How to Remove Stickiness from Barbie Dolls

Table of Contents:

You Will Need
Steps to Remove the Stickiness
Additional Tips

Question: “I have Barbie and Ken dolls that were manufactured in Malaysia, 1967 that have been in storage for 30 years. I removed them from storage and their legs are sticky. I have cleaned them with dish liquid. No change. What do you suggest I try to remove the stickiness?”

Barbie dolls are made of vinyl-like plastics, which often begin to ooze a sticky compound over time. Luckily, removing this stickiness is easy if you have the right product. Follow the steps below to restore your Barbie.

You Will Need:

Baking soda
Water
A cloth

Steps to Remove the Stickiness:

Wet a cloth with water, then wring it out so it’s only damp, not dripping.
Sprinkle baking soda over the cloth.
Wipe the baking soda over the barbie.
Rotate the cloth to a clean area as the stickiness is removed.
Once the doll is no longer sticky, rinse it with plain water.

Additional Tips:

If the above method doesn’t seem to be working, try using white vinegar instead. Each type of plastic is unique and you may have one that responds better to an acid than to the alkaline baking soda.
If you are still encountering problems, rub the area with some oil, such as olive oil. If the stickiness has sat for a long time, it can help to freshen it (with the oil). Then try removing it again with the above methods.