Vintage Collectible or Toy?
First, understand that there is a difference in the level of care you will take with a vintage doll versus one intended for play. Vintage dolls are dolls for collectors. These are limited edition dolls, older dolls or dolls that have some other value in the eyes of a collector. Dolls for play, on the other hand, are not as valuable. While you want them to look great, they are going to take a beating, so your goal is to minimize that without impacting your child’s play.
Caring for Barbies for Play
If the Barbie is one your child is playing with, your goal is two-fold. First, you want to keep her hair looking good and free of mats. Second, you want to keep her relatively clean.
If her hair is a frizzy, matted mess, mix some fabric softener with water and spray her hair with it. This will allow you to comb it out without adding to the frizz. If the hair is dirty, you can wash it using a moisturizing shampoo. Keep in mind that this will eliminate any curls she had when you bought her, but you can re-set her hair by wrapping it around pieces of a straw while wet, and allowing it to dry.
To clean her body, do not submerge her, but wipe her down with a soap and water mixture. You can also clean her with a plain Magic Eraser if the dirt is very hard to remove, but do not use this on the face. The Magic Eraser may remove the eye paint.
Caring for Vintage Dolls
Because of their age and rarity, vintage dolls require a different style of cleaning. To clean the body, the Magic Eraser works well, but again, avoid using it on the face. If you prefer, you can use simple dish soap and water on the body, but do not submerge the doll.
For a vintage doll’s hair, dirt can contribute to the frizz problem, so a good washing is important. Again, use a moisturizing shampoo. Then, comb through and style the hair by curling it around straws. If you want, you can spray the hair with hair spray, but cover the face before you do. Hair spray will leave a shine on the face. Let the hair set for 48 hours, and then remove the straws. Do not use fabric softener on a vintage doll’s hair, as it can damage it. Instead, use dish washing liquid and hair conditioner or a moisturizing shampoo.
Once she is clean, you will need to find a place to store and display Barbie. Your goal needs to be to keep her away from dust and direct sunlight to prevent further damage. A storage cabinet in an area without sunlight is great, but put the dolls in their own individual storage boxes for added protection. If you are not displaying them, wrap them in acid free paper and store them without their shoes on. Shoes can leave a stain on the feet, and the shoes can also split if left on the doll’s feet for too long.
If your Barbies are looking a little worse for the wear, you can help. With the right tools, you may even be able to get then in close to new condition. All it takes is a little bit of time and attention, and you can have a beautiful doll to display or play with again.
About the author: Danielle blogs on behalf of Sears and other brands she uses. She hate’s Barbie’s oversized, pink plastic brush and prefers to use an actual baby brush instead.
