How to Fix Damp Collectible Doll Clothes

Remove the clothing from the doll and inspect it carefully for stains, tears or other damage besides dampness. If possible, remove embellishments, such as ribbons and yarn drawstrings that may dry at different rates or in different ways from the main garment. Check the tightness of buttons and embroidery.

Sort items by the fiber used in the clothing and the weight of the fabric. Late-20th-century synthetics will probably dry easily and well, though earlier synthetics will be less predictable. Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk and wool each respond differently to heat and sunlight.

Place compatible, dryer-safe synthetics, cottons and linens in a mesh bag and tumble on moderate heat just long enough to dry.

Spread delicate fabrics and wools on clean sheets to air-dry. Linens tolerate direct sunlight better than other fibers and can be dried on warm grass or shrubbery. Heavier fabrics, especially wools, should be elevated to dry on both sides. Very wet fabrics can be rolled inside towels and gently squeezed to remove most of the moisture, and doll clothes can be stuffed lightly with toweling or other clean natural fibers to allow air to circulate.

Press fabrics other than wool gently with a warm iron. Cotton and linen can tolerate more heat, but silk scorches easily. Woven wool should not be ironed dry. Slip doll clothes over a sleeve board or a rolled linen towel to avoid creasing them or breaking buttons and other attachments.

Press out ribbons with a warm iron and reattach them.