P U ...What should I do?

[kikibooboo]

Well I was so excited to get a Kailey doll off ebay for $100 but she just arrived and when I opened the box it literally Reeked of smoke. The seller didn't mention anything about it and I didn't think to ask (not wanting to miss out on this great deal). First what should I do about the smell? And while I'm asking whats the best way to get some marks off her? Should I send her in for a well visit or partial body replacement? And would it be rude to leave nuetral feedback like...Nice seller, fast shipping but smelled of smoke. Or even leave positive but mention the smoke? I'll probably e-mail her first but still this is for a child and I think it smokey items should be mentioned in an auction. Although shame on me for not asking. Please give any advise. This is the first doll we've bought previously loved so excuse my ignorance about such thinks. Thanka and Merry Christmas!!

[lscogbill]

I would strip Kailey of her clothes and gently wash them with Woolite. I would also put Kailey herself outside where some fresh air will hopefully eliminate the smokey smell. Arm & Hammer baking soda eliminates odors, so put a box next to her. If that doesn't help, then I would try to gently wash her. (I think there may be a similar post about this.) I would give positive feedback but mention the smoke. The next buyer might have a reaction to smoke.

[tatabatata]

Some people do not think that smoke smell can be so strong! DDs best friend's mom is a chain smoker, and her poor Kailey reeks each time she comes to visit (without mentioning that DD goes straight into the shower when she comes back from their house!)

That said, I got a doll with the same problem and what I did was get an "arm and hammer" refrigerator hanger, like those you use to take yucky smell off the fridge, and put it in a plastic bag with the doll and closed the bag well. Left her alone for a week or so and the smell was gone.
Also, you may want to take her head off and, while the body is in the bag, give her hair a good once over with shampoo and conditioner.
You can also throw the body in the washer, stuffing and all, but I have never done it myself (gives me the creeps!)
You can check on previous postings about it.

Good luck on spritzing up your girl!

Ana [img]graemlins/present.gif[/img]

[jenndon]

Asian AG (Robin) posted recently about de-smokying a doll. You could search using her ID and smoke and probably pull it up, or if she reads this, she'll probably help you out.

I would definitely not post negative feedback, and I would be careful how you posted about the smoke smell. It is not misleading not to post anything about it, and since you didn't ask, it's your risk. However, with BIN, I know that there's not always a chance to do that. I would try to phrase it like, "I forgot to ask about smoke, and it does smell of smoke" or something, because if the seller sees it as accusatory, she might leave a negative for you.

I hope that she comes out nice for you.

[GreyMyst]

This is going to sound harsh but it'll get rid of ALL smoke smell, even if your doll was a chain smoker. This will work on even the worst ones.

1) Strip her naked and wash all her clothes.

2) Remove her head and throw her entire body inside a pillowcase, tie it closed and throw it in the wash on the delicate cycle. Wash just like clothes.

3) Take her head and spray her hair only, lightly with febreeze. (or wash the hair) Then take the head and seal it in a large ziploc with an open box of baking soda.

Give it a couple days and then reassemble, you'll never even know she smelled like smoke.

[robin0850]

I had an ebay doll whose smoke smell almost knocked me over when I opened the box!
This is what I did--

Untie the neckstrings and remove her head. Protect her eyes, and wash and condition her hair. Use Woolite to wash her clothes. Unstuff her body, and thoroughly spray Febreze (the anti-microbial kind)throughout her stuffing, and her body. Make a paste of baking soda and water, and scrub her vinyl, being VERY careful of her eyes and facepaint. Hang up her body to dry, and place her head (facing the wall) on a towel rack and gently brush out while still damp. When the stuffing has THOROUGHLY dried, (you may need to turn some of it over fromm time to time)and her body and hair have dried, check for smoke smell. If her vinyl still smells, "re-paste" her arms and legs with baking soda, and let sit for a few hours, or overnight. A Downy dunk will eliminate any remaining odor in her hair, if needed. When EVERYTHING is dry, re-stuff her and replace her head; dress her in her Woolite-ed clothes, and voila! She's like a new, fresh-smelling doll! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I have done this with more than one nicotine-reeking doll--it works!

Good luck, and let us know how she turns out! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[kikibooboo]

Okay so I started reading some of all the great advise but the whole deheading thing and unstuffing thing is really freaking me out. I fear I will ruin her forever. I don't want to sound crazy or anything but I guess I'm thinking of her as Kailey and not as a doll so bear with me while I take a minute. I will take notes, hit the store for supplies and prepare for major surgery in a day or two. But I have to say I may need to PM some of you more experienced pro's because I'm totally wiggin out about this. Thanks, now I will take a few minutes to absorbs the hugeness of this and then start the shopping list.

[GreyMyst]

You can always box her up with baking soda in the mean time as she is. MANY times that will get rid of the smoke smell alone.

I used to be a smoker so when I hear severe smoke I think coughing, gagging, chain smoking grandma, open the box, and you better grab your inhaler kind of smell. Mild smell doesn't even phase me.

What I consider mild though, is entirely possible you consider harsh. So start with the least invasive methods (such as airing in the sun, and boxing with baking soda as is) and work your way up to more invasive things until it's all gone. You don't have to jump to major surgery.

[jenndon]

Great idea--start simple with the baking soda in the bag.

Also, some of these experienced doll torturers ( [img]wink.gif[/img] ) might be willing to do this for you, for a fee.

[Ds9jullian]

Personaly, take off her head so you have two part body and head. Now for the body, I would just plain trash the stuffing, it is cheep enough to replace, it just polyfil. Wash the rest of her body in Woolite or Arm and Hammer washing soda. If it still smells try baking soda.
Now as for her head, wash her hair with wig shampoo and clean her face with baking soda and water.

Ashley