A lot! Many conservation woes can be halted or reversed through proper care and conservation using several revolutionary products, all of which are now being offered by MushroomVillage.com - Formula 9-1-1, Remove-Zit, and D-stinker.

Formula 9-1-1 is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic, non-abrasive, pH balanced and completely biodegradable surface cleaner that is specially formulated to clean migrated plasticizer and other surface dirt from PVC.

Remove-Zit was specially formulated to provide a deeper cleaning by drawing out stains that have soaked into PVC, then replacing any migrated or lost plasticizer.

D-stinker is an environmentally safe and effective odor control that interacts with malodor molecules to counteract and cancel unpleasant odors. It is not a masking agent, and has been specially formulated, tested and proven safe for use on PVC.

Before I get into which problems can be addressed with which products, let me start out by identifying the most common mistake collectors make when trying to clean their Smurfs - using solvents. You should NEVER use solvents such as alcohol, acetone, lighter fluid, nail polish remover (acetone), Goo Gone, hair spray or paint thinner, among others. Yes, these solvents do a whiz-bang job of cleaning up your Smurfs; removing surface dirt as well as migrated plasticizer. Unfortunately, they will also strip paint, they probably will not remove soaked-in stains, and they will extract additional plasticizer from within the PVC! Since it is the plasticizer that is responsible for the "hand-friendly" rubber feel of Smurfs, regular use of these solvents will cause Smurfs to become harder and brittle. Cleaning with a solvent is not really cleaning, it is dissolving the outer surface of the Smurf! It is like getting a chemical peel for your face, when all you needed was some soapy water! Your skin will rejuvenate, a Smurf's will not. AGAIN, DO NOT USE SOLVENTS TO CLEAN SMURFS!!!

You also do not want to use anything abrasive like Comet, Soft Scrub or even toothpaste. These cleaners work in part by abrading or scratching the surface being cleaned. They will dull the natural shine many glossy-finish Smurfs display. The tiny scratches will actually encourage new dirt to become trapped in the Smurfs more rapidly. Many cleaners like these will also contain bleach, which can be retained by the PVC and is corrosive over time.

If you have dirty Smurfs, your first course of action should be to clean them with a clean, soft cloth and a warm, soapy water - liquid dish detergents such as Dawn or Joy are safe and efficient. Pipe-cleaners (the kind without the abrasive bristles!) will help you get into the crook of their hats, between legs, etc. Some collectors also use cotton balls or swabs, soft toothbrushes, and other cleaning aids. Just be sure you do not use anything abrasive that will scratch the surface of your PVC.

If you want to use something stronger, try Formula 9-1-1. Formula 9-1-1 was specially formulated to clean migrated plasticizer and other surface dirt from PVC without stripping paint or extracting additional plasticizer from within the PVC. It will remove exuded plasticizer, body oils, dye and ink transfer, old blood, smoke, crayon, chewing gum, food stains, grease, lipstick, tar, tape and sticker residues, wax and most other soils. It will work as well or better than any solvent, without hurting your Smurfs in the long run!

If a Smurf is extruding plasticizer, it will probably recur, since the problem is caused by a bad formulation, but it will take longer to recur each time you remove it. It should be cleaned as often as necessary, because it can serve as a nutrient for microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi when it reaches the surface, and these microorganisms will cause odors and staining of the PVC if the humidity exceeds 70%. Exuded plasticizer will also oxidize and yellow if it is not removed. Again, the best way to deal with this problem is by using Formula 9-1-1.

Smurfs should be cleaned with Formula 9-1-1 even if they are not extruding plasticizer, as it will also remove body oils and other nutritive contaminants, thereby depriving microorganisms of a nutrient source, and help ward off microbial attacks.

Formula 9-1-1 can also be used to remove the white hazy film that may develop on PVC if too much lubricant was used in the formulation. Bloomed lubricant is excess material and the removal of it after it blooms does not have a negative impact on the Smurf.

If Formula 9-1-1 will not clean a Smurf, Remove-Zit should take care of it. For example, if you find migrating plasticizer has drawn a stain into the PVC, it may be necessary to use Remove-Zit. Remove-Zit provides a deeper cleaning by drawing stains from PVC, then replacing any migrated or lost plasticizer. Remove-Zit will remove just about any stain you will find in PVC - soaked-in ink, magic marker, mold, fungus, food stains, and oxidized body oils. If fungus has gone so far as to grow roots into the PVC, (They will look like little black dots that remain after the surface in cleaned with Formula 9-1-1) Remove-Zit will get them out. Remove-Zit will get rid of the pink or red staining caused by actinomycetes. Remove-Zit will also remove most other stains that result from various contaminants reacting with components of the formulation, such as sulfur staining and even cross-staining resulting from PVC components reacting with each other. This stuff works like magic!!

D-stinker can be used along with either product, or by itself. It will eliminate musty or moldy odors resulting from microbial attacks, smoke odors (with so many Smurfs on the open market, you can never tell which ones came from a smoker's home - until you receive it in the mail!), cooking odors and other undesirable odors, such as fumes remaining from previously unsuccessful cleaning attempts using harsh chemicals.

Warping is another problem we see with PVC that can be corrected. As discussed above, PVC is a thermoplastic plastic, which can simply be warmed up and reshaped. Figurines that will no longer stand straight or have bent parts due to pressure and hot conditions in storage can be heated by waving a hot glue gun (without the glue stick in it) near the PVC without touching it. Keep the gun moving to avoid melting the plastic. It is a good idea to practice on a piece of junk first. Eventually the PVC will soften enough that it can be bent back into position. Hold the PVC in position while allowing it to cool to room temperature, and you will find that it stays in its new position! If this is done carefully, the PVC will not become hot enough to degrade. Do NOT touch the PVC with the gun, it will melt immediately, and it will not be easy to repair. You might also burn the PVC.

If you want to attempt to repair torn or split PVC, you can also experiment with heat. Reportedly, waving the tip of a glue gun close to pinholes will cause them to seal up. This may also prove useful to repair damage to chewed PVC. You can also get vinyl patching glue at a swimming supply store, "Tear Repair" available at Wal Mart or "Plastic Surgery Super Gel" made by the Surehold Division of Barristo, Ltd. Also, any glue carrying a claim for vinyl repair can be a good candidate.