Cleaning dolls

Make sure all seams are still good and check to see if all parts of the doll will bleed color or not. I would hand wash them so you know you are being gentle with them.

Handwash in cold water with Woolite in the kitchen sink. Air dry on towels, I would cover lightly with cheesecloth or tea towels.

Treat stains the same way you would treat stains on human clothes by spraying on the treatment and then hand washing in cold water with a gentle detergent, . Hang the cloth doll or lay flat on a towel to dry to avoid shrinking or damage to the doll's delicate parts.

Is it that they smell or that they are grubby?

I definitely would hand wash with a cold water cleaner, If there is any stitching on the doll that is for creating faces etc. give a small area a test before putting the entire doll in the water. Some old flosses can bleed.

Woolit all the way with cool water and air dry

Funny you should ask this question as I just bought a pair of adorable hand made raggedy andy and ann dolls. Unlike others, if these needed to be washed (they don't) I would do them in the washing machine. . . handwashing IMHO would allow them to not get thoroughly clean and might leave streaks. I would maybe place them in net bags and wash with white towels and I would also undress and wash the clothes at the same time. Unless these dolls have had very rough use and appear fragile they should wash o.k.

Well if the hair would run it would run if it got wet either hand or machine washing. You could cut off a snippet of hair and test it. I have a friend who knits me a pair of sox each year for my b.d. they always are machine washed. Good Luck, Kelli. (reading a book about OK just now)

Have you considered taking them to a good dry cleaner? Some specialize in wedding dresses, old lace, etc. A good bridal shop may have recommendations. Also a doll hospital?

test the hair first, just wet the edges and blot to see if it transfers to a white paper towel. If no transfer, I'd say delicate cycle. If it bleeds, you're best off wrapping the hair in plastic wrap and washing it alone as bag you can.

I just found out we are getting a new grandbaby girl, and so I decided that our daughter's almost-40 year old Raggedy Ann needed a make-over! I tried spot washing her arms and face and finally decided to just soak her in gentle soap in the sink. I think it may take her a week to dry (on thick towels) but she looks MUCH better, and her yarn hair did just fine, and I didn't wrap it in any way. I did embroider her face when I made her, but the floss did not run in the water. I will make her a new dress, because the old one is REALLY faded, but happily the little white apron and pantaloons survived the years....just need new elastic,