Expert: Marilyn B. Hughes - 10/10/2009

Question
Hello,

I know this isn't exactly your area of expertise but I thought you might still have experience with my question: I need to clean (sanitize really, there is no visible dirt) some small dolls that I recently purchased in a developing country. I have no idea what they are stuffed with but there is no way to remove their stuffing without ruining them. They are clothed with sewn on dresses and have yarn hair. I'm afraid that if I submerged them their insides would never fully dry and I think their multiple fabrics would probably bleed together as well. Is there someway to carefully ensure that anything yucky on/in them is sanitized? They don't LOOK dirty, but I don't know what they might have come into contact with before I got them.

Thank you so much,
Megan

Answer
Megan:

I really have never run upon something like this before.  Please understand that what I am suggesting/hypothesizing I have never done with a doll before.  Please consult other experts/people in the are of dolls for other opinions.  These are only mine.

1a)  Microwave - I disinfected feathers from geese by first placing them in the microwave for about 20 seconds (wattage varies time), then

1b)  Freezer - placed the first microwaved geese feathers in the freezer.  They were placed in a ziplock bag.  This was to kill any bugs that were not present to the naked eye.  Geese can carry microscopic vermin.

2)  Try using a medical specialty disinfectant/antibacterial/antimicrobial spray and lightly spray or mist the item several times over a several day time frame.  That way you run less risk of causing colors to run.

This is my two cents worth.
Marilyn