Restoring Question...

[Artsy Craftsy]

I just started restoring my old childhood ponies and decided to test on an extra Speedy that I had with a bad mane cut >.< (not done by childhood me! lol I was very careful with my ponies)

After I was taking the hair rollers out this morning I noticed that her tail stunk really bad! I don't know if there's something inside her making her stinky, or if it's because she wasn't completely dry... any suggestions? Should I pop her open? (so nervous to do that!  )

[sd_dreamcrystal]

Pop her open and stick her in an Oxi-clean bath... be careful though, if the pony's TEs are still good Oxi-clean will remove the coating on them

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Yep, you need to pop the pony's head off and make sure there's no grossness inside.

[FantasticFirefly]

What does the tail smell like? Mildew? is there any rust stains coming from the base?

I only behead when there is nasty stuff inside. You can hold a pony up to light -dark shadows inside will let you know if there is a problem. Sometimes they get bad smells from storage but are perfectly clean. If she is dirty and you open her, I personally remove the tail, spray a little foaming bathroom cleaner (for mildewy tile) inside, leave then go back later and scrub her out with some brushes. dollar stores are great places to find bottle brushes, tooth brushes (childsized ones fit into tighter spaces). If you do this use gloves and have the windows open. and rinse her out well after. I don't care for oxy soaks as it risks further damage.

[mlp4me]

Honestly I'd pop her open if you question any funky smells...

[HavACrumpet452]

I'd pop her head off but I'd use a diluted bleach bath to clean her, oxyclean will ruin her eyes.

[hathorcat]

I agree with Fantastic Firefly and only if absolutely necessary would I remove her head. I think some extra investigating is a good idea. Shadows on her inside? Rust at her tail base or mane roots? If not it could be something in her tail - did you wash it before curling? The heat of water has perhaps released something within the nylon. I would wash again and give a good old wipe down and then if the smell pervades, even if there are no outer signs, then I would resort to popping her head off.

[Artsy Craftsy]

these are all really good suggestions! I'll have to hold her under the light to see, but I don't see any rust at least.

And yes I did wash her before curling I have her a hot bath in Dawn and scrubbed her carefully with a Magic Eraser. I then conditioned her hair, brushed it out with a brand new toothbrush then started curling it. I didn't notice any smells last night. It was only this morning when I took the curlers out.

Post Merge: February 26, 2013, 07:24:31 PM

So we had a very traumatizing experience but I got her head off... to another traumatizing experience 

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So... I have her soaking in Dawn right now... yuck!!!!!! >.<  I sorta took the hint that I should open her when I couldn't see through her body...

Post Merge: February 26, 2013, 08:08:08 PM

I'm going to pick up some bottle brushes and oxyclean tomorrow to try and clean her out.

I think it might actually be a combo of tail rust and mold. Some brownish-black clumpy stuff came out when I just merely rinsed her out x_x gross!!! poor Speedy >.< she'll probably end up baited...

Also, fun fact, part of her mane is going through her eye o_O

[HavACrumpet452]

She not the worst pony I've seen by far. Just be careful of that oxyclean. I personally never risk it on ponies.

[mlp4me]

Oh, gosh yes, HavACrumpet452 and I have cleaned some funkadellic ponies on our cleaning sprees. Those double washer collector pose ponies can be really gross!
It's good that you're using an antibacterial soap to clean the pony Artsy Craftsy. If you find that there's still gunk inside a bit of h202 can help to loosen things up. I also will use a baking soda toothpaste, the grit helps to loosen stuff up and ligtens up rust as well.

[PandoraFox]

While many people have gotten great results cleaning out rusty ponies with oxy-clean, do not dunk her entire head in an oxy clean bath.
It will take the shiney coating of her twinkle eyes.

Her body should be fine in an oxy-clean bath though.
I've also heard of people say they put oxy-clean and hot water into the body of the pony and then shake them up to loosen rust.

[Elisto]

Because of her eyes, I'd avoid oxyclean entirely and use toothpaste and a bottle brush to get the rust out.

[Artsy Craftsy]

well I didn't get a chance to go to the store since I worked overtime, but maybe it's for the best I'll pick up some baking soda toothpaste to clean her with instead!

Thanks so much everyone! I'm glad it's just rust Because allll of my vintage ponies were bought second-hand I have no idea what they were done with before I got them. I'm going to take a good guess and all the ones that got chop-jobs were probably not taken as well care of as some of my other ones that show signs of factory curls.

I'll post an update when I finish her

I'm surprised it is rust actually... she has no signs on the outside of having that problem! Even when I washed her the first time she didn't have any rust leaking out

[hathorcat]

I am so pleased for you that it looks like its something fixabke. I am also not a massive oxi fan either. Denture tablets are also wonderful at shifting stubborn rust. A good soak usually loosens most of the rust and grime and then followed by a baking soda and toothpaste scrub.

Cant wait to see her all cleaned up.