Vintage Dollhouse Furniture

Caring for and protecting your vintage dollhouse furniture

In the 1940s, most pieces of dollhouse furniture went from being made with materials like wood and metal to plastic. Although plastic was and still is considered incredibly durable, the process wasn't as sophisticated, which is why pieces of vintage dollhouse furniture require different care and attention than today's plastic dollhouse furniture.

Caring and cleaning 101

Generally, regular dusting with a soft cloth is all that is needed for vintage dollhouse furniture that is in good condition, but if you are restoring pieces, you may need to do more. If that's the case, try warm, soapy water. Many cleaning agents can cause irreparable damage. To avoid scratching the pieces of vintage dollhouse furniture, be sure to use a soft cloth, cotton balls, or swabs.

Protecting your vintage dollhouse furniture

In addition to regular cleaning and maintenance, proper storage and display conditions can ensure a long life for your vintage dollhouse furniture.

Temperature: If the temperature is too cold or too hot, your vintage dollhouse furniture can become warped or misshapen. To avoid damaging your pieces, keep them stored or displayed at room temperature.

Mold: To protect your plastic vintage dollhouse furniture from mold, all you need to do is simply keep it clean. Since mold is visible and generally easily spotted, you can add inspecting the pieces for this perpetrator to your regular cleaning routine.

Safe handling: Although both young and old visitors may be tempted to handle your vintage dollhouse furniture, it's probably best to avoid having them do so. Simply explaining this to adult visitors will generally suffice, but younger ones might not be so understanding. If that's the case, you may want to consider removing the temptation.