Thank goodness it is cooling off here in Texas.  Been too hot to do much this summer so am glad it has cooled for at least  this day and maybe a few to come.  This blog is just way off the ebay subject but just wanted to post my thankfulness. 

I have not looked around here lately and this information may be out there but thought I would reveal some of my doll repair or fix it up tips.  I know lots of buyers want to maybe do it themselves, but lets face it some dolls just beg for a trip to our beauty shop.  Nothing drastic just a little spiffing up sometimes makes all the difference  as to if the little Babe will sell or not.  

I should say my wife does all the doll grooming if they need it and we think it will help their looks and tiny egos a bit.

We do not fix up the highly collectible dolls or ones I am not sure of best method of cleaning beyond a warm washcloth and mild soap.  We  spiff up  Barbie dolls  and others of the like with mild bath.  If the hair is wild and unruly it gets a cleaning as well along with a hair set. 

·        This consist of a mild shampoo no vigorous working and a complete rinse in luke warm water plus a cream conditioner then rinse again.  

·        1st  tip  for tangled hair is not to use shampoo but to put creamy conditioner on hair and carefully comb through hair this  conditioner usually makes tangles  come right out not damaging the hair, and  will usually clean it too so there is no soap needed. 

·        Always rinse well, keeping hair in combed neat shape while rinsing under running water at luke warm temperature.   

·        Blot hair dry.  Carefully comb into shape and let dry.  

·        Tip #2 is to use tape on bangs that want to still stand up. Let dry. 

·        Tip # 3 for hair that needs a set job my wife has found that very small permanent hair rods and hair papers work fantastic for curling the hair.  Or hair papers and twist ties (like come with trash bags) work great on smaller dolls and shorter hair.  

·        My wife does not like the hot water then cold water dip for setting dolls hair as it is a bit dangerous if not done right.  So she sticks with the least offensive way of setting the dolls hair.  Heat is disastrous on doll hair if not done right and very carefully. 

·         Most of the dolls we get do not need anything done to them and their hair but for those that do get a spiffing up great care is made to improve the doll not to damage it. 

One of my discoveries that may help you on getting a mark that will not wash off of a doll or other toy made of vinyl and some plastics is to carefully test surface of that item with a pencil eraser and if it leaves no marks or rubs then it might just remove a mark on the dolls legs or arms or other part that would not wash off.  This has worked for me many times.  I only use the pink erasers on pencils or a white eraser made for art an art gum eraser, never a blue or green one, and never ever a hard old eraser.   I always test this on inconspicuous part of the item very carefully first.   This is the most interesting of my cleaning tools and thought it just might help others.

Everyone is blogging so I had to get in on it.  Come check out some of my items I have on this week.  Felix the Cat as a pirate, a life jacket for child in Super Soft foam. I also have on Barbie doll furniture,  a Texas Almanac  1945-1946, A human heart yep you heard it here first  it is plastic but definately a human heart ----- jar.  Also is a large lot of K'Nex , cases and legos, a money sorter and a Mattel childs sewing machine from 1976 in its box with patterns and cartridges of thread.   This week is a variety of rather unusual items.  So if you have an itch for an unusual IT then check em out.