I know you are probably reading that headline and going what in the heck? What do cars have to do with dolls? Well I will tell you - cleaning. I use an auto detailing cleaner when restoring dolls, and if you think I'm crazy, then keep reading because I know you are curious.

Below is a Felicity doll, on the right is the grimey slimy dirty looking arm. I'm not sure if you can see it, but this is the result of handling from dirty oily hands. The dirt becomes compacted into the vinyl as a "film" or a grime. Now as we know oil and water don't mix, but this auto body cleaner (more on that later) is simple to apply and lifts it all off in seconds. And poof, your doll is clean and new again.

Completely safe to use on a doll's facepaint. Felicity had these rusty spots all over her eyes and more grime on her face and nose (top left picture). I used a craft toothbrush and a small plastic container, poured a little auto body detailing fluid in it and dipped the toothbrush in it. In gentle circular motions I applied the cleaner all over her face (top right picture). Bottom right picture is the "After" shot with her face all clean. I did not have to remove the cleaner, I simply wiped her face with a dry cloth and bam. All her make-up is in tact, there is no greasy shine or residue, and it was super fast. I know you ladies that grab finds from the thrift store are going to love this because it seems they throw all the dirty dolls on the shelf for people to buy in the most unappealing way - but those are now great before and after examples.

What is this miracle formula? Pictured below, I purchase it by the gallon on Amazon (well I run a doll hospital, so I have needs). I'm not saying go out and buy just any auto body cleaner, no. This particular formula had 5 star reviews from auto detailing shops that used it on the interiors of cars. They needed something fast acting, that didn't leave behind a greasy shine, and that cut through the grime left on all the everyday vinyl surfaces of the car. Safe for vinyl, leather, rubber, plastic, and wood. And nice as well is it doesn't have any chemical smell. It has a very fresh scent that is not overpowering, just pleasant. Ah pleasant dolls, see what I did there?

So I didn't stop there. I took a 1950's plastic doll that was simply caked in gook and put it to work. Now this doll had many scratches and dirt and grime were in all her crevices if you know what I mean, and that grime had been there for a while. I'm not sure when the last time she was cleaned if ever. I went to work on her with this cleaner and did just one side to note the difference. Now I'm not saying it all came off, but there was a significant amount that came off so that the doll looked much cleaner and nicer. The other side of the doll, I wiped down with with water, because I know there's someone out there that's saying, water will work just fine as well and you don't need to buy any cleaner. Well my friend, nothing came off when I used water. It was like the grime was embedded in the plastic of her body and somehow the cleaner was lifting it to the surface and removing it.

Curious as I was I also did a second time over to see if more grime would come up and it did, so I got out my little toothbrush and I did continual passes over the body until that grime was gone. And now there is no fear whatsoever, when a dirty doll comes my way, fast easy cleaning is in the bag.