INSTRUCTIONS: CLEANING DOLL UNDERGARMENTS

Sturdy cotton undergarments, even when yellowed or "brown" from years of neglect, will come clean with patient soaking.  Here is how to inspect and clean your dolly's undies:

1.  FIRST, carefully inspect the items to determine that the fabric is strong and sturdy.  Should you find evidence of splitting or threadbare areas, you should leave the cleaning to a professional conservationist or be prepared for the items to disintegrate in the bath.

2.  Once you have determined that the fabric can withstand the process, remove any metal buttons, hooks & eyes, etc. and any trims with color.  Metal parts will rust and create more problems and colored or fragile trims will bleed or be destroyed.

3.  Measure out 1/8 cup of "Dreft" or "Ivory Flakes" or other similar baby type detergent into a plastic washtub, then add 1/2 cup of "BIZ".  To this mixture, add one gallon of the hottest water you can get from your tap.  Stir biskly with a long wooden spoon until all the granules or flakes have dissolved.  The mixture will look milky. 

4.  Add the undergarments to the bath.  Gently push them down with the wooden spoon, so they are completely immersed.  Leave the garments for a full 24 hours, gently stirring the bath occasionally to agitate the garments.

5.  Check the garments; remove one item, gently squeezing the suds out.  Hold under gently running warm water to determine whether to repeat the process.  We have repeated the bath process daily for a week on terribly dirty garments with great success.  Strength of the fibers is the determining factor. 

6.  Once the garments are clean, rinse them two or three times in cool clean water in the basin.  Be sure all traces of soap are removed.  Press the wet garments between several layers of clean terry towels, then lay flat to dry, smoothing out as much of the wrinkles as possible while still wet.  This will make pressing easier.

Notes: We routinely use a large plastic sweater box with lid for this process, as we have found that the lid helps keep the water hot longer and seems to speed the cleaning process.  Rubbermaid storage boxes are the best; the boxes are clear and you can see how things are progressing without removing the lid.  Give the box a gently shake every hour or so (or when you think of it) to agitate the clothing without stirring.