Doll collecting has been a rewarding hobby for hundreds of years. The history of the Vogue Ginny Doll extends back to the 1920s, when a young lady who made dress clothes for children shrank her work and started dressing dolls and selling them to department stores. By 1951 Ginny dolls had their name and their signature look, and by 1957 Vogue was making more than $5 million per year selling Ginny dolls alone. For the thousands of people around the world who have these lovable collectibles, keeping them clean and looking new is important to maintain the memories and their value. Proper cleaning and care of your plastic Ginny dolls can make them meaningful heirlooms.
Instructions
Clean the Body
1. Mix warm water and a mild dish detergent (such as Joy, Ivory or Dawn) into a bowl until suds form.
2. Soak the bristles of a toothbrush in the cleaning solution. Scrub at the doll's face, hands and other exposed areas to remove dirt buildup. Try not to get the cleaning solution into the eyes, as you will use a more specialized cleaner for those.
3. Soak the tip of a cotton swab in sewing machine oil. This product is available at most arts and crafts stores.
4. Rub the cotton swab lightly over the eyes to remove dirt and restore shine.
5. Allow the doll to dry completely before returning to display. Dry face-down if any cleaning solution got into the eyes so that the solution will run out.
Clean the Doll's Clothing
6. Check clothing for potential damage or weak spots. If you find damage on the doll's clothing, consult a professional doll restorer, as cleaning damaged clothing can cause worse damage.
7. Remove any extraneous pieces, such as metal buttons, bows or flowers.
8. Wash color clothing in cold water only (so that the colors don't run), with a mild laundry soap such as Woolite. Newer clothing can be run through the washing machine on a cold cycle; clean older garments by hand with a mixture of cold water and laundry soap.
9. Wash white garments, such as undergarments, in hot water and mild detergent. Fill a plastic tub (size will vary depending on number of garments) with 1/8 cup of detergent to each gallon of hot water. Add the garments and stir with a wooden kitchen utensil to agitate. Soak the clothes in the mixture for 24 hours; repeat if necessary to remove stains.
10. Rinse all garments with cool water to remove any remaining soap. Press between two soft towels to remove as much water as possible, then lay flat to dry. Smooth out as many wrinkles as possible.
Clean the Doll's Hair
11. Shampoo and condition doll's hair as you would your own; this will remove dirt and dust and prevent tangles.
12. Comb the hair out with a comb to remove tangles, then style as you prefer.
13. If the hair is extremely matted and tangled, apply a detangler. Anything that would be safe to use on a baby or a small child will be safe for dolls.
14. Dampen your fingertips with olive oil and rub through the doll's hair to restore some shine and luster.
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