How to clean vinyl and hard plastic dolls


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Most of the doll collections are made of hard plastic and vinyl materials. No matter how careful you are about storing your doll collection in a cool, dry area, there are only inevitable splashes of color that can emerge due to climate change and natural aging. Sometimes, when you are also looking to add an item to your collection, the previous owner may not have taken proper care of these dolls. Still, the desire to buy it is there because of its rarity. The only solution to your problem is to simply clean it and hopefully restore it to a more attractive state.

The list of materials you may need for this cleaning job includes cotton buds, cotton, soft white muslin cloth or towel, toothpick, pure petroleum jelly, vinegar, Remove-Zit stain remover, silicone vinyl polymer cleaner such as that of STP, dish soap, acid-free tissue paper and toothbrush. These are just a few of the products you need to stock up on for your regular doll cleaning season. Never use thinners and other strong chemicals.

For dolls with vintage garments, always wash them by hand and lightly place them on a white muslin cloth or soft towel to soak up the water after it has been drained and fry for several minutes. Then let it air dry as you gently put back the shape of the creases so that there is only a light ironing if needed. The markers or stains on the doll can be cleaned with dish soap. If you plan to use Remove-Zit, please note that this is only used for vinyl. If you are unsure whether the doll is made of plastic or vinyl, you can try a test area first. If you see a bubbling, clean it up immediately as this is the usual chemical reaction if the material is a plastic. Alternatively, use baking soda on a damp cloth to get rid of some stains and even crayon marks.

For the doll’s hair and body, you can also use vinyl polymer silicone cleaner if the dish soap doesn’t work. Petroleum jelly is also a good specific alternative for darkening and other sticky stains. Use a toothpick to remove dirt from crevices and small crevices especially on the eyes. Dry the doll’s hair especially with curls; dry your hair thoroughly in the air or with a hairdryer at a controlled low temperature to avoid discoloration and melting due to excessive heat.

Now that it’s clean and dry, the next step is to properly store the non-acidic tissue paper doll if the storage box is where they’ll end up. If you choose to keep them in a display case or display case make sure it is out of direct sunlight and humidity. Make sure the closet doors and lids are tightly closed and that the closet is in a cool, dry interior space in your home.

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