Inner Hoof Cleaning Techniques? CLEANED!

[StormMaeker]

For a while I put off cleaning inside my Divine Shine Glitterbelle in fear of triggering some sort of reaction with the glitter because I know how Divine Shines can be but this time I decided I’ll just go for it as I was gonna wash her hair anyway.
For the sake of before and afters, here’s how desperate she was for it:

After:

Everything had gone well but the hooves were hardest to clean. I had gotten all the rust and removed the washer but inside the back hooves, dirt remains.

I’ve tied pipe cleaners and sponge but the pipe cleaners seem to not be able to reach that side of the hooves even when I make something on the end to scrub and I’ve had sponges get stuck. Also, going in through the tail hole with pipe cleaners seem to not be able to reach the dirt
I’ve also tried sponges on the end of pipe cleaners but it didn’t work either.
I tried putting some baking soda (I heard that can clean ponies somewhere?) and let it fizz but that didn’t work.
My finger doesn’t fit down there because my fingers have bones.
Toothbrushes don’t fit either.
I’ve tried shaking her up with soap in as well.

Does anybody have any other ways of cleaning hooves for me to try? All it needs is just wiping off but I need to be able to control it with something and get it back out easily. It was a nightmare with the stuck sponges...
Then I can put this beautiful girl’s head back on and start on her pal Flower Garland

EDIT:
Tried cotton buds. It reaches but I just can’t get to where I need it do. I need to be able to turn it when I get to the bottom of the hoof but the joints in her leg prevents that
ANOTHER EDIT:
Flower Garland’s problem is mainly the opposite leg on the back. Lucky she isn’t as bad as Glitterbelle and never was nearly as bad as she was but she was still rusty. I haven’t put her tail back in just in case a technique comes where the tail must be removed to go in that way

 

[Tak]

I'm thinking, put some oxiclean in her hooves and let soak for a few minutes. Sad that vinegar and baking soda didn't work.

 

[StormMaeker]

I'm thinking, put some oxiclean in her hooves and let soak for a few minutes. Sad that vinegar and baking soda didn't work.

I’ll try that first with Flower Garland since her tail isn’t back in yet. Thanks!

Edit
Looks like we’re out of oxi at the moment but I found some Mr Muscle spray so I’ve filled the back legs with that and letting soak for both for a bit

 

[starbritesprinkles]

Baby bottle cleaning brushes. Munchkin makes a four-pack of small ones with a nice long brush. They're about $6 at Walmart.

 

[Leave a Whisper]

Eyelash brushes

 

[StormMaeker]

Result from the Mr Muscle spray: Dirt remains.

I’m going to think up a way to make something where there would be a bendy stick with a sponge on the end and can control it with string so when it’s at the bottom of the hoof, I can pull the string so it’ll scrub the corners. It literally just needs a wipe

Baby bottle cleaning brushes. Munchkin makes a four-pack of small ones with a nice long brush. They're about $6 at Walmart.

We don’t have Walmarts over here in England (unless you count ASDA) but there may be something similar. I’ll keep an eye out! I can see some dirty hooves through my translucent ponies like Guava Lava

Eyelash brushes

I looked for some last night when trying to do this but couldn’t find any that weren’t in use so opted for pipe cleaners. Would they be able to reach around the leg‘s corner? That’s the biggest problem

 

[tsukikakushi]

This is what I use. I like the soft tip @ the end; it scrubs well without having to get it in the exact spot you want it. Good for those awkward poses!

Amazon.com: Siege Clean Soft Tip Tube, Bottle and Vase Cleaning Brushes, Non-Scratch Natural Bristles, Set of 3: Home & Kitchen

Buy Siege Clean Soft Tip Tube, Bottle and Vase Cleaning Brushes, Non-Scratch Natural Bristles, Set of 3: Brushes - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[StormMaeker]

This is what I use. I like the soft tip @ the end; it scrubs well without having to get it in the exact spot you want it. Good for those awkward poses!

Amazon.com: Siege Clean Soft Tip Tube, Bottle and Vase Cleaning Brushes, Non-Scratch Natural Bristles, Set of 3: Home & Kitchen

Buy Siege Clean Soft Tip Tube, Bottle and Vase Cleaning Brushes, Non-Scratch Natural Bristles, Set of 3: Brushes - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

I was looking for those about the house yesterday before I used pipe cleaners but I didn’t know what they were called to ask. There must be some in my town so I could get them. Thanks!

 

[Skybreeze]

I always use baby toothbrushes and hot water. I keep the pony hot so the vinyl moves and the toothbrush slides right in to get the nasties. If you decide to do that be very careful! I’ve burned myself numerous times on hot water.

 

[Gingerbread]

I was thinking cut a length of wire coathanger and affix a bit of sponge or cotton to the end? Maybe you can bend it more to the shape you need but it'll be sturdy enough to not give when you rub off the rust??

 

[StormMaeker]

I always use baby toothbrushes and hot water. I keep the pony hot so the vinyl moves and the toothbrush slides right in to get the nasties. If you decide to do that be very careful! I’ve burned myself numerous times on hot water.

I’ve considered doing that but I’m worried about exposing these ponies to too much hot water in case they start eating up their glitter. So far, they’ve seemed fine so maybe I’ll think about doing this. Thanks!

I was thinking cut a length of wire coathanger and affix a bit of sponge or cotton to the end? Maybe you can bend it more to the shape you need but it'll be sturdy enough to not give when you rub off the rust??

I tried doing this with the pipe cleaners. It didn’t fit or get around the corner. I also tried it with bent skewers too

I’m going to out to look for things to use today, hopefully they’ll have nice clean hooves soon!

 

[MustBeJewel]

I've had success with bottle cleaning brushes and old toothbrushes as mentioned above, as well as very thin needle nose pliers wrapped in paper towel or gripping cotton balls. The issue is that you need something very strong, thin, and abrasive (enough to scrub the dirt) to really get down into the hoof wells.

I'd advise caution to anyone using hot water on ponies because it can loosen and remove flocking, glitter, magic message symbols, etc. but those G3 bodies (unless I am mistaken, haven't looked inside one before lol) seem to have their glitter embedded in the actual plastic. So in this case, heating them up with some hot water may make the bodies more pliable and loosen up the dirt safely. But I understand your caution!

 

[StormMaeker]

I've had success with bottle cleaning brushes and old toothbrushes as mentioned above, as well as very thin needle nose pliers wrapped in paper towel or gripping cotton balls. The issue is that you need something very strong, thin, and abrasive (enough to scrub the dirt) to really get down into the hoof wells.

I'd advise caution to anyone using hot water on ponies because it can loosen and remove flocking, glitter, magic message symbols, etc. but those G3 bodies (unless I am mistaken, haven't looked inside one before lol) seem to have their glitter embedded in the actual plastic. So in this case, heating them up with some hot water may make the bodies more pliable and loosen up the dirt safely. But I understand your caution!

The trouble is finding something to get around that leg bend and something strong enough to reach around the corner. I’ll be trying again with those hooves when I find the time. My poor Divine Shines are just sat there headless at the moment until I can find the time to retry

You’re right about the glitter, it is embedded in the plastic. In fact, my Flower Garland actually has a tiny edge of a sequin sticking out of one of her front legs. When I discovered it, I wasn’t sure what it was and tried to pick it off (it’s a bit sharp) and then I realised what it was. It’s really hard and won’t come off. I find that an interesting feature to her

Thank you everyone for all your suggestions! I have plenty to try!

 

[Leave a Whisper]

Result from the Mr Muscle spray: Dirt remains.
View attachment 32547View attachment 32548
I’m going to think up a way to make something where there would be a bendy stick with a sponge on the end and can control it with string so when it’s at the bottom of the hoof, I can pull the string so it’ll scrub the corners. It literally just needs a wipe

We don’t have Walmarts over here in England (unless you count ASDA) but there may be something similar. I’ll keep an eye out! I can see some dirty hooves through my translucent ponies like Guava Lava

I looked for some last night when trying to do this but couldn’t find any that weren’t in use so opted for pipe cleaners. Would they be able to reach around the leg‘s corner? That’s the biggest problem

Worked on mine

 

[StormMaeker]

I’ve finally cleaned their manky hooves!
I went to my town to look about for stuff I could use but things I had found were all too big and Flower Garland’s hind leg is pretty thin inside. I’ve found some of their insides aren’t as smooth as other ponies, like the plastic didn’t settle well so her joint wasn’t as wide.

I ended up managing to create some sort of pipecleaner+mascara wand+baby wipe thing. It didn’t work the first few times but then when it loosened up on the end, almost falling apart, it did. It doesn’t look like as dangerous as the pipecleaner+sewing needle thing does that I had to make to get out stuck sponges, cotton wool and wipes.

I’ll post how they look when their manes and tails have dried

 

[Tak]

Yay! Persistence pays off!

 

[Sofiasharkpony]

I've a Celestia from Guardian of Harmony and once again is covered by dust.Few months ago when was on shelf I cleaned her with a soft paintbrush buth this time after I recevered her from a box ,dust is sticky and paintbrush alone isn't enough. Maybe same kind of dust has become sticky for having been in the box? I could try with some liquid soap for hands,maybe diluited with water is better? And then I'd use paintbrush to use a little of it. The dust points are under her cheek and a flank,at least is distant from cutie mark.

 

[Skybreeze]

I've a Celestia from Guardian of Harmony and once again is covered by dust.Few months ago when was on shelf I cleaned her with a soft paintbrush buth this time after I recevered her from a box ,dust is sticky and paintbrush alone isn't enough. Maybe same kind of dust has become sticky for having been in the box? I could try with some liquid soap for hands,maybe diluited with water is better? And then I'd use paintbrush to use a little of it. The dust points are under her cheek and a flank,at least is distant from cutie mark.

Do you mean the Fan Series Celestia?

If the dust is difficult to get off you can use some dish detergent and a soft bristle tooth brush. Then rinse and leave to dry.

 

[StormMaeker]

Here they are! The lovely clean Divine Shines!
I quickly grabbed some pictures this morning while the sun was out for the short time it was shining. It’s been raining so they’re not in some flowers this time.
Glitterbelle’s hair didn’t go according to plan because I accidentally tangled the front instead of curling but I can fix that. I’m glad they’re all clean inside now and still sparkly!
Glitterbelle and Flower Garland

And here is an extra photo of them!

They seem pretty happy being all clean now. Glitterbelle looks a lot better compared to how she did! She’s actually purple now!

 

[AzaleaArt]

Here they are! The lovely clean Divine Shines!
I quickly grabbed some pictures this morning while the sun was out for the short time it was shining. It’s been raining so they’re not in some flowers this time.
Glitterbelle’s hair didn’t go according to plan because I accidentally tangled the front instead of curling but I can fix that. I’m glad they’re all clean inside now and still sparkly!
View attachment 32857View attachment 32858View attachment 32859Glitterbelle and Flower Garland

And here is an extra photo of them! View attachment 32860They seem pretty happy being all clean now. Glitterbelle looks a lot better compared to how she did! She’s actually purple now!

Wow they look awesome! Good job getting them cleaned up! I’m sure they appreciate that you didn’t give up and leave their hooves all dirty