Cleaning Paradise

[Sparkle Pony]

I received Paradise as a belated birthday present yesterday, but she is rather grungy.  I've been trying to lighten her body, but I've been having trouble due to some SERIOUSLY deeply embedded lint that I have been trying to remove, and general dirt.  I've already given her a cleaning with a soft toothbrush and hand soap, plus tried to tease the lint out of her flocking when dried, but I've had limited success.  Any tips?
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[kissthethunder]

Firstly do not use hot or warm water, stick to cold. Recently I and others have tried scrubbing bubbles with success but it's largely a new method and if you don't want to risk it don't.

I've heard of others putting them from the washing machine taken apart and placed in a pillow case (didn't work for me), I don't recommend oxy clean as it thins the flocking, and stay away from anything with dyes in it because they stain easily =/

I'm afraid I can't be of more help, I'm afraid engrained dirt and dust is hard to get rid of on a so soft...

[cricket]

I had a ton of success recently cleaning a really dirty SS Scrumptious with toothpaste.  I used cold water and a toothbrush and worked it into a lather all over her body.  I was worried that it might damage her flocking but I scrubbed gently and after she dried her flocking was intact and cleaned up considerably.  I think the grainy substance of the toothpaste removed dirt and lint and the whiting agent helped to brighten her up.  It is the first time I have used toothpaste but it worked so well I am planning on trying it again.

[egyptiondragon]

I had a ton of success recently cleaning a really dirty SS Scrumptious with toothpaste.  I used cold water and a toothbrush and worked it into a lather all over her body.  I was worried that it might damage her flocking but I scrubbed gently and after she dried her flocking was intact and cleaned up considerably.  I think the grainy substance of the toothpaste removed dirt and lint and the whiting agent helped to brighten her up.  It is the first time I have used toothpaste but it worked so well I am planning on trying it again.

what brand of toothpaste did you use?

[Sparkle Pony]

I had a ton of success recently cleaning a really dirty SS Scrumptious with toothpaste.  I used cold water and a toothbrush and worked it into a lather all over her body.  I was worried that it might damage her flocking but I scrubbed gently and after she dried her flocking was intact and cleaned up considerably.  I think the grainy substance of the toothpaste removed dirt and lint and the whiting agent helped to brighten her up.  It is the first time I have used toothpaste but it worked so well I am planning on trying it again.

Weird!  Am I to assume I should use the plainest toothpase I can find?  I'm definitely interested in trying this!

[Katika]

Okay, I just ran off to try the tooth paste thing because it excited me so much and so far, it really DOES seem to do wonders.  I am keeping in mind how So Softs almost always look pristine when they're wet and notoriously dry looking dingy, but I did notice that it took off several dark spots and even clumped up the lint so I could pick it off.  The toothpaste I used is Arm and Hammer Complete Care Stain Defense Plus Whitening (Baking Soda and Peroxide).  Not sure if that's how the box labels it, but it's what the tube says.  I wish I would have taken before pictures, but I will be sure to come back and update tomorrow after the flocking has dried to let you know how much of a difference I see


EDIT TO ADD:
Checked on all three this morning, SS North Star, SS Surprise and SS Lickety Split.  All of them had sort of clumpy flocking to begin with (they weren't that beautiful plush that the super minty ones are), with Lickety having the most thin spots and rubs.  All of them dried and are SO much cleaner I can hardly stand it - it even took off a weird red smudge that I thought might have been ink or lip stick from in and around Surprise's eye!  The pen mark on Lickety's lip still stayed and I was too nervous to try scrubbing any harder than I was.  Since I was a ding dong and forgot to take before photos, I have no idea if the treatment contributed to the clumpiness of the flocking and I honestly don't remember just *how* bad they were to start with.  I just knew they were "bad enough" to use as test ponies, lol.  I'll take a look to see if I have anyone with nicer flocking that needs cleaning and give that a go, too, but so far, tooth paste seems to be pretty handy and removing dirt and ingrained dust!

[Sparkle Pony]

Okay, I just ran off to try the tooth paste thing because it excited me so much and so far, it really DOES seem to do wonders.  I am keeping in mind how So Softs almost always look pristine when they're wet and notoriously dry looking dingy, but I did notice that it took off several dark spots and even clumped up the lint so I could pick it off.  The toothpaste I used is Arm and Hammer Complete Care Stain Defense Plus Whitening (Baking Soda and Peroxide).  Not sure if that's how the box labels it, but it's what the tube says.  I wish I would have taken before pictures, but I will be sure to come back and update tomorrow after the flocking has dried to let you know how much of a difference I see


EDIT TO ADD:
Checked on all three this morning, SS North Star, SS Surprise and SS Lickety Split.  All of them had sort of clumpy flocking to begin with (they weren't that beautiful plush that the super minty ones are), with Lickety having the most thin spots and rubs.  All of them dried and are SO much cleaner I can hardly stand it - it even took off a weird red smudge that I thought might have been ink or lip stick from in and around Surprise's eye!  The pen mark on Lickety's lip still stayed and I was too nervous to try scrubbing any harder than I was.  Since I was a ding dong and forgot to take before photos, I have no idea if the treatment contributed to the clumpiness of the flocking and I honestly don't remember just *how* bad they were to start with.  I just knew they were "bad enough" to use as test ponies, lol.  I'll take a look to see if I have anyone with nicer flocking that needs cleaning and give that a go, too, but so far, tooth paste seems to be pretty handy and removing dirt and ingrained dust!

Definitely gonna try this.  I hope I can get Paradise looking stunning~

[cricket]

Katika I'm glad it's working well for you too!

The brand I used was Crest 3D White.  It also took a big brown stain off of Scrumptious' shoulder and whitened her up considerably.  I did not take any before pictures but she was incredibly grungy and now the toothpaste treatment has saved her from the bait box. 

[hathorcat]

You want something with a baking soda like agent...I use Arm & Hammer whitening lol Always has the best results.

Paraside in your picture is looking in pretty nice condition not too discoloured at all! I hope she is looking even more stunning now.

[ringwraith10]

Ooh, I'm going to have to try this toothpaste thing! I have a Paradise that is actually completely brown. I mean BROWN. No white at all. Someone must have played with her in the mud. If I do it I'll take before and after pictures.

[Kazzellin]

Neat! I shall have to try this on my so-softs. Pretty sure all of them can use a good cleaning. (I haven't cleaned any of them yet because the one time I did, I made the mistake of thinking warm water was a good idea. Never again!)

[Sparkle Pony]

Ahaha, still haven't gotten around to cleaning her more thoroughly.  I need to stop being lazy for once!  To be honest, she is not it very bad condition, but she just looks dirty next to a super white SS I have.  I'm just really picky about this set I suppose.