New to this, I have some questions. :D

[Ivaness]

Well, hello there! I'm new to the site, and really, new to the collecting side of MLP. (Always been a fan, I've had a few here and there.) I really have no idea how best to take care of them.  We're moving in a few weeks and I would REALLY appreciate any tips on how best to store my small collection. I've gone through and have been reading about "cancer" (what is that?) and what all should I look for on my ponies that brings down the value? Some are in good condition to me, just need a cleaning up. Some are rougher.

ALso, I have several ponies with some MAJOR hair difficulties. Theirs manes and tails are frizzed and way out there. I've tried conditioning the hair, using a low heat flat iron. No idea what to do. Any tips on that would be AWESOME!

Any other tips y'all could think of would be nice.

I'm so so sorry that this post is just all over the place. (That's how my mind works!)

[Syrcaid]

This may answer a few of your questions. <3

http://www.mlppreservationproject.com/

[reanna-mator]

I second the recommendation above! This is the main site I used when I first started collecting, and thus cleaning and restoring.

[hathorcat]

Thats a lot of different questions!

You ll get great advise on Fardreamers website which has been linked about on restoration and BFB & ashes have an awesome thread sticked at the top of the Corral with lots of tips and links as well.

When it comes to storing ponies for a move - you are best wrapping them up individually [to prevent different coloured plastics colouring against one another] in acid free tissue paper and boxing them - make sure to try no more than a layer on top of one another to prevent the plastic of the bottom most ponies being squished out of place. This is all safe enough for a reasonably short storage or transport.

As to devaluing - it depends whats wrong - as major as irecurable regrind or as minor as wild hair? If you post pictures here in the Corral, people will give you great individual advise on what is wrong and how, if possible, to fix it. 

On the hair issues - have you tried the good old simple, boiling water soak or dip? And did you soak the ponies hair in the conditioner or simply rub in and wash out - a soak for even a full day or a couple of days can work wonders. A childs detangler liquid scooshed into the hair when being combed and before the condition soak is helpful too.

[butterflybuttons]

Everything Cat said is great advice!

[Ivaness]

Honestly, before this website, I wasn't taking very good care of them. After I"m finishing eating, I'll be pulling them back out and taking a better look at them. >< Most of the ponies look like they just need their hair back in place and a good cleaning.  I will definitely do that, though! I'll post pictures on here after I pull out the pony case and take inventory. I've already saved the reservation website and will be putting it to good use!

I like you people already!

Now, what if I was putting them up for storage?

[hathorcat]

We are all lovely If I do say so myself....in seriousness, thats great that you are enjoying it here...its a pretty friendly bunch

Do you mean storing them long term?
The same way to store them as above - if its long term be extra specially careful about storing too many on top of one another or of two different colour plastics pressing against one another. The other thing is to remember plastic needs to breathe - so dont seal them tight away - put a couple of holes in the box you are storing them in so the plastic doesnt sweat too much.

[Ivaness]

So far, my Basket Surprise Sweet Berry has one mold spot. (I think that's what it is.)

Aaaand my dog started cleaning Firefly off with her tongue. -.-

Eventually, I would like to put them on display. The place we're moving into has a mantle and I was thinking of putting them on there. How often do you think I should take them down and clean them, if I do that?

And where would be a good place to post a picture of my collection thus far?

[Like A Tea Spoon]

I have a lot of white ponies, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is good for a quick wipe down. I also use warm soapy water, I use Dawn dish soap,  I stay away from the non- bleach/bleach alternative - as I don't know if the bleaching agent would harm colored ponies.

[Ivaness]

I have a lot of white ponies, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is good for a quick wipe down. I also use warm soapy water, I use Dawn dish soap,  I stay away from the non- bleach/bleach alternative - as I don't know if the bleaching agent would harm colored ponies.

I'm actually cleaning up Starshine right now, but using Dawn with Bleach Alternative. It didn't do anything to Firefly, didn't even take the dirt off. But Starshine is cleaning up VERY nicely! Who knew she was so white underneath all that dirt, haha. It's going to take a deeper cleaning agent with some of these ponies!

[hathorcat]

So far, my Basket Surprise Sweet Berry has one mold spot. (I think that's what it is.)

Aaaand my dog started cleaning Firefly off with her tongue. -.-

Eventually, I would like to put them on display. The place we're moving into has a mantle and I was thinking of putting them on there. How often do you think I should take them down and clean them, if I do that?

And where would be a good place to post a picture of my collection thus far?

The more ponies the more dusting If you have already removed all serious marks and stains then they dont need much more maintenance than you would give any other collectable - a regular dust and hair brush takes care of things

If you are posting a brag of your collection so far then the Brag Arena is a great forum for pictures

[Ivaness]

Thanks, Hathorcat. I did post a brag (but the pictures are too big and I'm not sure how I scale them down.) and when I get them all cleaned up and looking beeeeauuuutifullll again, I'll update it! And definitely when I have shelves for them!

[hathorcat]

Thanks, Hathorcat. I did post a brag (but the pictures are too big and I'm not sure how I scale them down.) and when I get them all cleaned up and looking beeeeauuuutifullll again, I'll update it! And definitely when I have shelves for them!

All you need to do is resize them as or after you post them...

The code for each picture you post will look something like this

Code: [Select]

[img]http://http:the code/source for your image[/img]
All you need to do is add one line "width=600" into that code so that it would look like this

Code: [Select]

[img width=600]http://http:the code/source for your image[/img]