Caring for your doll

A doll is a long-term purchase and it repays care. Three things matter most: wash and dry properly, powder regularly, store hanging or flat with the joints relaxed.

Before first use

Wash the doll down to remove factory residue, dry it fully, and powder it. New TPE and silicone have a manufacturing smell that fades over the first weeks — it is not a defect.

Cleaning

• Warm water and a mild, unscented soap. A soft sponge, never a scourer.
• Clean the orifices after every use — a douche or irrigator with warm soapy water, then clear water.
• Never submerge the doll or let water reach the neck bolt and skeleton. Water in the frame causes rust that you cannot get at.
• Keep the head separate from washing. Clean the face by hand with a damp cloth.

Drying — the step people skip

Pat dry with a microfibre towel, then let the orifices dry fully from the inside. A drying stick with a microfibre sleeve, or a rolled dry cloth left in place, will do it. Do not use a hairdryer on TPE.

Moisture left inside is the main cause of mould and of smells that will not go away.

Powdering

Dust the whole body lightly with cornstarch or renewal powder — not talc — every few weeks and after every wash. It keeps the surface soft and dry rather than tacky.

Storage

• Hanging from the neck bolt in a wardrobe is best: no pressure points, no creasing.
• Lying flat on her back is the alternative, on a soft surface, limbs straight and relaxed.
• Never leave joints under tension for long periods, and never leave the doll sitting for weeks — it deforms the buttocks and thighs permanently.
• Keep out of direct sunlight and away from radiators.

Clothing and staining

Dark and brightly coloured fabric transfers dye into TPE and it is permanent. Wash new clothes before use, avoid black denim and red fabric, and do not leave the doll dressed in storage. Newsprint, leather and some dyes stain the same way.

If a stain does happen, a TPE stain remover applied early lifts most of it. Leave it and it sets.

Wigs, eyes and makeup

Take the wig off before storage — a wig left on transfers dye into the forehead. Use a wig cap. Eyes can be removed gently for cleaning. Doll makeup is not permanent; blot, never scrub.

Small repairs

Minor tears in TPE are repairable with a TPE glue kit and, done properly, the repair is stronger than the surrounding material. If your doll arrived with a fault, do not attempt a repair first — see Sex doll Satisfaction Assurance Guarantee.

Heating

Use an insertable USB heating rod only, and only for the time stated. Never use an electric blanket, a hot water bottle or a hairdryer on the body — TPE and silicone deform with sustained direct heat.