How you store a doll largely determines how long she stays beautiful. The two enemies are pressure and heat: prolonged pressure on one spot leaves permanent dents in the skin, heat and sunlight make the material dry and dull. On top of that you usually want to be able to put her out of sight. These are the three methods that work.
Hanging in a wardrobe
This is the best method for the skin. With a hanging kit the doll hangs from a bracket under the head on the rail of a normal wardrobe; the feet just clear the floor. There is no pressure on the skin anywhere, air circulates all round and the wardrobe is closed. Do check that the rail carries the weight: a standard steel rail holds 40 to 50 kilos, a plastic or thin aluminium rail does not. Do not remove the head while hanging; the bracket is designed to relieve the neck.
Lying down
Lying is fine, provided it is on a soft, flat surface and without arms or legs under the body. A mattress, a thick duvet or a soft blanket in a large chest works well. Lay the doll on her back with her arms along her body and her legs straight, and change the position every few weeks. What does not work: prolonged sitting. Seated, the full weight presses on a small area and within a few weeks creases form in the buttocks and thighs that do not go away.
In a case
A lockable case with soft lining and wheels is the most discreet option and the only one you can leave in a hallway or storage room without explanation. The downside is that the doll lies in it and so has to change position now and then; the upside is that moving her to another room or address is easy. Mind the inside dimensions: a case for 168 cm fits most models, a smaller one does not.
Temperature and light
Store the doll between roughly 10 and 30 degrees, away from radiators, underfloor heating and direct sunlight. An attic under the roof gets too hot in summer; an unheated shed in winter is no problem for TPE, but let the doll come to room temperature for an hour before moving her, because cold TPE is less supple.
Clothing during storage
Preferably store the doll undressed or in light, pre-washed cotton. Dark clothing and coloured bedding bleed, and during weeks of storage that contact is long enough for permanent discolouration. A white cover or sheet between the doll and the surface prevents most of it.
Frequently asked questions
What should you know about hanging in a wardrobe?
This is the best method for the skin. With a hanging kit the doll hangs from a bracket under the head on the rail of a normal wardrobe; the feet just clear the floor. There is no pressure on the skin anywhere, air circulates all round and the wardrobe is closed. Do check that the rail carries the weight: a standard steel rail holds 40 to 50 kilos, a plastic or thin aluminium rail does not. Do not remove the head while hanging; the bracket is designed to relieve the neck.
What should you know about lying down?
Lying is fine, provided it is on a soft, flat surface and without arms or legs under the body. A mattress, a thick duvet or a soft blanket in a large chest works well. Lay the doll on her back with her arms along her body and her legs straight, and change the position every few weeks. What does not work: prolonged sitting. Seated, the full weight presses on a small area and within a few weeks creases form in the buttocks and thighs that do not go away.
What should you know about in a case?
A lockable case with soft lining and wheels is the most discreet option and the only one you can leave in a hallway or storage room without explanation. The downside is that the doll lies in it and so has to change position now and then; the upside is that moving her to another room or address is easy. Mind the inside dimensions: a case for 168 cm fits most models, a smaller one does not.
What should you know about temperature and light?
Store the doll between roughly 10 and 30 degrees, away from radiators, underfloor heating and direct sunlight. An attic under the roof gets too hot in summer; an unheated shed in winter is no problem for TPE, but let the doll come to room temperature for an hour before moving her, because cold TPE is less supple.
Small tears, stains, pressure marks and sticky skin: what you fix yourself with TPE glue and stain remover, what needs time, and when to call us instead.
