The Doll Forum

As a new owner of a full-size TPE love doll, I was disappointed by how easily she could be stained and even more disappointed by how expensive a small jar of stain remover is. I kept mulling it over until it finally struck me that it's not much more than toothpaste, and I was right.

My doll had discoloration from a dark-colored heating blanket I wrapped her in, and as of this writing she looks like new thanks to Arm & Hammer Advance White toothpaste with baking soda and peroxide. Applying it and leaving it did not work, but massaging it into her skin worked within a few minutes as I literally watched the stains lighten and then vanish before my eyes!

Fortunately, my doll hangs from a steel pipe in my shower where it was easy to do this and to rinse her off, but if you don't have this setup at least lay her in the tub.

I joined this forum just to share that information with others, as I have read many posts from frustrated owners trying to remove stains. I can't imagine an easier or cheaper way to do this, and I presume that any baking soda/peroxide toothpaste would work.

Good luck!

Welcome to TDF, THinOmaha!

Good find on the toothpaste for stains. Did the toothpaste appear to cause any residual damage or weakening of the TPE material?

DollAfficionado wrote:Welcome to TDF, THinOmaha!

Good find on the toothpaste for stains. Did the toothpaste appear to cause any residual damage or weakening of the TPE material?

No, it did not, nor do I anticipate that. Toothpaste is non-toxic, even "edible" if you want to think of it that way. I seriously doubt that there is anything in it that will cause issues, particularly after washing her off with soap and water once the toothpaste is rinsed off. Baking soda is a time-worn stain remover, and peroxide is known for lightening stains - plus it leaves your doll minty fresh!

On the other hand, I have read posts suggesting cleaners (like paint thinner) that will most definitely damage or dissolve TPE - I would avoid anything that is a chemical cleaner. Silicone is much more tolerable of chemicals, but TPE is not silicone and is much more fragile in more ways than one.

The next time I get a TPE stain, I am definitely going to try this.

On toothpastes, don't swallow your toothpaste if it contains fluoride as you can get a dangerous dose. We shouldn't ingest any fluoride anyway as it has been proven to cloud the brain's ability to think freely and clearly.

Yeah that is why they put it in our water supply, just as the nazis did in the concentration camps.....

I knew that stuff had a familiar scent. Good catch please do hang around.

I have tried this out.
I would not use the words "literally watched the stains lighten and then vanish" but it did reduce them. Now the nature of this stain might be a tougher one! I assume a black dye of some sort.

But one cleaning and they are faded 80%, and it only took a little over an hour including re powdering after cleaning, so maybe a second round would do it. Light stains, I bet this works great.

Very nice. I always thougt the TPE stain remover smelled really good. Curious. I have to try this.

I had a stubborn stain in the middle of a head that would normally be covered by the wig. Everything I had tried previously had only faded the stain. I tried the toothpaste, and massaging it into the stain wasn't producing results. So I covered the stain with toothpaste and let is set overnight. It faded the stain about 50%. Another application removed it almost completely.
This is another cheap viable solution for the inevitable TPE stain. Good call!

I tried this as well & it worked wonders. I wish I would have taken before & after pictures.

thanks for the idea that is really helpful.

EXCELLENT! I have my girls feet and legs that needs a good toothpaste washing!

thanks for the good tip

BRILLIANT!

Many thanks

Best wishes

Harem

THinOmaha wrote:
I joined this forum just to share that information with others, as I have read many posts from frustrated owners trying to remove stains. I can't imagine an easier or cheaper way to do this, and I presume that any baking soda/peroxide toothpaste would work.

Good luck!

Thanks for the great tip! My new TPE doll had an unfortunate encounter with blue denim (TPE owners, beware blue denim, as it can stain worse than black) and it's been very resistant to most of the methods I've tried so far. I'll try this and report back.

-SDF

UPDATE: I picked up some of the same stuff as THinOmaha used and it worked! However, if you're like me and couldn't immediately apply the toothpaste, it may not work on the first application (it didn't for me). However, even on the first try it definitely reduces the stain, and I would say that repeated applications will probably take care of the problem.

I'm going to try pasting it and letting it sit overnight and see if that removes the remaining stains. Either way, many thanks, THinOmaha!

SDF