Stain Removing Question!

Hello, I'd really like to get the stains out of my poor Miu's head. I plan on getting some Remove Zit, most likely. However, the stains are all over her face including real close on the face-up and possibly even underneath it. I was wondering if Remove Zit would wipe off the face-up/smudge it if applied to the whole face and head of Miu. I really would like to know if you guys have any idea before I buy Remove Zit and risk having her face-up come off.

Thanks for reading and I appreciate any help~ :3

Edited March 21, 2019 by Pickle

All kinds of stain removal solutions will damage faceups. Even Volks own.

waha said:

All kinds of stain removal solutions will damage faceups. Even Volks own.

Ah. I see.

So the only way to get all of her stains off is if I get the face-up off as well, basically. Well, darn. Might look like I will have to get her face-up re-done. Hopefully I can get WDS or someone to re-do her face-up after I save up some more money. :3

Thanks for letting me know! 🙂

Edited March 21, 2019 by Pickle

When my Chihaya got stained by her wig I used the Volks cream to clean her up. Pretty much her entire head was stained except - to my very good fortune - her face. I used the Volks cream and in some cases I had to put it very close to her face up. I was just really careful not to get any on her faceup. I would say I got within 1/16 of an inch of her eyebrows/lashes, and her blush. Be really careful of the blush on her cheeks because the color can be very faint near the edges.

 

I was also very careful to place her head in such a way that if gravity moved the cream it would move it away from her faceup and not onto it. Removing the head cap helped because it gave a flat stable surface, and the head won't roll about and possibly smear the cream someplace you don't want it.

 

I pretty much had to cover her entire forehead with it as well as her ears and her chin, and the back of her head near the neck join. I didn't do all of it at once either. I picked areas I could work on and once they were clean I moved to the next areas. I started with the darker spots and moved to the larger light patches on her forehead and the back of her head.

 

She had cream on for 2+ days, but I changed it a few times during that period. I pretty much followed the Volks instructions for applying it and for cleaning it off.

 

When it was done there were still some faint stains near her eyes and a darker one on her ear. I put her back together and haven't applied the cream since, but when I checked her three days later the stains near her eyes were completely gone, and the one on her ear had faded almost completely.

 

This leads me to believe the cream continues to work after it gets removed. Possibly this is a function of how long the cream was on her in the first place. It might also be that removing the layer of cream and letting any of the chemical that may have been absorbed into the vinyl contact air helped the effect to continue, but that's totally a guess on my part. Also I am told the wig stains may have been from powders as opposed to dyes. This might also have played a role in the continuing effect.

 

I used a metal hobby spatula to apply it. You can get those in Hobby stores and I think you can get something for cuticles in the nail section of the drug store that is very similar. This tool helped a lot because it allowed me to apply the cream very precisely. You can also use it carefully to apply the putty that holds their eyes in if you change the eyes at some point. You can also use q-tips for the cream but if you are working close to the faceup I would recommend using a hard precise tool rather than a soft and imprecise one.

 

Just be sure if you get any on her face up immediately wipe it off with a towel wet with warm water.

 

Volks specifically states that their cream has an abrasive component in it. You have to be very careful NOT to rub the cream around where you have applied it or the effect it has would be like rubbing sand paper across the doll.

 

They are also clear it is toxic and should not be applied with your fingers.

 

I was extremely careful to not to touch her faceup with my fingers while working with the cream, and to check her faceup for any traces of cream after I applied it. Again removing the headcap gives you places to hold her head steady without touching her face or the cream. I placed her head in a safe place while the cream worked, and I periodically looked in on it to make sure that none of the cream had dislodged and gone somewhere it might cause damage. It helped that I had her head on an eye level shelf and I pointed her face outward so I could see it without disturbing her head.

 

Basically that let me get her from a ruined head to like new condition without spending a lot of money. I'm certainly no expert at this, but I was able to clean up a badly stained doll head for the price of the cream. The spatula I already had, but they aren't too expensive.

 

Sorry that was wordy and if someone knows a better way please chime in. I'm new to this, and my experience is limited.

When it was done there were still some faint stains near her eyes and a darker one on her ear. I put her back together and haven't applied the cream since, but when I checked her three days later the stains near her eyes were completely gone, and the one on her ear had faded almost completely.

 

This leads me to believe the cream continues to work after it gets removed. Possibly this is a function of how long the cream was on her in the first place. It might also be that removing the layer of cream and letting any of the chemical that may have been absorbed into the vinyl contact air helped the effect to continue, but that's totally a guess on my part. Also I am told the wig stains may have been from powders as opposed to dyes. This might also have played a role in the continuing effect.

Stains on vinyl can go away on their own, so I'm pretty sure that's what happened rather than the creme working even after wiping it off. Plus if that was the case with the creme we'd have issues after destaining body parts with it bleaching outfits.

Stains on vinyl can go away on their own, so I'm pretty sure that's what happened rather than the creme working even after wiping it off. Plus if that was the case with the creme we'd have issues after destaining body parts with it bleaching outfits.

 

That makes sense. I have only had to remove stains from places where the clothing doesn't touch the body, but it would probably bleach the wig too, and I definitely haven't seen that happen. I did read that that pimple cream that people use keeps working after it is removed, but it could be the same effect of the stain going away on it's own. If that is the case why would it seem to be true for all the places I used the cream and not just spots here and there? And why did the stain only fade after the creme was used and so soon after it was used?

 

Admittedly to prove my own hypothesis would require proper testing and control groups, and that's probably not going to happen.

 

I would still say try the Volks cream before paying to have the head totally redone, and I would also say removing the stains sooner rather than latter is a good idea. I credit some of my success with spotting it early and acting quickly to remove it.

Wolf said:

I would still say try the Volks cream before paying to have the head totally redone, and I would also say removing the stains sooner rather than latter is a good idea. I credit some of my success with spotting it early and acting quickly to remove it.

To be honest, I've actually decided that I'm probably going to get her face-up re-done just so I can make the stain removing process easier on me (also to make sure that all the stains are out; if not all, than most of them) and I really want to send her to WDS. >w<

Also, I would prefer to use Remove Zit and Formula 9-1-1 to get the stains off. I liked the results I've seen from others and Volks items can be just as pricey, if not more (and if you are talking about Volks Dream Rescue cream, it is around $5 to $6 more than Remove Zit and looks to be in a smaller canister; I've also heard bad things about Volks Dream Rescue but Remove Zit can have it's bad moments too).

Thank you so much for your experience though and your help~

Edited March 21, 2019 by Pickle

Also, I would prefer to use Remove Zit and Formula 9-1-1 to get the stains off. I liked the results I've seen from others and Volks items can be just as pricey, if not more (and if you are talking about Volks Dream Rescue cream, it is around $5 to $6 more than Remove Zit and looks to be in a smaller canister; I've also heard bad things about Volks Dream Rescue but Remove Zit can have it's bad moments too).

I'm interested in what bad things you've heard about Dream Rescue, because I haven't heard a single bad thing about it.

waha said:

Pickle said:

Also, I would prefer to use Remove Zit and Formula 9-1-1 to get the stains off. I liked the results I've seen from others and Volks items can be just as pricey, if not more (and if you are talking about Volks Dream Rescue cream, it is around $5 to $6 more than Remove Zit and looks to be in a smaller canister; I've also heard bad things about Volks Dream Rescue but Remove Zit can have it's bad moments too).

I'm interested in what bad things you've heard about Dream Rescue, because I haven't heard a single bad thing about it.

Archeotech and AyaToyBox seemed to have some decent concerns.

Go here: viewtopic.php?f=46&t=10546&start=90

But either way, I'm a stubborn mule so I'll just stick to Remove Zit and Formula 911 and get it right the first time instead of leaving her stains untreated, like an idiot, when I sent her to get her face-up the first time around. >__<

Edited March 21, 2019 by Pickle

I can't speak to something someone else received but mine came with liquid on top, and the solid stuff on the bottom. I mixed it up and it was fine.

 

The bottle wasn't leaking nor was there residue in the package.

 

The granules are definitely what they referred to when saying don't use it in a way that might abrade the surface of the doll. They are really obvious too. It's almost like that paste we used to glue stuff in kindergarten, but with white sand in it.

 

I did not see any swelling on the surface of the doll as a result of the use of the cream, and I had to cake her entire over-sized anime character forehead with it.

 

As far as toxicity they do say that clearly on the instructions. I did get some on my hands a few times, but I washed them immediately and had no ill effects.

 

I did pickup some Oxy 10 in case the Dream Rescue didn't work. The one drawback of Oxy is I would have had to place it near an incandescent light - ideally an adjustable desk lamp - in order for it to work. I think they said something like 12 - 18 inches away, and to check the part periodically to make sure it wasn't getting too soft.

 

I no longer have any incandescent lights since all they sell around here are florescent bulbs due to energy efficiency regulations, and I don't have a desk lamp that I could adjust even if I had a bulb. Also with cats in my house leaving it near a light would mean leaving it where the cat could get it. Animals will eat and drink things that we know not to because they think it smells edible, and a doll head would be like a chew toy to my cat.

 

I have also read unfiltered florescent lights will damage the doll, but I don't know if that's true or not. The chance it might rules out florescent lighting as a heat light source. I think I also read that it doesn't get hot enough to work well.

 

Here was the post I read about stain removal. viewtopic.php?f=38&t=1887

 

With all that said if the Dream Rescue hadn't worked I'd have figured something out. Replacing her head isn't an option for me; she's my Chihaya and I'm keeping her intact.

Wolf said:

I did pickup some Oxy 10 in case the Dream Rescue didn't work. The one drawback of Oxy is I would have had to place it near an incandescent light - ideally an adjustable desk lamp - in order for it to work. I think they said something like 12 - 18 inches away, and to check the part periodically to make sure it wasn't getting too soft.

 

I no longer have any incandescent lights since all they sell around here are florescent bulbs due to energy efficiency regulations, and I don't have a desk lamp that I could adjust even if I had a bulb. Also with cats in my house leaving it near a light would mean leaving it where the cat could get it. Animals will eat and drink things that we know not to because they think it smells edible, and a doll head would be like a chew toy to my cat.

 

I have also read unfiltered florescent lights will damage the doll, but I don't know if that's true or not. The chance it might rules out florescent lighting as a heat light source. I think I also read that it doesn't get hot enough to work well.

Eh, Oxy 10. I don't think I could ever do that because of how my room is set up and I also do not have good lamps or light bulbs to do it and rather not have to buy those plus the Oxy 10 when I can just get Remove Zit and Formula 911 and be ready to go. I'm glad that the Dream Rescue worked out for you though but I just rather not take too much of a chance with it.

Wolf said:

With all that said if the Dream Rescue hadn't worked I'd have figured something out. Replacing her head isn't an option for me; she's my Chihaya and I'm keeping her intact.

Random note: My bf wants to end up owning a Chihaya~ She can be a beauty.

But anyway, I'm glad you have kept her intact. ^^ Thanks for the information!

Edited March 21, 2019 by Pickle

I don't really know remove zit or formula 911. If it's benzoil peroxide don't you still need light/heat to make it work?

Wolf said:

I don't really know remove zit or formula 911. If it's benzoil peroxide don't you still need light/heat to make it work?

I've really only seen people show that they've put it on and no one, that I've seen, has said anything about having to put it under a light. O_o Formula 911 is the stuff you put on afterwards, as far as I've seen, to get off the Remove Zit easier and to help further aid in getting dirt and grime off your doll.

And I have no idea if it is benzoil peroxide. I'm not an expert on de-staining and stain removers/have any experience yet. >___< My apologies~

Edited March 21, 2019 by Pickle

No need to apologize, and my one experience with stain removal doesn't make me an expert either.

 

Oxy10 and Remove Zit are both pimple creams which is why I was thinking they might both be based on 10% benzoil peroxide, and both might have the same requirements to use.

 

I had never heard of Remove Zit before I encountered Dollfie. I thought I read it was an EU pimple cream. If it's based on a different chemical it might be you use it differently.

Wait, Remove Zit isn't a pimple cream, it's actually specifically made for removing stains from vinyl. The name is just confusing. Here is the website http://www.twinpines.com/remove-zit

Wait, Remove Zit isn't a pimple cream, it's actually specifically made for removing stains from vinyl. The name is just confusing. Here is the website http://www.twinpines.com/remove-zit

 

 

Oh how funny. That explains why I've never heard of it. I've never had to clean vinyl before this.

Remove-Zit does sound like a pimple cream. Maybe they should have gone a little more Madison Avenue on that name. Removzit or Removz-It

Twin Pine products are great. I haven't used them all but I wouldn't hesitate to. Remove-Zit and Formula 9-1-1 get the MADh Vinyl stamp of approval. Those two products have removed some rather horrible staining from many of my vinyls. I am on my third container since 2009 and have not had any negative experiences with it. It does have a shelf life of about 12 months and they mix a batch up for you when you order it so you know it's fresh. I have used "expired" Remove-Zit and it still worked. It just took longer.

Remove-Zit was originally created by a chemist for his wife, who loved to restore dolls. It was engineered to do the most good and the least amount of harm to our precious vinyls, not clothes or carpets or skin conditions. It was made specifically to remove stains from dolls.

K-2 said:

Remove-Zit does sound like a pimple cream. Maybe they should have gone a little more Madison Avenue on that name. Removzit or Removz-It

Twin Pine products are great. I haven't used them all but I wouldn't hesitate to. Remove-Zit and Formula 9-1-1 get the MADh Vinyl stamp of approval. Those two products have removed some rather horrible staining from many of my vinyls. I am on my third container since 2009 and have not had any negative experiences with it. It does have a shelf life of about 12 months and they mix a batch up for you when you order it so you know it's fresh. I have used "expired" Remove-Zit and it still worked. It just took longer.

Remove-Zit was originally created by a chemist for his wife, who loved to restore dolls. It was engineered to do the most good and the least amount of harm to our precious vinyls, not clothes or carpets or skin conditions. It was made specifically to remove stains from dolls.

Yeah, they probably should have changed the name up a bit because of the confusion. :3

Thank you so so soooo much for all the information though! It makes me feel a whole lot better to use it on my poor Miu. ^^ Soon after I sell some more things, I'll probably order it along with Formula 9-1-1 after I get her face-up off with some Winsor and Newton Cleaner since last time trying to get her face-up off when I first got her with non acetone nail polish remover was a nightmare. XDDD

Edited March 21, 2019 by Pickle

I think I get the name. Since the product was made for Dolls the name logic might have been that stains on a vinyl BJD's face are like acne for dolls. That would make perfect sense on a shelf in the doll section of a hobby store.