to fix this part of the body?
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Jan 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. -
Jan 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.
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Jan 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.
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Nov 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!
