Bubble Bath for a Doll

I have two boys, and my youngest is a girl. So, to say that I am reveling in having someone who loves dolls and mothering and all things girly would be an understatement.

Though, for a while there, she had no interest in stuffed animals or dolls or anything like. I was beginning to think I had a tomboy on my hands. Not a bad thing, mind you. It's just that I had all of these dolls from my childhood that had been saved, what was I going to do with them if she didn't want them?

Then one day, I was doing some cleaning out in the basement, and I came across my old cabbage patch premie named Victor Bruno. Oh the mothering practice I got with him. I actually picked him out at the Cabbage Patch hospital in South Carolina. That was quite a memory. As soon as I pulled him out of the box, Em who was standing right there, held out her hands for him, called him "Baby" and it's been love ever since.

The thing is, he's decades old, despite his baby like appearance. And I played with him. A lot. And then he's been in storage, carted from state to state for years and years. So, he wasn't looking so good. I threw him in the wash, and it helped a little but, he was still looking rough. And the problem is that for some reason, Em likes him naked. So all of his stains and character marks are there for all to see. I let it go, but then when her friends were over and  practically fighting to play with the only other doll to be found, and flatly refusing to play with Victo, I knew something had to be done.

Pinterest to the rescue. I found stain this treatment recipe and thought, "I wonder what would happen if I were to give Victor a good soak in that..." So, on to the experiement. The sad and dismal "befores", which thankfully don't photograph as truly bad as they were.

I mixed Dawn and Hydrogen Peroxide together in a big pot with some hot water...

And gave Victor a nice soak. I was totally jealous, it's been a really long time since I have had a bubble bath.

I did scrub the toes and the hands with a more concentrated solution. Then I tossed him back into the wash and sent him through the dryer with a load of clothes. And you won't believe how he turned out!

The "Afters"!

He's spotless, and so much less embarrassing. Now, she can love on him all she likes.

Also, in case your curious, (because I was) I tried this spot treatment on our very old carpet, and it worked wonders with very little scrubbing. I highly recommend it!