Keeping your doll dustfree

My secret? I play with them often! Seriously, almost every month a change in seasonally appropriate attire. A glass front display case might be your best bet for dust free display though.

 

I keep mine in wooden bookcases with bedsheet curtains covering the front. True, not good for displaying but it works pretty well to keep dust off and light out.

 

Since I live close to the beach and in a house, I don't display them in the open, its impossible to keep it dust free like this. If I didnt have my glass furnitures, I would probably go for acrylic or acetane boxes. But I guess people living in apartment and not so dusty cities can have it exposed without having to dust them off frequently, it depends a lot I guess.

 

I handle mine regularly so they don’t have time to get dusty.

I keep them in a room with the door closed, and I’m usually the only one in there. Without people or animals in the room, there isn’t much dust. I also vacuum weekly, so that probably helps too.

 

I alway play my dolls. So is east to have dustfree

 

You can put them in a closet that has a door, or use air duster to blow off the dust.

 

I have all of mine on a buffet and cover them with a large piece of blackout curtain lining when I am not in the room.

 

I often manipulate them. And I have a big showcase... but all my dolls are on a shelf >_< I feel guilty !

 

While I keep them out in the open, I often clean at least the shelf they stay on, just wiping it down once a week or so. It helps that I handle them regularly, and just change them out of their clothes from time to time.

 

^Yup, this. All of this actually. I don't exactly 'play' with my dolls, and I've been inactive for a while, so not taking pictures either. Canned air and Magic Eraser is your best friend.

 

Just handling often.

 

Do you have a favorite canned air brand?

 

@TreeLore : Nope, just the one I can get at the local discount store. I also use it to clean the inside of my computer. Multi-purpose air, w00t!

 

Most of my dolls are on an open bookshelf with a sheer fabric that covers the front. I do keep my dolls in a closed room that gets very little traffic so that keeps the dust minimized. Ideally I'd have a shelf with doors but I haven't gotten around to investing in such a case.

 

Right now my collection is not that huge, so I play very often with them and as a doll seamstress I get to use them as models often, so they won’t ever have the smallest chance of getting all dusty.
Yet, canned air is a wonderful little helper for removing dust on dolls, especially on small places like facial features (mouth and eyes, or nose), hands etc.

 

Echoing what others have said on this thread, handling them frequently is the best method. When i'm not at home for long periods of time, I tuck my two dollies into an Ikea doll bed ( about $30 when I purchased it) that sits in a little nook sheltered on all sides but the front (underneath a small writing desk against a wall between other furniture) and cover up the opening with a piece of slightly sheer black fabric. Not only does it protect against the sun, but it also keeps them dust free when I can't handle them regularly.

 

I'm scared to see dust on my dolls so I have them in a display cabinet with glass windows and dehumidifier.
I do handle them prolly once a week but not all gets my attention in the same day...
Sometimes I'll put some on my bed (I have a big bed) but have them back in the cabinet after a few days.
But overall, I think it's still safer to put mine in a display cabinet.

 

I bought my display cabinets *because* I hated dusting the crew! XD

Really, though... I'll second the canned air and a microfiber duster if you don't go the closed-cabinet route. Using those regularly will keep the dust-bunnies at bay.