Welcome to Vintage Doll Collection

Vintage Dolls and More

Welcome to our Vintage Doll Collection website. We hope you find the rare collectable dolls you are searching for. We are here to help you build your collection and we have already done the research for you.
As you browse though our links to the left, you should be able to find virtually every vintage and collectable doll that is available for purchase.

Doll Collecting is a fun and very rewarding experience but can also take up a lot of your free time. I have put together a few tips for caring for your Vintage Doll Collection.

How to Protect Your Vintage Doll Collection

1. When redressing your doll always take your time and be very careful when putting the hands and support the fingers.

2. RUBBER AID is a perfect solution to keep her rubber in good condition. Just a light coat is sufficient.

3. Always keep your doll out of direct sunlight. The direct sun is very damaging to all dolls whether they are rubber or vinyl.

4. If your dolls eyes seem to stick, put one very small drop of sewing machine oil on each eyelid. Then open and close the eyes several times to work the oil in and her eyes will work smoothly again.

5. Be very careful with the doll clothes you put on your doll. Make sure the fabric has been pre-washed. Be extra careful of colors like red and blue, they tend to bleed onto the doll and are almost impossible to get out. If you rinse an an outfit with vinegar in the final rinse you decrease the chance of bleed through.

6. Be careful NOT to turn the head too much on any of the "DRINK AND WET" dolls. There is a tube inside their head leading from the doll’s head and the tube is fed through the neck of the body into the stomach area. The tube can break if the head is turned too much, so please be careful with these dolls.

7. If you choose to wash your dolls hair, ALWAYS use COLD water ONLY! The best shampoo is a doll shampoo made specifically for this reason but you can also use baby
shampoo. There is a baby shampoo on the market that has a softener in the formula and that seems to work best. You may also use Downy Fabric Softener if her hair is really dry. Mix a little water with the Downy and gently massage through the hair and cover with a plastic bag and let the doll sit for a couple of days with the plastic bag on her head. After that, remove the plastic bag and rinse the dolls hair and set and style. If the hair is still dry then after the rinse mix a tiny bit of the Downy with water and massage into the hair and leave in and set and style the dolls hair. Never use a curling iron on a dolls hair as it will melt the fibers of the hair, use only curlers or even perm rods.

8. When washing any of the "one stroke" eyebrow dolls stay away from the eyebrows as they can easily come off with any cleaner you use including doll cleaners made specifically for dolls. Also stay away from the lower painted eyelashes as they too will come off easily with any cleaner.

9. “Magic Eraser” by Mr. Clean is another fantastic product to use on dolls bodies and face. It will remove many of the marks, but stay away from the eyebrows with dolls that have the “one stroke brush” eyebrows. It will not remove ink. This product can remove years of dirt and grime off a doll and bring back the new look to her. After scrubbing with the "Magic Eraser" be sure to rinse off the area.

10. If you have any hard to remove marks on your doll you can use "Oxy 10" or "Remove Zit" to remove the marks. Do not use these products on your dolls face though as it can damage the finish. These products will work on rubber, vinyl or hard plastic dollsEither of these will help with ink stains. The ink stains will usually disappear or fade from this treatment. You may also try Vasoline. You put the Vasoline on the stains and leave the doll out in the sun (but always cover the dolls head with a cover) and make sure the heat outside isn’t too hot. After you leave the doll with the Vasoline for a day or two then wash it off. If it isn’t gone then try the process again.

11. To remove the head of a rubber or vinyl doll, push a screwdriver under the head. Pull the rubber down, slide head off. Remove the limbs the same way.

12. Wash the dolls clothes separated as you would your normal laundry. If the doll’s clothing have metal snaps or hooks, which is typical of features on later doll models, be sure to remove them before washing to prevent rust or staining. There is no easy method of cleaning, only patience and proper materials or tools. Don’t use supermarket detergents, even if the are marked for delicate fabrics, because they are too harsh for old textiles and may leave a harmful residue.

13. Know what type of wig your doll has. A saran wig is a type of plastic. It can be washed, combed and set. A mohair wig cannot be handled much. If the wig is not too matted it can be brushed and set. It is best used on old dolls. A human hair wig should be treated the same a your own hair. A dynel wig has a very fine
texture. It can be washed and set. A caracul wig is short fur. It can be washed.

14. To remove superficial dirt from an eye, rinse the surface first with running water to rid the surface of any loose particles, which can scratch. Then wash with soap or mild, non-abrasive detergent and water, using your bare hands or a soft cloth. Do not wipe with a completely dry cloth, since doing so can generate a electrostatic charge that attracts most dust and dirt.

15. Never store a doll with eyes that open and close on its back. The eye mechanism is large and heavy, and if the doll is laid on its back, pressure is
put on the parts that connect the eye mechanism to the head, making it want to fall farther back into the head cavity. Dolls with such eyes should be stored standing up or laid on their faces.