How to Remove Yellow Stains on Your Dolls
So last year, I bought a Dal off Facebook with some pretty severe yellowing all over her face and legs. Luckily, I've had experience removing stains on my Licca-chan dolls, so I felt a little more confident tackling this project.
Who is Dal?
If you're not familiar with Dal, she's part of the Pullip doll line—a Korean fashion doll series launched in 2003, known for its big expressive eyes, articulated joints, and customizable features. Dal is introduced as Taeyang's 13-year-old little sister (Taeyang being Pullip's boyfriend). Her overall look is quite similar to Pullip except she's smaller and her eyes do not close. Oh and fun fact, the one I got is the Vocaloid Rin Kagamine version! 🎤💛
Now that the intro's out of the way, let's try fixing her up!
What You'll Need:
- Benzoyl Peroxide (5% or 10%) - Acne cream works great!
- Cotton buds
- Tissue
- Clear plastic wrap
- Dishsoap or handsoap
How to Remove the Yellowing
1. Disassemble the Doll
Start by removing your doll's clothes and wig to get a full look at where the yellowing is. This also protects her clothes from possible bleach stains. Then, carefully disassemble the doll and separate the parts that need treatment
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Before |
2. Apply Benzoyl Peroxide
Use a cotton bud to apply the cream directly onto the yellowed areas. Since we're working with hard plastic dol, you'll want to get a higher concentration of benzoyl peroxide than what you'd use on a soft plastic Barbie.
3. Wrap it Up
Next, cover the treated areas with clear plastic wrap to keep the cream we applied from drying out too quickly.
4. Sun Time
5. Clean It Off
Wipe off the cream with a tissue, then wash the doll thoroughly with dish soap or hand soap. This is when you'll notice if the yellowing has started to fade.
My doll had pretty deep yellowing, so I had to reapply the cream a few more times until it lightened up.
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After (3rd time applying the cream) |
6. Reassemble and Admire
Once the stains are completely gone, put all the pieces back together—and tada! Your doll looks good as new.
Important Note:
While benzoyl peroxide is great for removing stains, it can also fade or remove the doll's face up (especially if applied too close to the eyes or lips). So please be extra careful when working around detailed paint!
Also, exposing your doll to too much sunlight can sometimes backfire and make the yellowing even worse. So always work with caution and check the progress as you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why didn't you remove the stain in her eyes?
Honestly? I just forgot... and then I got lazy 😅. I might just replace her eyes later or give them a proper cleaning. If I do, I'll definitely update this post!
Q: How many times did you reapply the cream?
I used 5% benzoyl peroxide, so I had to reapply it about 6 times for the face. The stains were really stubborn and it didn't help that it was cloudy most days. I highly recommend doing this in the summer for better results!
For the legs, I only had to apply it 3 times, though there's still a faint yellow tint if you look closely.