The Barbie doll is one of the most popular and recognizable dolls ever created and, according to Invalued, one of the most valuable antiques — the price of a mint condition Barbie from the 1950s can run close to $25,000. Despite their value, these toys weren’t made to last forever. Barbie Dolls, in particular vintage or antique ones, are susceptible to wear and damage over time. To prevent this, you need to store them well.
To store Barbie Dolls long term,
- Find a climate-controlled storage unit.
- Clean the dolls.
- Wrap Barbies in acid-free archival paper.
- Wrap boxes in acid-free, protective materials.
- Store in a breathable container.
- Keep standing up.
How you store your Barbies will be, in part, dependent on their value: expensive or otherwise collectible Barbies will require more attention than your run-of-the-mill doll.
1. Find a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit
If your Barbies are exposed to fluctuations in temperature and humidity while in storage, their colour and features can fade, and mould and cracks can form. For similar reasons, your Barbies should also avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or halogen lights.
Your Barbie dolls should therefore be kept in a climate-controlled and regulated storage unit, out of direct light. This will keep them in as good condition as they enter storage in.
2. Clean Dolls
Once you’ve arranged your storage facilities, give your dolls a good clean. How you clean it will depend on the material it is made from: certain types of vinyl are susceptible to stickiness, for example, which you can clean with alcohol or mild soap and then use talcum powder to wick up stickiness. Many collectors will use regular shampoo (baby shampoo is good) and conditioner to clean the hair. Google is your friend here; double check how to clean your particular Barbies if you aren’t sure.
It’s important to do this before your dolls go to storage, as any dirt or grime that is left can cause more problems over time.
Your Barbie dolls should be kept in a climate-controlled and regulated storage unit, out of direct light.
3. Wrap in Acid-Free Archival Paper
Use acid-free archival paper or unbleached muslin to wrap your dolls if they are out the box. An additional layer of bubble wrap will help keep them safe from contact damage (if they are particularly fragile).
At this point, you can put your Barbies into an acid-free box.
4. Wrap in Protective Materials
If your Barbie dolls are in a box, wrap the box in packing paper and bubble wrap. You can pack the gaps inside the box with acid-free tissue paper or cloth for additional protection.
Note that if your Barbies are in acidic wood or cardboard boxes, it might be worth switching them out to an acid-free container instead.
5. Store in a Breathable Container
It is always best to keep Barbies in breathable containers, opposed to airtight plastic containers which puts them at an increased risk for mould and mildew.
The Barbie doll is one of the most popular and recognizable dolls ever created and, according to Invalued, one of the most valuable antiques.
6. Keep Upright
Be sure to store your boxes upright so that the Barbie is standing up. Furthermore, ensure you prevent your dolls from being crushed under other, heavier boxes.
And you’re done! Your Barbies should remain in excellent condition in storage.
At Falconers we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your Barbie Dolls and other items are stored and kept in perfect condition. To learn more about our storage facilities, or our removals service, take a look at out our website or contact Nathan.
