Okay, your doll has arrived – but how do you store them? This is a common dilemma that all of us doll owners have faced at one time or another. No need to worry, though! Let’s go through how to store your new lover to ensure they’re always ready for your next adventure!
Lying Down
Some people choose to store their dolls flat, which is perfectly fine, but there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Never store your doll on an unprotected surface – whether that’s inside a cabinet or a storage box, it needs to have padding to maintain the integrity of the doll’s skin. This could be a blanket, soft cloth, mattress pad, or something similar. This is there to protect your doll from deforming due to prolonged pressure. This is particularly important for silicone dolls, because they are very difficult, if not impossible, to restore indentations.
If you find the laying down method to be best for you, we’d recommend using a memory foam mattress. If you don’t feel it’s needed, here’s another trick: place a pillow on either side of the doll’s waist and calves – this will maintain their natural curvature, and help maintain their shape. Most manufacturers will ship the doll in a protective box with padding, so if anything, hold onto this, and you can use it to store your doll safely.
Hanging Storage
This is the best way to store a doll, as this is the same way they’re stored by the manufacturers. By hanging freely, there’s no chance of any deformations. If you’ve got a sturdy wardrobe, extra closet space, or strong shelving unit (keeping in mind the bodies can weigh 80+ lbs.) hanging is a great choice! Another option would be installing a pulley system, but make sure it’s good quality and durable – the last thing you want is to see your lover fall from the rooftops!
The only real caveat with hanging is that you’d want to check with the company you’d purchased from to make sure to avoid damage. The process is quite straight forward, but this extra step can save you down the line.
Now that we’ve gone over the best ways to store dolls, let’s discuss some of the improper storage methods that you’ll want to avoid.
Standing
Just don’t, okay? This is the worst possible way to store a doll. Not all dolls support standing at all – if you don’t see bolts on the feet, she isn’t intended to stand! I get it; this is a quick, easy solution (or so it seems), but you’re really just throwing your money away. Like us, when we stand for too long, our feet hurt. While your doll doesn’t feel pain, the feet can deform and tear, which can expose the internal skeleton. All in all, it’s a no-go.
Sitting
It’s fine if you want to have a movie night and snuggle up on the couch here and there, but don’t walk off and forget your lover! Like standing, sitting for long periods causes the weight to concentrate around the hips, which can lead to cracking. If you insist on using the sitting position, at the bare minimum, you’d want to change their position at least once a day.
Now that we’ve covered the different ways to store, and not store, your dolls will be protected. When in doubt, think of how humans can get pressure sores from not moving enough – it’s the exact same for your dolls, but instead of sores, you’ll get depressions and possibly tearing. You can now keep your doll safe, so you can continue to enjoy one another’s company for years to come! How do you currently store your dolls?
