Dollieh Sanctuary

How do I go about doing that? My second girl really smells. In the past I've put dolls in a cold/moderately warm bath with detergent (not sure if I have the right word, I mean the stuff used for doing dishes) and this really works, but can I also do this to an Obitsu? If not, what else would work..? Thanks in advance!

Yep, "detergent" is right.
For removing smoky smells, I spray clothing with rubbing alcohol, and then store it with an herby-scented sachet for a while...not sure about Obitsu, though I can't see the alcohol hurting her if you're careful...

ugh...that sucks. also make sure you take her apart and scrub her insides. I just normally use water and dish soap for the vinyl stuff.

Take her apart before you put her in water. The joints all have metal screws in them, and I don't know whether they would begin to corrode. Also, you could possibly end up getting water into the joints. Most of them come apart pretty easily, the knees and elbows for exampled have a rounded shell piece either side of the flat joint mechanism. They pop off with a fingernail exposing the joint below, and you can use a small screw-driver to loosen the screw and bold - you can also tighten them as needed, which is often the cure for loose elbows or knees.

Anyway, I'd take the vinyl off the joints before washing, if possible.

If you were in the US, I would suggest something from Twin Pines...but barring that (because I know you aren't), follow what all of these folks have said and then also try some Febreze or even Lysol (air/fabric deodorizer) and them clean with a shampoo.

I got one once that was so badly "smoked" that she was yellow from the nicotine. I did finally get the smell of her and most of the stain.

But you do have to be careful to clean the insides and to not get the screws wet. So taking the dolly apart is important.

I am glad she doesn't have a head yet.

Washing clothing and wigs in shampoo (known to remove even fish smell!) and using a bit of fabric softener also helps alot.

I've also heard of people putting the doll in a bag of baking soda or un-scented clay kitty litter (just normal litter no additives), for a little while, it's supposed to absorb all the smell.

Thanks for all the great tips! Fortunately it'll be a while before her head gets here, so I'll have some time to clean her up well. I don't think she has yellowed from the nicotine, she's actually much less stained than Sosha anyway, it's just the smell that's bugging me.

Thank you SO much for the tip about taking the body apart. I hadn't even thought of the screws. Don't wanna get them wet!

Hope to try this during the weekend Thanks again!!

I second the baking soda method! Take some tisues and wet them a bit and pack the doll pieces in them. Put everithing in a big bowl and cover the parts with thick layers of baking soda leave it like that for over the night (you can leave them longer if you like, baking soda is used to clean metals from rust and dirth so it shouldn´t hurt the screws) If some parts still smell repeat the process. I already cleaned vynil and resin dolls this way and it realy sucks out dirth and smell, if you even add tooth paste with peroxide (whitening) to the mix it also sucks out the yellowing.

Oh cool! Does the tooth paste also help remove other types of stains?

Evelien wrote:Oh cool! Does the tooth paste also help remove other types of stains?

No, but it will leave them with minty fresh breath.