Top Tips for Caring for Your American Girl Doll

So you bit the bullet and splurged on an American Girl? Doll for your dear daughter. What Mom can resist? The bad news is there is a lot more money to spend once your daughter gets wind of all the fabulous outfits and accessories that are available. The good news is you have just chosen the perfect tool to teach your child about personal responsibility, and she is at the perfect age to learn.

With that in mind I offer you the following tips for caring for your American Girl? Doll. You might want to print the list and post it somewhere in your daughter's room. You can even revert to a tried and trusted method of encouragement and give her stickers or awards when you notice her following these easy, age appropriate guidelines.

Do... ? Wash your hands. If you wash your hands before playing with your American Girl? Doll you will keep her cleaner for longer. No one likes peanut butter in their hair! ? Keep your doll out of the direct sunlight. If you leave your doll in the sun all of her coloring will fade, including her clothes. ? Brush your doll's hair. Try to brush her hair every night. If you brush it frequently with a wire doll brush it won't get tangles and frizz. If your doll's hair does get tangled you can use a little water on the brush to smooth it out. Leave in conditioner works well too. ? Use baking soda to wash your doll's face. If your doll's face get dirty or marked you can put a little baking soda on a lightly dampened washcloth and gently wash her face. Let it air dry afterwards. ? Vacuum your doll's cloth body. You can keep your doll's cloth body clean and free of dust and dirt with help form your Mom and a vacuum. Gently rub cornstarch in to the cloth, leave her overnight, and then vacuum it away. Don't... ? Drink or eat while playing with your doll. It is one thing to have a tea party for your doll (use water for the tea), but you should not eat or drink when you are playing with your doll. Juice stains or sticky jelly will ruin her. ? Seal your doll in a plastic box. When you aren't playing with your doll you should put her away, but don't seal her in a plastic tub or box. If there is even the slightest bit of moisture in the tub she may get mold or mildew. ? Blow-dry or curl your doll's hair. Heat applied to the hair spells disaster. Style with a brush and a little water. ? Try and scrub away an ink mark from your doll's arms or legs. If you accidently get ink on her while she is helping you with your homework, don't try and scrub it away. Have your Mom help you fix it. You should cover her entire body except for the part with the ink, rub a little vegetable oil in to the stain and leave her in the sun. If you do this a few times the stain should disappear. ? Put doll clothes in the washer or dryer. You should hand wash doll clothes in a very mild soap and air dry them. When in doubt send the clothes to the dry cleaners. If your daughter follows these simple rules she should be able to pass on her American Girl? Doll to her daughter. Now that's a return on investment!

For American Girl? Doll storage trunks and other useful accessories visit http://www.dollsclothes-emilyrose.com

These tips are not official American Girl? tips, or endorsed by Mattel or Pleasant Company.

Lisa-Marie is the owner of Emily Rose - Doll Clothes & Accessories featuring unique and affordable doll clothes, accessories and furniture to fit the American Girl? and other 18" dolls.