Please note that information on my blog is mainly pertaining to the 80s Coleco and Hasbro mass-market Cabbage Patch Kids. Also, I am no expert nor do I claim to be. Information on this site has been collected from numerous sources. See my information tab.

Cleaning and Restoring Your Doll


 You can download my Doll Repair Handbook on Amazon https://amzn.to/2GBHCdX

Hardcopy also available at Magcloud http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/895768


Created with Cabbage Patch Kids in mind, these restore tools can also be used on other dolls.
Learn how to remove ink stains, buff out scratches, remove smudges, repair popped stitches, whiten yellowed shoes, and more!


I no longer sell the repair kit, but here are some quick tips to cleaning your doll.

Supplies

  • Ink Remover (10% Benzoyl Peroxide Zit Cream)
  • Buffer (Bar Keeper’s Friend)
  • Magic Eraser Sponge
  • Laundry detergent, shampoo or baby wash
  • gloves
  • cuticle cutters, nail scissors or wire cutters to remove ziptie
  • rags
  • baking soda
  • hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice or vinegar
  • thick marker or similar round object
  • Delta Stencil paint or other creamy paint
  • doll needle or curved needle
  • 14” zip tie
  • embroidery floss or upholstery thread (I use DCM embroidery floss, numbers: 543, 738, and 842)
  • needle.

Disclaimer: Not all repairs are guaranteed.  Always use caution when using chemicals.

CLEANING YOUR DOLL

IMG_5514

For basic whole-body cleaning, either use a sink with laundry detergent, or take the head off and wash the body in the washing machine. If using the sink and you have sensitive skin, use gloves. Laundry detergent is hard on skin. Try not to get water in the head. If you have to, take the head off by snipping the zip tie with cuticle cutters or wire cutters. You will have to replace it with a new zip tie when you reattach the head. If using the washing machine, place the body inside a pillow case or laundry bag with a load of towels on gentle cycle. If it does not need whole-body cleaning, lightly dampen a wash cloth and put a tiny bit of laundry detergent on it, then rub the areas that need cleaned. Use Shout stain remover for tough stains. Use “Carbona Stain Devils Rust & Perspiration Stain Remover” to remove rust stains. Choose a hot summer day to air dry the doll outside, or put him in a dryer (if the head is detached). I have used the wash machine spin cycle to drain most of the water out.

TIP: Try using Baby Wash that smells like baby powder to get that baby powder smell back on the doll.

For hard-to-clean spots on the head, (including white scratches) on the head, use a magic eraser sponge. Again, use gloves if you have sensitive skin. Very lightly dampen the tip of the Magic Eraser, then scrub the head, being careful to avoid the painted parts of the face. I like to break off a chunk of the sponge to use a little at a time.

The following pictures are before and after using the sponge.

IMG_7736 copyIMG_7755 copy

 

IMG_9290

Hair- Fill a sink full of warm or hot water, dunk the hair in the water, gently work shampoo into the hair, then dunk to wash it out. I use shampoo rather than laundry detergent because it's gentler on the hair than laundry detergent, and I like the smell. To dry the hair, I wrap a towel around it to get most of the water out, then let it air dry. If there is a lot of hair and it's really wet, I quickly swing the doll back and forth, holding onto the body so that the hair goes back and forth. This throws the water out of the hair. Make sure you do it in a place that doesn't matter if it gets wet, like outside or in a shower. Water will go everywhere when it flies out of the hair.

bkf repairs

For clear rubs and scratches on the head, use Bar Keeper’s Friend. Dampen a wash cloth, and put a tiny bit of powder on it, then rub the area until you are satisfied with what it looks like. Be careful around the eyes, eyebrows, and cheeks. It will take off the paint. It does make the face shiny if used a lot, which makes reblushing difficult.

 

For ink removal on vinyl, use 10% benzoyl peroxide zit cream. Place just enough cream to cover the ink and place it outside in the sun. Placing it in the window does not work as well. I tried placing it outside on a hot sunny day after it was inside by the window and it made a difference of several hours. Placing it inside takes several days, placing it outside takes a few hours or a couple days depending on the severity. Check each day to see if it is gone. If it’s on for too long, it could fade the vinyl. Be especially careful on the darker vinyl as on African American dolls. It will fade the color.

Below are before and after pictures of ink that was removed from the mouth. It took several days because I didn’t have sunlight in my area. The weather was overcast.

beforeafterink

You can even use it on shoes:

IMG_7659IMG_7694

 

For ink removal on fabric, use nail polish remover with acetone. Lightly pour it on the affected area, then wash out with water and soap immediately. Follow the warning labels on the bottle and don’t have it on for too long or it will fade the fabric. If it does not work, try pure acetone, but be very careful when using it.

For strong odors such as cigarette smoke, soak doll in a sink with water, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda. You may have to change the water every few hours, depending on how bad the smell is. You may also replace hydrogen peroxide with vinegar or lemon juice. Depending on how strong the odor is, it could take a few days to get rid of the smell.

Pox - Caused by an interaction between the vinyl ingredients used to make the mold, pox are tiny dots (either dark or light) on the vinyl. P and PMI factory ‘Kids, and BBB (Bean Butt Babies) are most susceptible to get Pox. They are also more susceptible to forming in humid environments. Unfortunately, Pox is irreversible, and I have not had any luck removing them. Although, I have heard of collectors using a product from Twin Pines. I have also heard of bleaching the inside of the head and using the ink remover and white sponge repeatedly until they have lightened, but they do not completely disappear. Others have used 5% benzoyl peroxide with luck after many repeated applications.

Yellowed Shoes – Use 10% benzoyl peroxide zit cream. Apply it just the same as the directions for ink removal on vinyl. I have used many different things to get the old yellowed shoes to become white and this was the only thing that has worked for me.

yellowed shoes

 

REMOVING THE HEAD AND REPLACING THE ZIP TIE

1. Use Cuticle Clippers or wire cutters to snip the old zip tie.

IMG_9283

 

2. Pull out the zip tie and discard. The head will come off.

IMG_9284

 

3. To replace, use a new zip tie. Thread it through the casing of the neck.

IMG_5297

 

4. Adjust it on the groove of the neck on the head, pulling the zip tie until it’s in the correct place and tighten.

IMG_5520

 

5. Snip the end with cuticle clippers.

IMG_5521

 

Finished

IMG_5522

 

TRIMMING HAIR FUZZIES

For looped hair, use a fat marker or something similar to put through the loops. Pull the fuzzies up with your fingers. Trim the fuzzies with sharp thread scissors or nail scissors. Continue through all the loops this way, being careful not to snip the loop.

IMG_9296

REBLUSHING

Use Delta Stencil paint. It’s creamy and blends well. First peel off the dried paint.  Then dab some paint on a q-tip or rag, dab it on the cheek, then with a cotton ball or rag, rub it into the cheek. If you mess up, you can use alcohol to take it off and start over.

IMG_0513IMG_0514

Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links on this blog.