Clean Your American Girl Doll

This is an easy and sort of fun way to clean your AG doll, plus it's the right way to do it.

Steps

Brushing

  1. Place the doll in a doll stand to keep her upright and still. If you do not have a stand, put her between your legs.
  2. Divide the doll's hair in four sections. Take a spray bottle filled with water, and lightly spray each section of hair.
  3. Use an American Girl brand brush on straight hair. Brush hair in sections. Begin brushing at the ends of the hair. Work the brush up to the roots. Once the tangles are out, you can run the brush down the hair from roots to ends. Repeat on each section.
  4. Use an American Girl brand hair pick or your fingers on curly hair. Comb the hair from the ends to the roots. Repeat on each section. Once all tangles are eliminated, divide the hair into smaller sections. Take one section and twirl it around your finger. After you do that with each section, her hair should look great!
  5. Style your doll's hair as desired.

Washing Her Hair

  1. Wash the doll's hair at a sink. Undress the doll. Put a hand towel over her cloth body, and place a washcloth over her face to keep her dry. Make certain not to let water get in the doll's eyes because they can rust. The hand towel and washcloth should remain in place throughout the washing process.
  2. Turn the faucet on, and let the water run to a lukewarm temperature. Carefully place the doll's hair under the running water to wet her hair. (The doll should be face up to prevent water running into her eyes.)
  3. Set your doll down on the towel. Now apply a small amount of mild shampoo to your hands, and rub hands together to form a lather. Gently smooth the shampoo into the doll's hair only on the ends. Rinse doll's hair thoroughly.
  4. Lay the doll face up on a towel, and wrap the towel around the doll's hair to absorb the excess water. Do not wring or rub the hair.
  5. Lay the doll down, face up, and let the hair hang loose. Leave it to air dry overnight.

Washing Her Body

  1. Undress the doll. Lightly dust the doll off with a dry washcloth.
  2. Make a cleaning solution with a mild soap and water in a small pail. Wet a clean washcloth. Wring the cloth until it is not dripping. Carefully wipe the doll's face, arms and legs with the damp cloth until clean. Some stains such as ink may take longer to remove. Be sure to rub gently.
  3. Dip the cloth into the soap mixture again, and squeeze out the extra water. Spot clean any dirt marks off the doll's cloth body.
  4. Pour clear water into a second pail. Wet a clean cloth and wring out the excess water. Wipe away any soap residue
  5. Place the doll on a towel and dry her. Stand the doll up to air dry for a few hours before dressing her to ensure there is no trace of moisture.
  6. Just leave her be and don't try anything that hasn't been tested or isn't told anywhere, especially stuff you thought of or made up. Your or your child's AG doll will be as good as new, all fixed up, supreme, beautiful, fancy, and the best of all best!



Tips

  • Put a washcloth over her eyes so water doesn't get to them!
  • Don't soak the top of the dolls head ( the wig) or the wig will loosen or fall off.
  • Let her hair air-dry and use a towel to gently dry her hair.
  • You can use half fabric softener and half water to de-tangle the dolls hair.
  • To restore your doll's hair quickly and easily, mix water and vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz on your doll's hair.
  • Make sure that you American girl has been washed three times in hair and on body.

Warnings

  • Avoid getting water in the doll's eyes; this can damage them irreparably. Put something over the eyes to protect them when washing the hair.
  • If you use things that are too hot or even just really warm, her hair could either fall out or melt/burn.
  • Be careful with your doll, she is expensive!

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