doll cleaning crisis - HELP!

[Whosemom]

A friend of DD just slathered mascara all over the face of DDs Barbie head thing that is designed for playing with its hair. The lovely dolly was not made for make up and has beautiful sparkley eyeshadow and what-not. We have tried to wash it off with soap and water and with finger nail polish remover. I told her to pretend Barbie has a part-time chimney sweep job. She is bummed but doing her best to be nice about it to friend. Any ideas? It is not in the hair, just on the hard plastic face.

 

[lalagrace]

magic eraser?

 

[mom2alix]

Eye make up remover? I can't imagine mascara not coming off with soap and water, but maybe it's the waterproof kind that needs remover?

 

[tjmw2727]

ITA - wth the mr clean magic eraser idea. If not maybe a makeup remover pad. Worst case try some nail polish remover in a hidden spot but it may take the "finish" off in addition to the mascarsa.

Bummer - good luck

TJ

 

[TinkerbelleMom]

My sister did the same thing to a collector doll when she was a kid. I think the remedy then was Oxywash...the facewash for pimples. It took off the mascara and eyeliner, but didn't remove the face paint that was supposed to be there. You might also try baking soda...that's the main ingredient in the American Girl doll face cleaner. We discovered that after paying the high price for the official AG name when a dollar box of Arm & Hammer would have done the trick.

 

[graygables]

We discovered that after paying the high price for the official AG name when a dollar box of Arm & Hammer would have done the trick.

I feel your pain, but wasn't the little cardboard shaker cute???

I third the magic eraser idea...

 

[SueM in MN]

ITA - wth the mr clean magic eraser idea. If not maybe a makeup remover pad. Worst case try some nail polish remover in a hidden spot but it may take the "finish" off in addition to the mascarsa.

Bummer - good luck

TJ

My sister and I used to use nail polish remover to remove our Barbie's lipstick. Then we painted new lipstick on with nail polish.

Anyway, I have bought a number of dolls on ebay that needed some repair and stain removal.
I would second the baking soda or the Magic eraser for a first step. I have also used Oxy - not the wash, the lotion or pimple cream. Try it on a hidden spot first, but if it doesn't seem to cause any problems, go ahead and try it on the stain. Use a cotton swab or toothpick to put it only on the stain. Try not to get it on any of the paint. Putting the doll in the sun accelerates the process. I reapplied it about every 20 minutes or so. It is a gradual process, so you might not see a lot of stain removal the first time.

 

[IluvXU]

baking soda perhaps on a damp cloth.... I know that is what AG dolls use to clean them.

 

[TinkerbelleMom]

I feel your pain, but wasn't the little cardboard shaker cute???

I third the magic eraser idea...

LOL, yea. And A & H wouldn't have come with a washcloth. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Mascara=eye make up remover, plus it should be more gentle to the plastic than nail polish remover(that she already tried).