Doll care

Your doll's head attaches to the neck with a single M16 screw — turn it clockwise until snug, and you're set. There are three screw types: a regular threaded M16, an M16-to-M8, and a fast-release screw. On a fast-release head, half the screw threads into the head and half pushes into the neck, so you can take it off quickly whenever you need to.

This is for TPE heads only — we don't recommend trying it yourself on a silicone head. On a TPE head, spread the eyelids apart with your index finger and thumb, not too wide, then reach in, take hold of the eye and ease it out by tilting it upwards. To fit a new eye, spread the lids the same way, insert the new eye tilted upwards and adjust it within the socket, without forcing it — forcing it can cut the corners of the eyelid.

Before you move your doll, cover it with a blanket and slip mittens or socks over its hands and feet, and keep it close to the centre of your body rather than at arm's length. To carry your doll sitting up, bend its legs to 90° first.

To stand your doll up, lay it flat with its legs slightly apart and its feet turned to 90°, then lift it to standing with your arms around its waist. Once it's up, lean it against a wall, table or door, especially if the joints feel loose. The metal skeleton allows realistic movement into a lot of positions, but avoid leaving a joint bent the same way for long stretches — it can tear the TPE. Bend the fingers gently rather than pulling them straight.

This is TPE-specific — silicone care works differently and gets its own guide. For everyday cleaning, wipe your doll down with lukewarm water and mild soap on a cloth, or use a proper sex-toy cleaner or antibacterial wipes. Clean the openings with a douche of lukewarm soapy water, then dry them by wrapping a soft cloth around a stick and reaching inside.

Every couple of months, warm a thin layer of mineral oil or Johnson's baby oil into the whole body to keep the TPE supple — it absorbs within 30 to 60 minutes — with extra oil or Vaseline on the inner thighs and underarms. TPE is porous, so new dark or tight-fitting clothing can transfer dye; wash outfits once before dressing your doll. If a stain does show through, leave a thin layer of TPE cream on it for a few hours, repeating two or three times if needed.

Small tears can be fixed at home with TPE glue, which works by dissolving the edges of the material. Use only as much as the tear needs. Hold or position your doll so the tear stays closed while it sets, and leave it a few hours, ideally overnight, before handling that area again.

The best prevention is the habit mentioned earlier: don't leave a joint bent the same way for long stretches, because that can make the TPE tear.