Something New
When you acquire a puppet by JET, you’re getting a high quality “character” that will last you for years to come. And to help in that process, you need to be sure and take very good care of your puppet.
Typically puppets from The Dummy Shoppe are treated before leaving the “delivery room”, however, they need to be re-treated from time to time. Generally, if they are re-treated on an annual basis, that is more than enough to keep them in great shape.
FIRST – Always cover the eyes with blue (painters grade) masking tape. Scotchgard is a wonderful preservative of fabrics, but it will destroy the finish on eyes if they are not covered.
Once the eyes are covered, take a can of spray Scotchgard (available in the paint department of most of the major building supply chains) and lightly spray the entire exposed fabric of your puppet holding the can 9 to 12 inches away from the puppet. When this is dry in an hour or two, gently remove the tape from the eyes and you are good to go for another year.
If your puppet is used 3-4 times a week, repeat this process every six months or so.
From time to time, lint and debris may accumulate on your puppet. You NEVER want to rub Antron (Muppet Fleece) as it will ball up like an old sweater from the 70’s.
Instead, obtain a sticky link removing roller from your favorite department store. (Usually about -.00) Roll the lint removing roller all over the puppet to remove stray hairs and fibers. If you cannot find a lint roller, go to your favorite home supply store and buy a roll of 1-1/2″ blue painters masking tape. Using a piece about 4-6 inches long, blot all over your puppet to achieve the same effect as the roller.
In more extreme cases, use a vacuum cleaner set on the lowest setting and carefully vacuum the puppet.
If you have spots which need removal, try using a soft cloth with warm water and blot at the spot. If all else fails, use a drop of “Johnson’s Baby Shampoo” (No more tears) and VERY lightly blot in small circular motions to try to remove the spot.
Then rinse lightly several times, always being careful not to put any real pressure on the fabric which would cause it to ball up.
If you ever have questions about the care of your JET puppets, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We will talk again next week.
Steve and JET