How To Remove Ink Stains

( I got this email from American Girl)

We are not sure if the below procedure is the one you tried.  You would
want to use any acne cream with the primary ingredient benzoyl peroxide
(untinted).  Please follow the steps listed below:

1.  Clean the area to be treated.
2.  Apply an ample amount of the acne cream to the ink spot.
3.  Place a small piece of plastic wrap over the area.
4.  Place in sun for about 4 hours.
5.  Remove plastic wrap.
6.  Rinse off dried acne cream with water.
7.  Repeat steps 2 through 6 as needed.

Doll Storage

• When she's not being played with, place your doll in our doll stand or in one of our storage cabinets.
• Always keep her in a cool, dry place. The top shelf in a closet or in a box under a bed are ideal locations; garages and unfinished basements aren't.
• Avoid places of extreme heat and damp or wet areas where mold might grow.
• Avoid leaving her in the sun for long periods of time—that includes hot cars.
• Before you store your doll, dress her in an original American Girl outfit. Our clothing uses special colorfast fabrics so the dye won't transfer and stain your doll's porous vinyl skin.
• Remove any accessories, such as bracelets or necklaces. Prolonged contact with your doll's skin can leave a mark or stain.
• Make sure to brush her hair properly before you store her.
• Avoid putting her away with barrettes or hairbands in, since they can leave marks in her hair.
• If your doll came with her hair in a particular style—like Molly and Kaya's braids—it's OK to revert to the original style before you store them.

Helpful Hints On AG Doll Hair

For best styling results, lightly mist your doll's hair with water as needed before you brush or pick it. Use just enough water to make the hair easier to work with. Be sure not to get water in her eyes—they may rust! Try the misting bottle and styling cape from the American Girl Hair Kit

When brushing or picking your doll's hair for the first time, some loose hair will come off. This is normal and will lessen over time. The wire Doll Hairbrush and Sparkly Hair Pick were designed to work best with American Girl dolls' hair. Never use styling products such as gels, mousses, or sprays as they can damage your doll's hair over time. To help with styling, AG  recommends their Hair Care Kit for Dolls, which includes a misting bottle to lightly mist her hair with water. Never use a blow dryer, a curling iron, hot rollers, or a straightening iron on your doll's wig. The fibers are made of a special acrylic and any heat source can dry, stiffen, frizz, or even melt them. AG recommends the special doll-friendly rollers and accessories that are part of the Salon Styling Caddy. For braided styles, tightly braiding the hair while damp will control loose ends. The misting bottle in the Hair Care Kit for Dolls helps you get just the right amount of water on her hair to make styling easy. Let it dry overnight, or for quicker drying, place your doll in front of—but not too close to—a cool fan. Remember, if you leave your doll's hair in a braid for a long time, her hair may have a permanent wave or crimp when you take it out.

Skin Care

The skin of American Girl dolls is made of vinyl with a soft, matte finish. It's been developed to look as authentic and lifelike as possible. Unlike hard plastic, this soft vinyl is a porous material that will absorb some strong dyes found in textiles, makeup, colored markers, pens, and ink. That's why American Girl creates doll clothing with colorfast dyes to prevent any staining of the doll's skin, particularly over a period of extended wear.

Helpful hints for skin care For general cleaning of your doll's skin, we recommend the following simple method using water and baking soda:

• Dampen a soft washcloth with lukewarm water.
• Make a paste of baking soda and lukewarm water.
• Rub the vinyl gently in a circular motion with the paste.
• Wipe with a wet washcloth to remove residue, and rinse washcloth frequently with lukewarm water.
• Towel dry your doll.

 While cleaning your American Girl doll, always cover her eyes to avoid getting water in them, which can cause rust, and try to keep her soft-fabric body and her hair as dry as possible. And remember, never submerge your doll in water.

Hair Care - Curly

For curly or textured hair, American Girl recommends using the Sparkly Hair Pick to work out tangles. Using a brush on this type of wig can make it frizzy.

Before you begin to pick or style your doll's hair, make sure you have a firm hold on your doll by sitting her between your legs or having someone hold her while you pick. If you can, grasp your doll's neck while picking. Be careful not to pull too hard because too much strain could loosen her head. Always gently pick your doll's hair from the ends up to remove tangles.hair for best results. To finger-style, separate a small section of hair and gently work your fingers through it, twirling as you go

For tight curls, finger-style your doll's hair for best results. To finger-style your doll's hair, separate a small section, and gently work your fingers through it, twirling it as you go. 

Hair Care - Wavy/Straight

Always use a Wire Wig Brush on your doll's hair. Never use a comb or plastic-bristle brush, which can snag or frizz hair.

Before you begin to brush or style your doll's hair, make sure you have a firm hold on your doll by sitting her between your legs or having someone hold her while you brush. If you can, grasp your doll's neck while brushing. Be careful not to pull too hard because too much strain could loosen her head.

To brush, take hold of a small section of hair near the ends. Gently brush out the tangles. Keep brushing small sections, working your way up toward the base of the wig, but always brushing down toward the ends. If her hair is wavy, be very gentle at the ends of her hair to help preserve the curl. To make taming tangles even easier, put the cape from the Hair Care Kit around your doll's neck and then lightly mist her hair with water. Take the time to carefully work out each tangle.