TPE doll care

TPE is the softest doll material, but it's porous: tiny pores in the surface can hold water, oils and dye. That means it stains more easily than silicone and is sensitive to heat. Keep your doll away from radiators, heaters, hot water and strong sunlight.

If you have a hybrid doll, follow this guide for the TPE body. The silicone head is covered in the Silicone doll care guide.

Wash your doll with lukewarm water, never hot, and a mild, unscented soap or a cleaner made for dolls. Sex toy cleaners and antibacterial wipes work too. While you wash, keep water away from the neck joint and the head, because the skeleton inside has metal parts.

Every doll comes with a cleaning douche. After each use, fill it with lukewarm soapy water and rinse the openings through. Use water-based lube only, and wash it off as part of this routine.

Pat your doll dry with a soft, lint-free towel, then dry the openings with a soft cotton cloth wrapped around a stick. Let it air-dry completely before powdering or dressing it, because moisture left inside porous TPE can cause odours and mould.

Once it's dry, dust the skin lightly with a renewal powder made for TPE dolls. Powder stops the skin feeling tacky. Reapply it after each wash, or every few weeks if it's in storage. If the skin feels oily, wash it with a mild antibacterial body soap, towel it dry, then apply baby powder or corn starch.

TPE can dry out, depending on the temperature. Every couple of months, rub a thin layer of mineral oil or Johnson's baby oil over the whole body. It soaks in within 30 to 60 minutes.

The areas that stretch most, between the legs and under the arms, benefit from a little extra baby oil or Vaseline.

Because TPE is porous, it can pick up dye from dark or newly dyed clothing, bedding, ink and newsprint. Wash new clothes before your doll wears them, choose light or colour-fast fabrics, and don't leave it lying on dark material. Stains caused by clothing aren't accepted for returns, so this is worth getting right.

If a mark does appear, spread a thin layer of TPE cream over it and leave it for a few hours or overnight, then wipe it off with a clean cloth. If the mark is still there, repeat two or three times. Avoid harsh solvents, which damage the skin.