My Little Pony playsets and ponies really do hold their value quite well. The playsets and ponies from the 80's are selling for a hefty sum today, so imagine what they will go for in a few more years. If you have some ponies and playsets around that you would like to hold onto for a while, it is important that you prepare, pack and store them in a way that will protect them and ensure that they remain in great shape for the next several years. Here, you will learn how to do just that.
Pony Prep
If your ponies aren't in tip-top shape, it's time to bring them back to their original beauty.
Body – Discolorations and stains can be removed with the right products.
- Give the pony a bath with gentle dish soap.
- Apply a little bit of Goo-Gone to a cotton ball and apply it to scuffs and stains that wouldn't wash off. Let it sit for twenty minutes or so and return with a dry paper towel to buff the stain away.
- If the stain persists, you can apply a small amount of zit cream to the blemish and set it out in the sun. This will remove the stain in a day or two. You may need to retreat a few times to remove stubborn stains.
Hair – Mangled hair is a time-consuming thing to fix, but it can be done.
- Start by soaking the pony's hair in hot water – not quite boiling, but very hot.
- Massage some hair conditioner through the hair and work the tangles out carefully. Remember to grasp the hair where it comes out of the pony's body so you don't pull it completely out.
- Use a wide-tooth comb to comb the hair.
- Once you have all of the knots out, use a tight-tooth comb to smooth the hair.
- If you want to curl the pony's hair, wrap the hair around a Nerf dart and hold it in place with a rubber band. Let it sit for a day, then remove the rubber band and carefully unwind the hair. You will be left with gorgeous spring-like curls.
Playset Prep
You want your playsets to be as clean as possible before you store them to prevent them from becoming discolored. Use a gentle cleaner with a soft cloth to wipe down the surfaces. Use Q-tips to get in those small spaces. Don't saturate areas with stickers or the stickers could begin to peel.
If there are yellowing areas of white plastic, apply a bit of 10% peroxide gel to the area and set it out in the sun for a day or two. This will remove the yellow color from the plastic and bring it back to bright white.
Let the sets dry completely before packing.
Packing Ponies and Sets
Pack the ponies and sets in boxes carefully. It is best to loosely wrap each pony in a sheet of acid-free tissue paper to help keep the hair from becoming mangled again.
Remember to pack the boxes lightly. You don't want too much weight on the items at the bottom of the box or they could crack or become misshaped.
Store the Ponies and Sets
Now, find a climate-controlled setting to store your ponies and sets. This is a critical element of storing them without them becoming damaged.
If you don't have a place in your home to store them, consider leasing a climate-controlled storage unit (such as one from http://www.controlledstoragesystems.com). These units maintain a regulated temperature and humidity level to ensure everything comes out in as good of condition as it went in.
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