Guides / Care & Cleaning

Care & cleaning without the guesswork

Material care is where good dolls die early. Here's the whole routine, by material, plus the storage mistakes that cause most damage.

TPE routine

1. Clean after each use. Mild antibacterial soap and warm (never hot) water. Pat dry with a soft towel — never rub hard, never use a hair dryer on hot. TPE is porous: thorough drying is the anti-mold step people skip.
2. Powder monthly. After the skin is fully dry, dust with pure cornstarch (or renewal powder). This keeps TPE from getting tacky and attracting lint.
3. Oil every 1–3 months. A light coat of mineral oil (baby oil) keeps TPE supple and prevents drying cracks. More often in dry climates.
4. Protect from heat and dye. Keep away from radiators, sunlight, hot cars. Wash dark clothing before dressing the doll — dye transfer stains are the most common cosmetic damage and are hard to reverse.

Silicone routine

1. Clean after each use with mild soap and water — silicone is non-porous, so proper hygiene is genuinely achievable.
2. Powder occasionally to keep the surface silky. No oiling required.
3. Avoid silicone-based lubricants — they degrade silicone skin. Water-based only (a good rule for TPE too).

Storage: where most damage happens

• Best: hanging kit in a closet (neck-bolt hook + reinforced rod — a standard closet rod bends under doll weight, so use a heavy-duty rod or a freestanding rack).
• Acceptable: lying flat on a soft, breathable surface, position changed periodically. Long-term pressure on one spot creates permanent flat spots and compression marks.
• Never: tightly folded joints for weeks (skeleton stress + skin creases), damp storage (mold, especially TPE), direct sunlight (fading), or leaning poses (slow deformation).
• Torsos: a clean, dry drawer or lockable case — one reason we recommend them to first-timers.

Basic repairs you can do yourself

• Small TPE tears: TPE solvent glue, applied thinly to both faces of the tear, pressed and left to cure. A $15 kit handles most minor damage — keep one on hand.
• Silicone damage: silicone-specific adhesive; harder to make invisible. Deep damage on an expensive doll is worth a professional repair quote.
• Loose finger wires: common, minor and fixable — owner communities have well-worn walkthroughs.