How do you care for old dolls/parts/clothes?

Julie Moyna
by Julie Moyna
I have been on a roll lately...look what I got yesterday! An entire basket of dolls and clothes with a few little hangers and other accessories! BUT.....a few of these little ones have come apart and the clothes are dirty, dusty and moth ridden. Does anyone know how to care, clean and repair? Thank you in advance! Also, if you know anything about this little guy with the mustache...:)
Look at all of these! There are 2 nuns too!
This little guy is just adorable. He's got a tool belt on...Someone tied his shirt up. Any ideas?
This is what he should look like.
The big doll was $1.00 a few years ago...:) She is happy to have friends.
Anyone know who she is?
this was just a little bonus at the bottom of the basket! Remember these?
  11 answers
  • Rita C. - Panoply Rita C. - Panoply on Nov 04, 2013
    My sister is a master [porcelain] doll maker, who specialized in making reproductions of antique dolls and their period clothing. She has retired her business, but she also did doll repair. That is what you need to re-string your doll, repair/restyle/clean wigs, clothing, and broken body parts if you decide the cost is worth the benefit. I'm no expert, but the first doll with mustache looks like an Effanbee composition doll, and some of those in the variety photo are what are called storybook dolls. The Hawaiian doll looks like a celluloid doll. All worth some $ to collectors, depending on condition.
    • See 3 previous
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Nov 06, 2013
      @Rita C. - Panoply LOL...yes, He is Dapper. Him and his friends make all their own clothes! And are a huge hit at "Dapper Day" at Disneyland! :)
  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Nov 04, 2013
    Even without repair, there are a lot of collectors out there looking for a bargain. The previous writer is right about professional repair, and the possible worth of some of the dolls. From personal experience, collect what you really like and let go of the rest (selling them off can support the cost of repair and/or collecting of what you really want). If you are interested in trying your hand at repair and or cleaning, there are excellent tutorials online. There are also online doll groups that support members' interests. From experience, it is best to get advice before cleaning vintage fabric and other materials.
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Nov 04, 2013
      @Cynthia H Thank you Cynthia...I have been collecting pottery and purses since high school. I have let a lot go. I just love finding new things that I never knew about. Such a wonder with dolls and such. :)
  • Susan Susan on Nov 04, 2013
    Try the Twin Pines of Maine website. They have a lot of time-tested products for restoring dolls.
  • Robin Johnson Robin Johnson on Nov 05, 2013
    Just wanted to show you they can be fixed by a novice.
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Nov 06, 2013
      @Robin Johnson Oh thank you Robin! I don't know what to do about the flaking faces/hands/body.
  • Irie Dremz Irie Dremz on Nov 06, 2013
    i'd forgotten about doll hospitals. omg. they really were a useful service.
  • Lynda Gaskill Lynda Gaskill on Nov 06, 2013
    Does anyone know of a good doll hospital?
  • Neloh Neloh on Nov 06, 2013
    Check with your local resource librarian for help in identifying your treasures!
  • Gail Gail on Nov 06, 2013
    My mom was a doll hospital of Racine county, WI, she passed in 2006, but did pass on things to us. The best things we found to clean them with that does not take off anything but the dirt is a product called "Jubilee". You can find it in the Vermont Country Store catalog, they still have it. It is a Johnson & Johnson vinyl floor cleaning product. With the clothes, we went to Goodwill's, St. Vinnies and vintage material stores to match fabrics. We remade as vintage as possible. I learned through my mom how to fix dolls as close to orginal as possible, including making hair, re- attaching arms, legs and remolding bodies. I hope some of this will help.
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Nov 12, 2013
      @Gail Oh Gail, thank you thank you! I bet with all these antiques popping up, someone with the craft would probably make a lot of people happy and probably some good money too!
  • Landee2 Landee2 on Nov 06, 2013
    I can't think of his name, but that doll at the top of the page is a very valuable doll.Looks like original clothes which is always a plus.
  • Robin Johnson Robin Johnson on Nov 07, 2013
    You can find books about it on amazon.com