Toothbrushes are your best friend and BJDs are secretly vampires. Wait…what?
BJD Care can be overwhelming at first but in this post I will elaborate on a few key things to focus on when taking care of BJDs. Hopefully, by the end of this post, you will better understand the needs of your BJD dolls.
A lot of the tools and things I mention in this article can be found on my Amazon recommendation list. Feel free to check it out!
Magic Erasers are God sent
With BJD dolls you need to have the right materials to upkeep your dolly. So what do you use if your doll has marks on their bottom from sitting on a dirty surface?
MAGIC ERASER TO THE RESCUE!
Magic Erasers can easily be bought at most grocery stores or even dollar stores. It is a slightly abrasive eraser that can take off dirt, surface stains, and any other mystery marks your doll might get on them. Simply use it dry (no need to wet it ) and scrub away. Since it is an abrasive eraser be careful if you have to use it near or on the BJD’s face because it can take off a faceup. Please also know that small particles of the eraser will appear so make sure to a dust off your doll with a cotton cloth or get a clean blush brush to dust them off.
If you need heavy duty cleaning you can wombo-combo it with some 91% rubbing alcohol. Slightly dip your Magic Eraser in some rubbing alcohol and scrub away. However note that if you add any liquid solution you will have to clean off your doll a slight soap water bath and let the doll fully dry before you re-seal it (re-seal with MSC). Please also know that if you do have to do more than just a small spot it is recommended to take your doll apart and clean and seal parts separately.
You don’t have to full name brand and there are several other brands you can go with besides Mr.Clean. Just make sure it is a pure white eraser and not the ones that have the added blue layer or ones that have any other additives such as Dawn soap or Febreeze.
Magic Erasers are super affordable and one box will last you a LONG time.
Can you use nail polish removers?
To clean your doll, I would never recommend using a nail polish remover. BJDs are made of resin which is a very sensitive material. It can react differently to certain liquids added onto it. In some cases stronger solutions can actually melt the resin and warp it.
Some collectors may say that they have used it as long as you buy it with zero acetone in it but I like to play it super safe and avoid it at all costs.
Rubbing Alcohol- Liquid gold
By far one of my favorite things to use to clean off heavy stains or to clear a faceup is rubbing alcohol. Not only is it cheap but it is very safe for BJD cleaning. I use a 91% Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol) for my dolls with a cotton boll, paper towel, or sometimes in combination with my Magic Eraser.
As mentioned before you do need to follow up with soap and water bath after you use Rubbing Alcohol. Be prepared to clean your doll in pieces if you have larger stains or a lot to clean. If it is just the head you are cleaning (faceup prep), feel free to just remove the head and work on that.
Again after your soap and water bath, let the doll dry and then re-seal area if needed.
Winsor and Newton Brush Cleaner and Restorer- The tough guys
So if things don’t come off with rubbing alcohol another solution you can use is Winsor and Newton Brush Cleaner and Restorer for Acrylic mediums. It is more expensive than buying rubbing alcohol but a little goes a far way. Simply soak some onto a cotton ball or paper towel and wipe away.
WARNING: Do not….and I mean DO NOT let your doll soak in it. It can damage the resin!
Since this is a bit stronger I recommend using it quickly and promptly after cleaning off your doll with a soap and water bath.
Good ol’ soap and water
Going back to the basics of basics, cleaning a doll with soap and water can be done. However your choice in soap is what you have to look out for. Do not use any soaps with added oils or scents. Go for the most basic clear soap. The plainer the better. Palmolive makes a ‘Pure and Clear’ soap that has no additives. I have also used just generic dawn soap but just made sure there was no added scents or oils in it.
When you clean a doll, especially if it is the full size doll, you will need to take the doll apart.
Reason being is:
- You do not want to get the elastic wet.
- It is important that after you clean the doll with soap and water that it can dry out thoroughly.
- Resin is very porous and it will need a ball park time of 20 min to dry out nicely.
After your doll is nice and squeaky clean you can re-seal it.
MSC sealant to seal the deal
Whenever you clean your doll with any cleaner, remember to go ahead and do a coat of MSC. MSC is also known as Mr. Super Clear. For a long time this was the number one trusted sealant to use but as the hobby grows there are other sealants to choose from as well.
-MSC aka Mr.Super Clear
-Citadel Purity Seal (Now renamed Munitorum Varnish)
-Testors Dullcote
-Vallejo (for airbrush use)
Also check out my other article where I tested other alternative sealants.
Now where do you buy them? You can buy them online but prepare to pay a little more for shipping since it is a flammable substance. I have also visited my local hobby shops and found them there too!
A few key things to keep in mind are
- Stay in a well-ventilated area (I spray in my garage with the garage door open or outside)
- Wear a mask when using it so that you don’t breathe in the fumes as they can be dangerous
- Spray from a safe distance, about 1-2 feet from your doll
- Do not do this when there is a lot of moisture in the air
Use toothbrushes to brush hair
You read that correctly! Toothbrushes are great for brushing the hair of your dolls. This is because a toothbrush is gentle on the synthetic/fur wig that your dolly will have. Remember not to get too harsh with the brushing as it can spoil the look and texture of your doll’s hair.
I typically like to start from the bottom and work my way up when brushing dolls with longer hair. You can even buy a travel toothbrush and tuck it away in your doll bag so you can have one handy if you are at a meet-up or convention.
Restringing your dolls
How frequently should you restring your doll? Well, it varies from doll to doll. It also depends on how often you are playing with your dolls. What’s holding them together is just elastic. We know that elastic can not keep it’s elasticity forever.
You will need to change these strings eventually. You will know when your dolls need a change because they will be just slumping around and not staying in a firm position for long. If they start to get floppy and it is time for that fateful day to restring them…don’t stress! I happen to have a video showing you step by step on how to restring your doll.
Some quick tips:
Use the right kind of elastic. Make sure it is the correct size for your dolly. Alice’s Collection sells BJD elastic and has them labeled out for you according to doll size.
Proper elastic is essential so you better consider getting it from the company directly.
Have proper tools
Again, having the right tools for the job is essential. I use a jewelry wire cutter to take off the heads of my dolls. I have also used forceps as well and they are even better because they can lock a position for you.
Always use caution when working with your dolls so you do not damage them. Resin is easy to scratch and chip so if you are taking the doll a part just do it carefully.
A few tips on face-ups
There are a lot of things you can use for a face-up but I would recommend you use soft pastels, acrylic paints, and acrylic gloss. These are safe water soluble items that can easily come off with any mentioned eraser or remover.
A big NO for the oil-based products for your BJD doll’s face. Don’t ever put real makeup on your dolls. Those products can stay in the resin and stain it causing damage to the doll.
Be mindful of your pastels. Make sure they are not oil-based pastels.
As long as your product is water-based you can use it on your doll’s face. So, if you plan on using watercolors, or water color pencils, just make sure you experiment with them first. Just do a trial on your dolls headcap to see if it comes off. If it does, well and good, you can continue to use it.
The same goes for removing faceups. Use only what is recommended and clean them off with a Magic Clean Eraser, paper towels or toothbrushes (for hard to reach spots). Don’t use abrasive or harsh products on the face of your doll (sandpaper).
What about mobility?
What if you want to travel with your doll? What if you are moving? What if you are going out for a meet-up or convention? How do you travel with them?
When it comes to moving, I like to put my dolls in the boxes they came in. Inside the box there should be some kind of pillow or cushioning that they came with. Make sure to put on their face protectors that come with the doll too. I will then put that box in another box and ship it to myself an-
Just kidding…kinda. (points to those who got my Emperors New Groove reference)
I honestly do pack them within another box because if it is going to storage or on a shipping truck I want them to be VERY protected. Protected from the elements, from movement, from the possibility that it might get smooshed, etc.
If I am just traveling with them to a meet up or to a friends I use my BJD carrying case that I got from DollMore.
It’s really cool because it has a little cushion to it and it can carry several dolls inside along with goodies. There are also some super cute seat belts inside for the dollies to be securely strapped in.
On the other hand, you can just get a nice tote bag or backpack and wrap your dolls up nicely with a small blanket or towel and make sure their face protector is on. Make sure to cushion them nicely so they are firmly placed.
Want to take your doll outside?
If you are traveling with your dolls, chances are you want to take them out as well. That can be a dangerous thing because the sun is out there. The sun will speed up the yellowing in resin. Yellowing is not fun but it’s unfortunately unavoidable.
It will eventually happen with age, oxidation, and sun exposure. Good news is that you can delay that by not taking the doll out a lot. Keep your dolls all wrapped up while you are traveling to avoid yellowing. In case you have to take them out in the sun just make sure it’s not for very long periods of time.
Again, when traveling, keep your dolls safe by protecting them well and covering them nicely.
Don’t touch the face with your hands
Don’t ever touch the face of your doll with your fingers because your fingers have oils that can easily transfer onto your doll when you excessively touch it. If you have a really expensive face-up, touching it can ruin it. There goes all that money you spent on that classy face-up for your doll.
Think of your dolls face as a gorgeous canvas. You don’t want to ruin it or do anything to it that can potentially damage it. You will have to educate other people (non BJD peeps) on the topic because people will love to touch your dolls. I have been to anime conventions before and took some of my dolly crew with me and just let curious people know that they can look at them but to please not touch their faces.
Dolly-tastic!
That’s pretty much it for basic BJD care and maintenance. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to ask me in the comments section below. I hope this post was of some help to you. I’ll be going into more details on each subject in the future!
If you are a seasoned vet and have anything you would like to add feel free to comment in the section down below. If you are new to the hobby feel free to ask questions down below too!
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