Why do older dolls get shiny faces and what can I do about it?

[Stephanie31802]

My very early PM Samantha and Kirsten dolls have very shiny cheeks. I've noticed this with a lot of older dolls. Why does this happen and is there anything I could do about it? I'm finding that I like the Mattel dolls better because they're not so shiny.

[SweetSam]

I'm not sure, but I think it has to do with the natural oils from people's fingers that get on the doll after it's been played with a lot. There are PM's without shiny faces, but you see a lot with shine because they've been around (and played with) longer.

[ksami]

I think Sweet Sam is right. My Samantha is 12, almost 13 years old. Her hands are shiny, and her face is a little bit. But her arms and legs, which are often covered by her clothes, are just fine. It has something to do with either the oils in your skin coming off on the dolls, or the vinyl itself wearing from so much handling.

Once the vinyl is shiny, I don't think there's much you can do about it. Even after I've cleaned Samantha with the recommended baking soda treatment, her hands are not matte. Just think of a shiny doll as a loved doll!

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ December 19, 2005 10:03 PM: Message edited by: ksami ]</font>

[American_Mommy]

Mr.Clean Magic Eraser will work wonders. I am actually looking for a high shine, low color fixer upper because I wanted to play around with one.

[only1genevieve]

Hmm, I wondered. I think it's finger oils. None of my PM dolls are shiney, except Felicity, who has one shiney spot on her cheek. The reason? I keep thinking I see a smudge and try to rub it off!

[kitschywoman]

Some of the shinyness is caused by oils which can be easily removed using a degreasing cleaner like Formula 409. The rest is caused by the matte finish wearing off the vinyl where it tends to rub against other things. You'll notice this in prominent spots on the face like the nose area.

To restore the original finish to the vinyl or to remove shiny sc rapes or rubs, you can use a fine sanding fabric known as MicroMesh. I use the 1800 grit and the 2400 grit. It gently abrades the surface of the vinyl and restores it to a matte finish. You will not harm your doll by using MicroMesh, unless you use it on a painted area like her cheeks or eyebrows. But I've used it right next to the eyebrows with no ill effects.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ December 20, 2005 08:45 AM: Message edited by: kitschywoman ]</font>

[Aunt Cornelia]

Yes, that's what I've heard, too. (what Melissa said). A few years ago, there was a person who was a chemist or something on one of my doll lists and he said that some sort of a chemical reaction happens as the vinyl ages and it causes oils to leach out.

So it's nothing that we do to it, it's just a normal thing that happens to vinyl. I think Kitschywoman's idea with the micromesh is a good one, although I haven't tried it, I guess a lot of people have had good luck with it.

[Felicity_Fan85]

some of it could also be from oils from the vinyl itself. It happens to a lot of old barbies b/c I did a paper on barie last year and there were sites that talked about over the years there is something in certain vinyls that cause oild to go to the suface or something like that.

[jessicasturm]

I'd try Mr.Clean Magic Eraser, it works wonders!!! And I did it even on the painted spots. I loved how it turned.

Jessica

[MissMooMoo]

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works awesome!

Also, try baking soda . . . oh I do it is I wet a toothbrush, dip it in baking soda, and then massage it onto the doll's vinyl.