Dolls can be life-long treasures and dolls are also keepsakes, collectibles and sometimes valuable antiques and unlike children dolls suffer also in silence. They may lose an arm or leg or get damaged without complaint. After years of use or storage their stuffing goes flat or they do need a good cleansing to revive them. It all depends how you are looking after your dolls.
If a cloth-body doll’s body is severely damaged, you need to replace it.
If the head, arm or leg comes off (normally it’s a doll with push-in limbs, use a hairdryer to make the plastic pliable, then reinsert the part into the body.
If the elastic inside the doll that holds it together broke, replace it.
If your doll’s wig comes loose, glue it back with super glue.
If your doll’s rooted hair is damaged beyond repair, cut it off close to the scalp and glue a wig over it or find a doll’s head that fits.
Repairing of a valuable antique doll like porcelain should be left to a professional or doll hospital to be replaced.
Larger craft stores will have extensive doll making and repair supplies including fabrics, stuffing, parts or even glue.
Wash dolls with a mild detergent and damp rag, then dry with a clean rag. If the doll’s hair is rooted (you can shampoo it). Don’t shampoo with wigs, because the glue of the wig may be damaged.
Before deciding of throwing away a doll again because of her tangled hair, here are a few tips to consider to improve your doll’s hair.
What Works Best For Combing Tangled Doll Hair
Shampoo and conditioner your doll’s hair.
Take 50ml hot water and mix it with 50ml fabric detergent and throw it in a spray bottle.
Spray the mixture onto the tangled hair. Use a brush with bristles at the end.
Comb the hair starting from the tip, middle to the scalp. Never the other way.
What Works Best For Combing Very Damaged Doll Hair
Spray the fabric softener mixture and hot water onto the doll’s hair. Let it set for two hours. Brush it through. Air-dry for a day. You can use essential oils for the dryness and it smells lovely.
Blow the hair by putting one hand on the end.
To get the silky sleek hair, cover the hair in wax paper. Use a straightener for two strikes and the most beautiful and shiny hair can be seen.
How To Get Rid Of Ink And Stains On Dolls
Apply acre cream like 10% Benzoyl peroxide on the ink stain. Leave in sunlight for a few hours facing the area to the sun.
Be careful when using, because it can also remove the doll’s original painted accent.
Warning: Rather use the acne cream first on a smaller area.
What Can You Use To Clean The Body Of A Doll
First try to clean the doll with a wet cloth. If that doesn’t work try and use citric acid dish soaps with warm water to clean the doll’s body. The best is to test it first on a small part like the fingers to see if it works.
Click on the link below to find out more of how to improve the condition of a baby doll.
