The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: Nemesis on April 25, 2019, 05:34:05 PM

Title: UPDATE: Success! Struggling with So Soft cleaning... What should I try next?
Post by: Nemesis on April 25, 2019, 05:34:05 PM
I’m trying to clean the flocking on my So Soft Ribbon. I’ve washed her with Dawn Ultra, scrubbing with a toothbrush and Magic Eraser, soaked her in dilluted Oxi-Clean (the powder form), washed again, and still can’t get all of the grime out. :( She’s improved quite a bit, but there are gray-brown patches that are still bugging me.

Is bleach my only remaining option? I admit, I’m kind of terrified of the stuff. ^^; My Ribbon doesn’t seem like she should be a particularly special case as far as cleaning So Softs goes... But for some reason, the ponies in the tutorial vids I’ve seen always turn out a lot cleaner. :P Am I just terrible at this, lol?
Title: Re: Struggling with So Soft cleaning... What should I try next?
Post by: sassypons on April 25, 2019, 06:29:17 PM
Check the tutorial on mlppreservationproject.com! I’ve used it a couple times and it works really well. It uses oxiclean, laundry detergent, and a tiny bit of bleach. I’d be a bit weary in case Ribbon’s neon hair might bleed.. You could also try spraying carpet cleaner on her and leaving it sit for a while.
Title: Re: Struggling with So Soft cleaning... What should I try next?
Post by: Nemesis on April 25, 2019, 06:40:12 PM
Check the tutorial on mlppreservationproject.com! I’ve used it a couple times and it works really well. It uses oxiclean, laundry detergent, and a tiny bit of bleach. I’d be a bit weary in case Ribbon’s neon hair might bleed.. You could also try spraying carpet cleaner on her and leaving it sit for a while.

I’d been considering that tutorial, but the bleach scared me off. ^^; Would just detergent be safer? I’ll try the carpet cleaner—thanks! How long is it safe to leave on? I’m scared of loosening up the glue. :x
Title: Re: Struggling with So Soft cleaning... What should I try next?
Post by: mlp4me on April 26, 2019, 05:34:51 AM
I've had luck with oxy soaks many years back. If the glue is discolored it may never lighten up. I'd be vary wary of her yellow hair bleeding if you get into deep chemical cleaning. I've done a lot to ponies over the years in the form of torture to get a good clean, but bleach on a SS has been on my no no list. You could always stick her in a window and sunfade. Multiple layers to work with on SS's... I wonder if the patches you are seeing are cancer... You take the head off and see if there's any discoloration inside?
Title: Re: Struggling with So Soft cleaning... What should I try next?
Post by: LadyMoondancer on April 26, 2019, 07:43:59 AM
In my experience once a So Soft gets dirt deep-embedded in her fur, it's there forever.  Except the 2nd set (Crumpet, Bangles etc) which actually clean up nicely due to having shorter flocking.

@mlp4me  I think I know the patches she's talking about;  they're not discoloration, it's just dirt.  But instead of looking black or brown, it's like a white or grey "foggy" patch--so thick that sometimes you can't even see the symbol underneath it! 

When you wet the pony down, BAM, you can see the symbol / body color clear as can be.  Then the pony dries and the fog is still there and you scream to the heavens because this set is impossible to clean, lol.
Title: Re: Struggling with So Soft cleaning... What should I try next?
Post by: Nemesis on April 26, 2019, 10:25:53 AM
I've had luck with oxy soaks many years back. If the glue is discolored it may never lighten up. I'd be vary wary of her yellow hair bleeding if you get into deep chemical cleaning. I've done a lot to ponies over the years in the form of torture to get a good clean, but bleach on a SS has been on my no no list. You could always stick her in a window and sunfade. Multiple layers to work with on SS's... I wonder if the patches you are seeing are cancer... You take the head off and see if there's any discoloration inside?

I’m quite certain the patches aren’t actual discoloration of the body, since they did get lighter with washing... I think maybe it’s dirt that’s bonded to the flocking adhesive. Is that a known issue with SS ponies?

In my experience once a So Soft gets dirt deep-embedded in her fur, it's there forever.  Except the 2nd set (Crumpet, Bangles etc) which actually clean up nicely due to having shorter flocking.

@mlp4me  I think I know the patches she's talking about;  they're not discoloration, it's just dirt.  But instead of looking black or brown, it's like a white or grey "foggy" patch--so thick that sometimes you can't even see the symbol underneath it! 

When you wet the pony down, BAM, you can see the symbol / body color clear as can be.  Then the pony dries and the fog is still there and you scream to the heavens because this set is impossible to clean, lol.

The “foggy” effect you’re describing sounds exactly like my Twist. Ribbon’s a bit different... The grime seems to be beneath the flocking itself, in big browny-gray patches.
Title: Re: UPDATE: Success! Struggling with So Soft cleaning... What should I try next?
Post by: Nemesis on April 29, 2019, 12:54:20 AM
Thank you to everyone for the help! I tried out Oxi-Clean carpet spray and another good, long soak in Oxi-Clean/Dawn Ultra, and was able to lift most of the remaining dark spots. :)

...And in my distraught state, it seems I said Ribbon on this board when I actually meant Taffy. (I just finished deflocking a rust-stained, badly balding SS Ribbon, so the name was in my head). >_<;

Anyway, all three of the SS ponies I was working on turned out great! ^_^ And Taffy is a nice, vibrant pastel-yellow again, with almost all of her flocking intact. :)
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