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How to Clean Dollies

Part of doll collecting is keeping them clean to help maintain the dolls' appearance and value. Vinyl, hard plastic and rubber dolls are among some of the commonly collected types. They are relatively easy to clean and maintain with techniques such as using petroleum jelly to lighten darkened areas on vinyl dolls or applying a mild dish soap to wipe down a hard plastic doll. Understanding how to properly clean and store your dollies will keep them looking like new for years to come.

Things You'll Need

Liquid dish soap
Clean clothes
Toothbrush
Water
Shampoo or Spray 409
Children's spray-on conditioner
Metal comb
Cream acne medication
Petroleum jelly
Mild liquid soap

Instructions

Vinyl Dolls
- 1
  Dampen the doll completely with a clean cloth. Apply a cleaner of your choice that works on vinyl, such as window cleaner or dish soap. A mild shower cleaner is also effective, according to ADolly'sWorld website. Allow the cleaner to set for five minutes.
- 2
  Scrub the doll with a toothbrush. Be gentle on the face and painted facial features. Rinse with water and repeat the procedure if needed.
- 3
  Clean the hair by wetting it with warm water. Use water that is warm as opposed to hot, which can potentially destroy the hair fibers of old dolls. Clean the hair with a very small amount of shampoo or a mild, effective cleaner that rinses easily out of doll hair, according to the PrillyCharmin website.
- 4
  Rinse the doll hair thoroughly with water and apply children's spray-on conditioner, which is safe to use on doll hair, according to PrillyCharmin. Work the conditioner through the hair starting from the ends with a metal comb. Style hair as desired.
- 5
  Remove tough stains on vinyl dolls by applying an acne medicine to the stain. Place the doll in a sunlit window and allow to sit for several days, changing the cream every two days if needed.
- 6
  Apply an even layer of petroleum jelly on darkened vinyl and leave the doll out in the direct sun. Bring the doll in at nighttime and wipe off the petroleum jelly with paper towels. You do not have to remove all the petroleum jelly if the doll is going back outside the next day. Most darkened vinyl can take a few weeks to recover with this method. Use a cleaner such as dish soap to completely remove all of the petroleum jelly.
- 7
  Handwash doll clothes with a mild liquid soap, taking extra care with vintage items.
Plastic and Rubber Dolls
- 8
  Clean dolls by applying some dish soap with a clean cloth to the doll and allow it to sit for five minutes. Do not wet the doll.
- 9
  Use a toothbrush if desired to clean the doll, but test the brush on a discreet area of the doll first to avoid damaging the surface. Wipe off the soap residue with a clean, damp (not wet) cloth.
- 10
  Repeat Step 3 and 4 from Section 1 to effectively clean the doll hair. Handwash doll clothes with liquid soap.

Collecting Vintage Toys