Childhood Fakie Rescue and Advice?

[strawberrypony32]

Today we emptied our storage building to clean and organize it since we havent in probably 15 years. Unfortunately I found my poor flocked fakies somehow made their way to the building by mistake. They were in a bag and mice had infiltrated the whole thing. My poor babies. T_T accidents happen, it wasnt anyones fault i guess hindsight is just 20/20 we shoulda cleaned before now I guess.

Theyre so baddd. Ive never even had ponies in my possession this bad. Not to mention any of my childhood ponies. Its heartbreaking.




And of course i couldnt wait and got them in a bath!!!


The flocking started to come off the blue ones head and neck a bit, but everywhere else is still holding on with both of them.

After a thorough scrubbing, they look like this.




So, an improvement but now im not sure what to do. Im torn. I wish I could salvage the flocking I could but with the blue one i cant for its head. So im not sure, i guess im gonna have to deflock its head but maybe I could salvage the body and reflock the head, but idk if it would match?

Does anyone know of any super fine flocking to buy? Its super fine like powder.

The purple one i think could be salvaged and patched if i could just get the mildew off her face. Does anyone know how to get mildew out of flocking?

I know most things listed for treating flocked ponies but i havent seen anything about mildew?

For anyone with experience,how do you prefer to remove staining in flocking?

Thanks yall

 

[Jellybean]

Poor kids! I wish I had good advice for you but my experience cleaning flocking has been pretty limited in the past decade. Used to be I could give a flocked pony a good scrub with a toothbrush and it would be fine, and now it seems to shed pretty easily.

 

[Twinkle-eye]

Poor floofies I bet you can save them! No pony left behind!

 

[Skybreeze]

I’ve actually sat and thought about this over night and am back with my thoughts on this sad situation.

IF this were my beloved gals, because of the mice, I would personally deflock entirely and completely disinfect and clean. Mouse urine and excrement can carry a lot of yucky things and it’s not worth risking your health over it. This type of flocking is typically easier to remove than the traditional MLP flocking, as I’m sure you e probably already noticed.

Then I would leave these out to dry over a period of a week and see if there is any further damage that comes up. If nothing, then I would go ahead start the restoration process of paint touch up’s and then the re-flocking process. The fun part is you can decide if you want the shorter flocking or if you want to go all out and do a longer fibre like MLP.

 

[Bunnie]

I second what Skybreeze has said. When it comes to mice and other critters, you absolutely want to be sure you can disinfect that by all measures possible. That flocking sadly looks too far gone between the dried yellow glue causing the discoloration and some of it falling off. I’ve been working with a bunch of SS lately, so trust me I know how it feels when you just wanna preserve as much as possible, but for the one so far I absolutely *had* to deflock, she was much better off in the end (and the flocking just slide right off with only hot water, it was rough).

As far as I know, you really can’t do much if anything about the flocking discoloration; in all the cases I’ve observed, it’s actually the adhesive itself under the flock that discolors overtime, which causes the white flocking to appear dirty. The flocking can be dirty itself for sure, but if it doesn’t clean up after a good wash, it’s almost always the glue. I don’t believe there’s a method to brightening up that adhesive (unless UV could? I haven’t tried it, now somewhat curious).

For new flocking, I can recommend this one I’ve bought recently; the fibers are too short for SS I believe, but may work well in this case. There’s also Restore Doll who carries two different fiber lengths, haven’t bought from her yet, but planning to if my last idea for flock doesn’t work out.

 

[strawberrypony32]

I’ve actually sat and thought about this over night and am back with my thoughts on this sad situation.

IF this were my beloved gals, because of the mice, I would personally deflock entirely and completely disinfect and clean. Mouse urine and excrement can carry a lot of yucky things and it’s not worth risking your health over it. This type of flocking is typically easier to remove than the traditional MLP flocking, as I’m sure you e probably already noticed.

Then I would leave these out to dry over a period of a week and see if there is any further damage that comes up. If nothing, then I would go ahead start the restoration process of paint touch up’s and then the re-flocking process. The fun part is you can decide if you want the shorter flocking or if you want to go all out and do a longer fibre like MLP.

I second what Skybreeze has said. When it comes to mice and other critters, you absolutely want to be sure you can disinfect that by all measures possible. That flocking sadly looks too far gone between the dried yellow glue causing the discoloration and some of it falling off. I’ve been working with a bunch of SS lately, so trust me I know how it feels when you just wanna preserve as much as possible, but for the one so far I absolutely *had* to deflock, she was much better off in the end (and the flocking just slide right off with only hot water, it was rough).

As far as I know, you really can’t do much if anything about the flocking discoloration; in all the cases I’ve observed, it’s actually the adhesive itself under the flock that discolors overtime, which causes the white flocking to appear dirty. The flocking can be dirty itself for sure, but if it doesn’t clean up after a good wash, it’s almost always the glue. I don’t believe there’s a method to brightening up that adhesive (unless UV could? I haven’t tried it, now somewhat curious).

For new flocking, I can recommend this one I’ve bought recently; the fibers are too short for SS I believe, but may work well in this case. There’s also Restore Doll who carries two different fiber lengths, haven’t bought from her yet, but planning to if my last idea for flock doesn’t work out.

I supposed you both are right Its just sad to say goodbye to something i used to pet and feel as a lil kid. Im gonna miss it.

How would you suggest disinfecting them? Im afraid theyll have to wait a while for a restoration bc i had to scrounge change out of the floorboard of my car just to buy those $1.25 toothbrushes to clean them yesterday. Thats all i got lol RIP me. Being without a job sucks. Im also out of oxiclean. Ive never dealt with something this filthy so ive never needed a deeep deep clean. I guess the boiling water to remove the flocking would also help disinfect too. The problem is, theyre HUGE ponies I dont know how to clean them without a bucket or tub, and im not taking them inside my house until theyre santized. The problem lies in, Ill have a bucket of soapy water with no where to dump it, and im not bringing it in the house. *siigh*

Their flocking is a fine powder, not really a fiber. So i guess i could attempt to make them feel brand new? Has anyone ever used the powdery kind of flocking?

 

[Gingerbread]

I don't know much about customizing but I would agree with what the others said. I think deflocking is your best bet. Get them deflocked and super cleaned and then show them some love with a restoration. I know they won't be exactly the same but think of it like giving them the honor of a make over

 

[BethMcBeth]

Disinfect the item with bleach. The hantavirus (which is what mice and rodents can carry and leave in their droppings) can live on an objects surface for days.

Although cases of hantavirus are rare with older and drier droppings it’s still a slim possibility. Spray the item in bleach and let it sit for 5-6 minutes then soap and water.

Depending on the glue strength it might survive the bleach and then you can clean the flocking with oxiclean. Good luck!

 

[Twinkle-eye]

Disinfect the item with bleach. The hantavirus (which is what mice and rodents can carry and leave in their droppings) can live on an objects surface for days.

Although cases of hantavirus are rare with older and drier droppings it’s still a slim possibility. Spray the item in bleach and let it sit for 5-6 minutes then soap and water.

Depending on the glue strength it might survive the bleach and then you can clean the flocking with oxiclean. Good luck!

You can use soap to kill viruses, it destroys the cell walls and the cell explodes. Just in case you are leery of using bleach.

 

[BethMcBeth]

You can use soap to kill viruses, it destroys the cell walls and the cell explodes. Just in case you are leery of using bleach.

The CDC recommends bleach for cleaning mouse droppings.

 

[Twinkle-eye]

The CDC recommends bleach for cleaning mouse droppings.

Its not safe for all surfaces and could cause damage to the plastic, a teaspoon in a big pot of water maybe. My exterminator recommended complete destruction of all items in our attic due to rodents

 

[darklys]

If any restorer wants to help strawberry with this project, I am down to fund ♡

 

[strawberrypony32]

Disinfect the item with bleach. The hantavirus (which is what mice and rodents can carry and leave in their droppings) can live on an objects surface for days.

Although cases of hantavirus are rare with older and drier droppings it’s still a slim possibility. Spray the item in bleach and let it sit for 5-6 minutes then soap and water.

Depending on the glue strength it might survive the bleach and then you can clean the flocking with oxiclean. Good luck!

Would bleach not bleach the pony white? Also my biggest issue is, I dont have anywhere to drain the water. Im not draining bleach into the ground, or dirty water into my sink/bathtub.

Also, a good thing to point out, i actually didnt find any mouse poop anywhere in the bag or on the ponies, just what looks like urine stains? Long old stains at that. So evidently it wasnt time for no 2 lol Ive already scrubbed them with soap for the time being. Im debating steam cleaning them? Since that would kill anything on the pony? Anyone ever tried that?

Also safety precaution for anyone reading who may not realize, i know realistically youd rinse the pony of bleach thoroughly before using oxyclean but not everyone might know. Oxyclean is dry Hydrogen Peroxide, when combined with bleach it will violently explode. Do Not Mix Bleach and Oxyclean.

You can use soap to kill viruses, it destroys the cell walls and the cell explodes. Just in case you are leery of using bleach.

I scrubbed them with dish soap! :3 I honestly wonder if just oxyclean would do the job since its just peroxide and actually does kill parasites and stuff better than bleach. Even if Bleach is recommended for certain viruses, bleach actually doesnt kill a lot of common parasites.im a lil bit if a germaphobe >_>"

If any restorer wants to help strawberry with this project, I am down to fund ♡

Awwwwww Thank you Lys Altho i think id like to fix them up myself, its just a matter of time and money haha. Plus i wouldnt wanna send someone something this dirty lol. I just wanna fix them myself since theyre my girls and it was my mistake

 

[darklys]

Would bleach not bleach the pony white? Also my biggest issue is, I dont have anywhere to drain the water. Im not draining bleach into the ground, or dirty water into my sink/bathtub.

Also, a good thing to point out, i actually didnt find any mouse poop anywhere in the bag or on the ponies, just what looks like urine stains? Long old stains at that. So evidently it wasnt time for no 2 lol Ive already scrubbed them with soap for the time being. Im debating steam cleaning them? Since that would kill anything on the pony? Anyone ever tried that?

Also safety precaution for anyone reading who may not realize, i know realistically youd rinse the pony of bleach thoroughly before using oxyclean but not everyone might know. Oxyclean is dry Hydrogen Peroxide, when combined with bleach it will violently explode. Do Not Mix Bleach and Oxyclean.

I scrubbed them with dish soap! :3 I honestly wonder if just oxyclean would do the job since its just peroxide and actually does kill parasites and stuff better than bleach. Even if Bleach is recommended for certain viruses, bleach actually doesnt kill a lot of common parasites.im a lil bit if a germaphobe >_>"

Awwwwww Thank you Lys Altho i think id like to fix them up myself, its just a matter of time and money haha. Plus i wouldnt wanna send someone something this dirty lol. I just wanna fix them myself since theyre my girls and it was my mistake

Ok ❤️
Maybe we can video chat and do a cheer session.
Heheh

 

[Twinkle-eye]

Was it urine? Or is it old slug trails or something? Rats and mice tend to leave physical traces, and tend to chew the ponies XD So, maybe there were none?

Can you dump the stanky water down the toilet or something? >.>

An you can actually disinfect stuff using prolonged UV exposure, science!

 

[strawberrypony32]

Ok ❤️
Maybe we can video chat and do a cheer session.
Heheh

Hahaha im so down! Thank you so much for the restoration offer tho

Was it urine? Or is it old slug trails or something? Rats and mice tend to leave physical traces, and tend to chew the ponies XD So, maybe there were none?

Can you dump the stanky water down the toilet or something? >.>

An you can actually disinfect stuff using prolonged UV exposure, science!

I think it was mice since the ponies hair were matted and had pieces of insulation like they were tryina build a nest, but no poop in sight! So im assuming its urine? Unless a mouse like.... gave birth on them lol but even then youd expect poop to be around. Theres no chew marks on the ponies either except for a lock of unattached hair i found, i assume chewed off? Im assuming its very old stains. Hmm..

Tbh im too much of a germaphobe to even flush the water down the toilet Idk what to do with it. I wonder if I could steam clean the ponies to sanitize them, then bring them inside?

 

[Twinkle-eye]

I m

Hahaha im so down! Thank you so much for the restoration offer tho

I think it was mice since the ponies hair were matted and had pieces of insulation like they were tryina build a nest, but no poop in sight! So im assuming its urine? Unless a mouse like.... gave birth on them lol but even then youd expect poop to be around. Theres no chew marks on the ponies either except for a lock of unattached hair i found, i assume chewed off? Im assuming its very old stains. Hmm..

Tbh im too much of a germaphobe to even flush the water down the toilet Idk what to do with it. I wonder if I could steam clean the ponies to sanitize them, then bring them inside?

I mean, heat is pretty good as a microbe killer...I think it would be safe. Like, the temperature you would need for water to become steam would be high enough to kill all the bad stuff (and probably take off any flocking).

 

[strawberrypony32]

I m

I mean, heat is pretty good as a microbe killer...I think it would be safe. Like, the temperature you would need for water to become steam would be high enough to kill all the bad stuff (and probably take off any flocking).

Yasss!! Thats what I was thinking!! I have a brand new steamer with a handheld option so im debating it.. >u> but i wanna ask around more about steaming before I commit

 

[Twinkle-eye]

Yasss!! Thats what I was thinking!! I have a brand new steamer with a handheld option so im debating it.. >u> but i wanna ask around more about steaming before I commit

Heat can be rough, I think its more the actual heat than the oxygen that take off glitter symbols. (I tried oxygen plus cold water to clean glitter ponies and it was ok) I think it was the heat that took of my baby Fifi's symbols too.

 

[darklys]

I can't think of a situation where there would be rodents and not feces though. That is strange