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I have often been asked advice for treating green ear on vintage Barbie dolls. Most people have used Remove-Zit with fair results, myself included. Remove-Zit works but it takes a lot of time and effort. To get good results it must be used almost daily for about 3 months. I don't have the time or the patience for that.
After much research, I came across the use of CLR, the calcium, lime and rust remover, for treating green ear. It can be purchased in most supermarkets and home improvement stores. I had just received a Barbie Ponytail Number 4 with green face. The poor thing! I put CLR to the test. If it could help diminish the green on this doll, imagine what it would do on a doll with just a bit of green ear. After a 1 week treatment, this Barbie was suitable for display. Her face is still a bit darker at the ears, probably could use another treatment, but is no longer green from ears to nose. In just 1 week and with no damage to the plastic, hair or face paint. Though it does tend to dull the painted hair of a Fashion Queen, so be careful.
I then used the CLR treatment on all the vintage Barbie dolls I had which had been treated unsuccessfully with Remove-Zit. The results were astonishing! And all accomplished in less than a week. Though my dining room table did look a bit strange with all those Barbie heads lined up with cotton balls on their ears!
I now use the CLR Treatment for any vintage Barbie doll I receive that has green ear.
The CLR Treatment
- Carefully remove the doll head. For Bubblecuts, Midge and especially Fashion Queens it may be necessary to heat the head before removal. To do this use very hot tap water, dunk the head for about 1 minute and then carefully remove the head.
- Using a cotton swab, clean the ears and the inside of the head with alcohol.
- Take a very fine sewing needle threaded with white thread, soak the thread with CLR and carefully push needle and thread through the earring hole. Pull the thread all the way through. I have on occasion skipped this step and still had excellent results.
- Using a cotton swab, clean the inside of the head with CLR.
- Use a small piece of cotton, just enough to cover the ear, soak it in CLR and place it over the ear.
- Let dry for about 24 hours.
- Once a day for about 1 week, using an eyedropper, add a couple of drops of CLR to the cotton.
- After 5 - 7 days, if the green is removed to your satisfaction, remove the cotton and once again wash inside and out with alcohol.
VERY IMPORTANT
Do NOT use CLR or Remove-Zit on any MOD dolls as it fades the color right out. You then have a doll without green ear but with a white face. I learned this the hard way.
Guide created: 09/04/06 (updated 11/07/09)
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