According to a leading expert, a likely cause of yellowing clothing is oxidizing body oils. Could this be true of PVC? It is normal for people to excrete low levels of oil through their skin. (This oil residue is what makes fingerprints on glass.) Initially, this oil is transparent enough, but as this oil ages it undergoes a chemical process call oxidation. I won't get into the chemical reactions involved, but suffice it to say that Oxidation is the combination of a substance with oxygen. A reaction occurs that speeds the deterioration of that substance. (Some common examples of oxidation are the rusting of metals, or potato chips going stale. Both processes occur because of the reaction of the material with oxygen.) For this reason, MushroomVillage.com suggests washing all Smurfs with a mild, aqueous detergent to remove oils that may be present, and then refrain from handling those pieces with bare hands.

Many collectibles, such as coins or glass, are easily cleaned of oils that may be on them. Smurfs are made of PVC, a porous material that absorbs body oils, making them harder to remove. For this reason, I believe they should be handled only while wearing clean, cotton gloves - particularly those rare and valuable Smurfs whose condition we want to preserve.

The same expert says whiteners or brighteners may also be added to clothing, can this be true of PVC? In clothing, these additives can decompose over time and cause the fabric to look yellow or dingy. Sounds familiar.

The cause of yellowing in PVC is a topic of great interest to me. I would appreciate any information from anyone regarding this phenomenon. We all want our Smurfs to stay white and bright - the Smurf collecting community welcomes any information that helps us to accomplish this!