When surface cleaning isn't enough...
How to clean a filthy poseable Twinn body
The best way to do this is to remove the head, un-stuff the body, and wash the stuffing separately.
Warning: You don't want to get water inside those appendages… even the slightest amount of water left inside could be a source for mold to grow overtime. In addition to being a health issue, mold will cause staining of the vinyl from the inside out as it grows over time. Your doll could be permanently stained.
Remove the head:
Read cable tie repair tutorial and Snip the Cable Tie. If the doll is old, the glue at the neck joint likely has become brittle and the head will easily come off. You can use a flat blade screwdriver if it needs a little help prying the joint loose. Be careful with tools... it is easy for the tool to slip and cut you. If the glue on your doll is a tightly adhered, heating (blow dryer method) should loosen it. Protect your doll's hair & lashes from the heat. If the head has been glued with an aftermarket glue (like epoxy or 'Gorilla Glue'), you likely have to pop the neck connector off the armature... warning this can be very difficult to pop back on without popping apart other joints of the armature or breaking the armature. If you have not read our tutorial on re-attaching heads, please read it now.
Remove & wash the stuffing:
At her neckline begin to remove a couple stitches down her back seam enough to remove her foam body insert (the foam may be glued at the side seams of her body and legs…those seams should easily peel apart. The foam will come out in one large piece, two smaller foam rectangles and a tiny bit of fiberfill (if she's a tushy doll :). Machine wash the 'insides'…regular detergent and a little beach...the smaller pieces and fiberfill in a lingerie bag… and then hang dry.
Soak the body separately:
Lay the body on its back with the arms and legs positioned upwards in a sink and fill the sink to a level just below where the arms and legs attach… the seams where the arms attach should not be submerged… water will seep up through the fabric to clean those areas AND you don't want to get water inside those appendages… even the slightest amount of water left in their could be a source for mold to grow overtime. In addition to being a health issue, mold will cause staining of the vinyl from the inside out as it grows over time.
Once you have the water level correct (mark it with a piece of tape for later rinses) lift the body out.
If it is a white fabric body doll:
Add a half cup of good old fashioned bleach to the soaking bath.
If it is a tan fabric body doll:
Dissolve a half cup 'oxyclean' in the soaking bath.
Return the body to the soaking bath, appendages in the up position, and let it soak until the stains are gone… an hour or so. Repeat if needed with a fresh bleach or oxyclean bath. When clean, rinse well (keeping water out of the appendages), towel dry and let air dry until fully dry before re-stuffing.
All clean!
Now is a great time to inspect the armature and make any needed repairs. This doll's joints are all sound.
Fold the fabric part of the body down over the armature and position the foam inserts. Re-glue the foam rectangles and side seams with hot glue. Stuff her tushy if she's a tushy doll. Stitch up the back using a ladder stitch to match the original stitching.
Done!