What is Smooze?

[Ponyfan]

Hi,
I recently saw a pony for sale that said it had Smooze. What is Smooze? Is it related to Pony cancer?


Ponyfan

[Glitzy Gems]

I'm not as well versed in older pony ailments, but smooze, if I'm correct, is engrained dirt usually on the hooves.
I've also heard its a kind of mold. Older ponies tend to get it because the vinyl they're made out of is pourous, which allows crap to get in

[SourdoughStomper]

Yes, that's pretty much it. Surface dirt that worked its way into the pores of the plastic. I've heard it can be removed with a LOT of "elbow grease."

[reanna-mator]

Yes, that's pretty much it. Surface dirt that worked its way into the pores of the plastic. I've heard it can be removed with a LOT of "elbow grease."

This!

Get the pony REALLY soft by running the affected area under steamy hot water. Then use soap and a lot of scrubbing with your fingernail and those pesky little dots should go away with lots of work.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Otherwise known as pindot mold.   

[Mlphammy]

As said above, ingrained dirt. I can get some pics if you want.

[SailorEarth]

Man, that takes me back. No one seems to use the word Smooze much anymore but it was all the rage back when I started collecting. As mentioned above it can be removed or at least reduced. Here's an excellent tutorial by Rhys on getting rid of it: http://mlparena.com/mlp/index.php/topic,292336.msg136755.html#msg136755

[Pickenprod]

Yes, smooze is most definitely treatable! I've done it on several of my ponies. Although, the pony does have to be heated up QUITE a bit. And if the smooze is all over the place, it's gonna be a long day...

[kittybethy]

I hate smooze!!  I've hated it since that MLP cartoon movie!

[PinkRosedust]

It really does take elbow grease, as stated above...but it's so worth it to see the ponies looking great when you're done. =) The name comes from the MLP movie (and possibly MLP and Friends?). These evil witches brew smooze to try to get the ponies to leave Dream Valley or something. It's purple goo stuff that is sorta like the Blob, but rather than eating things, it just kinda gets stuck to everything, including ponies. But the Flutter ponies are somehow able to make it go away with Flutter Magic or some such (I really need to watch that movie again).

[Shenanigans]

Does smooze spread? I have a pony with little dots all over her and I'm not sure if it's dirt or mold!

[Pickenprod]

Smooze cannot spread, it is simply ingrained dirt. Matter of fact, I don't even think pony cancer can spread... don't storage conditions matter more? (i.e., storage in humid conditions = faster pony cancers)

[hathorcat]

Yup - people call it pindot mold but thats not what it is as others have said its just dirt and dust built up over the years.

No it cant really spread but if a pony is left with it and is never dusted never cleaned then the dirt could get into other pores and therefore in theory it does spread but not in an infectious way - i.e. its easily stopped.

That tutorial is brilliant and as long as you remember it really really does take a lot of hard work and elbow grease you will get there and get it shifted. The other thing to note is in really bad cases sometimes it leaves pock marks in the plastic - these can usually be lessened by soaking the pony is super warm water as this helps the plastic relax a little into its original shape. It wont cure it but it does tend to help.

[Ponyfan]

Thank you everyone.  I've learned a lot about Smooze now. Does it come back after you clean the pony? 

Ponyfan

[Pickenprod]

It would not come back, unless you got the pony dirty again, AND applied some force

(my childhood friend used to drag her ponies through the dirt when she played with them, and whoo-ee, the smooze on those poor buggers! I have one that she traded me for a custom job, and it's... gonna need a full body repaint )