How to get rid of 'dents' in the flocking of a So Soft? Also, whitening question

[Starshinescustoms]

Hello everyone
I've had six SS ponies turn up today (yay!  ), and I'm in the process of cleaning them up (very scary.. I've never cleaned SS ponies before)
Paradise has some 'dent' like marks in her flocking (not in the plastic, just the flocking). I was wondering if it's possible to get them out? The only idea I've had so far is to try the ice cube thing, like people do to get dents out of carpets. Has anyone tried that? I'm worried about it taking off her flocking. She already has some pretty bad rubs, but I don't really want to deflock her. Especially not with an ice cube 

Also, while on the subject of So Softs, I was just wondering what methods (if any) can whiten them? From my last SS related question on here,  I remember being told that it's the glue that yellows. I was wondering what would happen if you tried sunfading, for example? I imagine it might make it go even more yellow, but just thought I'd ask in case someone else had tried it.

Thanks everyone. Sorry I keep posting so many questions lately 

[ravengusty]

I'm getting a Paradise soon  so softs are great 

Totally unrelated to your questions;

Which ones do you have? I have Bouncy and Ribbon.

Back to your questions I have no idea but i'm jumping in this thread to see what folks say because I think one of the ones I'm getting soon is a bit yellow ish so I'll be sitting here with you waiting for suggestions 

[mlpkatie]

Piggy backing on this thread... I have a Paradise who is terrible but I don't want to deflock her either.

[Starshinescustoms]

I'm getting a Paradise soon  so softs are great 

Totally unrelated to your questions;

Which ones do you have? I have Bouncy and Ribbon.

Back to your questions I have no idea but i'm jumping in this thread to see what folks say because I think one of the ones I'm getting soon is a bit yellow ish so I'll be sitting here with you waiting for suggestions 

I know! I've always loved them I've wanted Paradise since I was a kid. She's one of my favourite ponies.
My first (and up until today only) SS pony was Scrumptious. I've had her for years and she's lovely. 
The ones that came this morning were Paradise, Twist, Truly, Surprise and two Shady's. I bought two from another member on here and the other four were a lot on ebay. I've kept one Shady and I'm planning to sell the other. I have just bought Bangles from another member, so I'm waiting for her to turn up too. I'm spending too much on ponies lately 
Bouncy and Ribbon are two of my favourites! I'd love to get them at some point. They're just so hard to find over here. That's why I've decided to buy them from the US now.

And getting slightly off topic for a second.. I love your signature  I'm not a box person either. I do keep boxes... I just don't keep the ponies in them  That's why I'd never buy a MIB G1. It wouldn't stay in there lol.

Piggy backing on this thread... I have a Paradise who is terrible but I don't want to deflock her either.

I do have some flocking that I bought years ago. I'm almost tempted to try to reflock certain areas where it's missing, but I don't know yet. I'm worried I may make it look worse! 
I don't like the idea of deflocking unless the pony is really, really bad. It just seems a shame as there aren't that many around.

[Sunshine]

I haven't tried anything but toothpaste and oxyclean on a toothbrush to take the dirt out of the flocking. Unfortunately, I really don't think you can do anything about yellowed glue on them...

I wouldn't think ice would remove flocking, usually it's HEAT that loosens up the glue to be able to take off the flocking. I suppose worst case scenario is the ice freezes the glue and it "breaks"? But I really doubt that... I dunno just personal opinion.

[reanna-mator]

Yep yep. I have a Bangles that I love to death. She's actually quite minty if not for some severe rubs to her face and horn, and that's not nearly enough cause to deflock her. If it were possible to touch her up a bit with some replacement flocking (and make it look good) that would be incredible.

[silverdragon54]

I haven't been able to try it on my softies yet, but I had a dingy flocked fakie. I gave her a gentle scrub with lukewarm water and plain old Dawn dish soap and it brightened her right up. That was just dirt though, not yellowed glue.

[NovelNerd]

Aww Paradise! I actually got her not long ago as my first SS. I hope you can clean yours up and make her lovely. Sadly I was naughty and ripped that flocking right off.

[ravengusty]

I'm getting Paradise, Cupcake and Truly off one member and Scrumptious off another. I adore Cupcake, Paradise and Scrumptious. Every time I think of Cupcake I remember the scene in The End of Flutter Valley where she trips and face plants the cake  I love ponies

[Moony]

I generally just use a toothpaste with some water to determine problem areas ie. areas that need some cleaning agent applied to them. I bought a couple So Sorts at the fair that just need  some scrubbing to look lovely again I bought Cupcake and North star

[slj84]

I bought a very dirty cupcake at the fair.  You couldn't see her symbol and she was a nasty brown color.  So I bought her to experiment with thinking I will just deflock her if worse came to it.

First I tried washing her with cool water and shampoo.  Got some of the dirt off

Next I tried washing her with carpet cleaner, and a soft tooth brush.  Got more of the dirt off but still she was dingy.

Then I decided to put her in the wash on cold only water a d wrapped her in a pillow case several layers.  This did awesome got her dirt.  I did not notice any flocking loss on cold, but I did put a pony I was deflocking on steam once to loose her glue.  It did the trick.

Then I thought I wonder what hydrogen would do if I poured it into her flocking. I left her sit overnight and I think it did whiten her some.


I'm now seeing what sunning her does.  I wouldn't put her out in super hot sun, but since we apparently only get rain in ohio right now I thought I would give it a shot.

My next thought was putting her in the washer again on cold with bleach.  I'm still debating how far I want to experiment.

[partypony566]

I'm not the best person to ask as I deflock every so soft that comes my way

[hathorcat]

Do you have pictures of what you mean by "dents"? Are you sure its not just flocking loss? This is hard to describe but sometimes when flocking comes away it leaves almost a root [like stubble?!] which means it looks like its uneven. Could that be the problem? If its not then I simply suggest you use a toothbrush and brush in circles to fluff it back.

As to cleaning - there are all manner of methods. The problem is it all comes down to the condition of the glue holding the flocking on. If its in good, strong condition then you can use everything from an oxy soak to a warm water and baking soda/toothpaste to get her clean. If its already breaking down then even a cold wash and rub can remove flocking. And different ponies can have different degrees of glue breakdown over the entire pony. Personally I dont like to do anything more than compressed air in order to remove a lot of the dirt and then a tepid water sponge bath - I find that cleans the pony without risking any loss.

As to yellowing - unfortunately if the pony has yellowed due to the glue breaking down then sun fading will not help.