Tips for cleaning old Barbie faces?

[DollyKim]

Outside of soap and water is there an easy to find household way to clean up Barbie faces?

I have some dolls from several eras with heads that look dull and "dirty" and would like to make them look a bit cleaner and brighter in general. Hopefully with something I'd have around the house because I'm not in the mood to order something off the internet.

[maywong]

I know that SetsunaKou has used tea tree oil to remove stuff from dolls.

[DollyKim]

I haven't. Is there a specific product name I should look for with those?

[maywong]

Have you tried this?

https://howtoadult.com/clean-vintage-ba ... 33032.html

[DollyKim]

I've done soap and water but haven't done acne cream. Would it fade a tan doll?

The batch I'm working on have what I can best describe as grubby spots on their softer parts.

[maywong]

I have used acne cream to get out ink stains.

http://www.prillycharmin.com/restore/1oxy10.htm

[Kattriella]

I've used acne cream on an old Christie doll from the late 90s or early 2000s, and it didn't seem to hurt her. I'd maybe do it in short intervals, like apply the cream and leave it for a few hours and check it to make sure everything is okay. I've left it on a lighter doll for around 3 days with no issues. I'm going to try it on a Hula Hair Barbie I got at a flea market as soon as I get more acne cream. (I accidentally popped it when it fell off the shelf and I stepped on it.)

[DollyKim]

I'll have to get some, never know when green ear will turn up too.

In the mean time I used some elbow grease and a wash cloth and they look better but still on the dull side.

[SetsunaKou]

I know that SetsunaKou has used tea tree oil to remove stuff from dolls.

I haven't. Is there a specific product name I should look for with those?

Yes, tea tree oil (100%) will clean and brighten really well, BUT it will also remove factory paint if rubbed over the eyes/mouth, etc.

You can buy it at WalMart now or CVS, etc in the pharmacy aisles, usually near the peroxide, alcohol, witch hazel, etc.

I use it almost daily as a faceup remover but I do also use it to clean off 'dirty' faces, making sure not to get near the faceups/lips and also rinsing with soap and water and a towel after the tea tree. I use a q-tip to apply/rub the tea tree in a focused area.

It works great but it won't get out ink. Unfortunately, the only product I've found to work on removing ink from vinyl (and mostly from PVC) is TwinPines RemoveZit. But that's for major staining.

If it's just a dirty face that wants brightening, go with the tea tree oil but be careful about getting into the faceups. Rinse with soap and water immediately after the tea tree treatment.

:hugs: