Toy collection, private

A collection of soft toys and dolls that had become heavily soiled with soot and stained with water as the result of a fire in the client’s home were brought to the studio for cleaning.  Each of the toys had their clothing and accessories removed, including the paper maker’s labels.  The bodies and clothes were first surface cleaned using low powered vacuum suction to remove the loose soot and dust, and then the textile elements were individually washed by hand using a conservation grade detergent to remove the more embedded dirt and stains.  The non-textile materials were also washed where safe to do so or wiped with damp and dry microfibre cloths.  Once dry all the fur and hair were lightly brushed and the clothes and accessories replaced.  The labels were cleaned using a chemical sponge and reattached in their original positions using new plastic tags.