1.) Completely remove clothing from the doll
2. Before you wash anything, test your fabrics to be sure dyes won't bleed
3.) Remove any accessories you can, like plastic or cloth flowers
4.) Gently wash doll clothing by hand in warm water. Use Woolite or similar
5.) Do not agitate, just squeeze to remove soil
6.) Rinse with warm water, squeeze out excess and lay flat to dry
7.) If the fabrics are heat-safe, you might use a low heat iron if needed

REMEMBER: Be delicate! Don't use a washing machine/dryer. Don't scrub and don't "wring". Use gentle detergent. *Please use extreme caution while washing vintage/antique fabrics as you might easily damage them.

** HARD PLASTIC: Try using a water dampened cloth for best results. Don't submerge your doll in water. Use a damp Q-Tip around ears, nose, mouth.
** COMPOSITION: Do not use water at all. Exposing a composition doll to water can cause major damage. I recommend using a soft, unused makeup brush to lightly dust composition dolls.
** BISQUE/PORCELAIN: Use a dry cloth for best results. You can use a dry Q-Tip around ears, nose, mouth - just be delicate.
** ALL DOLLS: Dust all of your dolls regularly to keep them clean. You might try a low adhesive lint brush on certain fabrics - be delicate and use your best judgement. Many people have great results using a soft feather duster to lightly dust their dolls, just be mindful of their hair

** HARD PLASTIC: Try using Woolite or Ivory with a damp Q-Tip. You can also try a dry eraser.
** COMPOSITION: Do not use water on composition dolls - ever! If you must attempt this, try using a waterless hand cleanser, (Goop, etc.) and use extreme caution. Any cleanser will remove decorative surface paint from your composition doll, (eyebrows, blush, painted lashes), so be careful! Use Q-tips and other small tools to prevent altering your doll's makeup.
** BISQUE: Make a paste with water and baking soda. Scrub gently with a soft tooth brush.
**GENERAL: Some condition loss is completely normal and acceptable for antique and vintage dolls, so you need to balance whether or not it's really necessary. Remember: Less is more!

**MOHAIR: You can separate and "tame" clumped mohair by using the pick end of a rat tail comb. Work slowly and delicately - stop if hair starts falling out.
**SYNTHETIC: Fix a vintage doll's curls by gathering small portions of the hair using a damp doll brush, and then wrap each section around a doll curler or the pick end of a rat tale comb. Secure with a small clip & leave 24 hours to set.
**GENERAL: If your doll has her original wig and hairstyle intact, I would not recommend altering it. Unless you have a wig with instructions that state otherwise, don't use human hair products on your doll's wig. Use doll-specific products and proceed carefully, do no harm & remember, if you cut a doll's hair it won't grow back.

THE DO'S:
- Store your dolls upright in a glass display case in a climate controlled room
- Use coated stands outside of the clothing to prevent scuffing
- Dust regularly
- If storing long term, wrap dolls in acid-free tissue paper & place in original box
- Check on sleepy-eyes often and work the mechanism
- Keep original clothing & wigs with the doll, even if you have changed them. Add a note outlining any repairs, hair or clothing changes to the box. If you know any fun facts or provenance about the doll, include it.

THE DON'TS:
- Don't store your dolls in high humidity or extreme temperatures
- Don't store or display your dolls in direct sunlight & avoid bright display lights
- Avoid storing sleepy-eye dolls horizontally if possible