Excerpt from: "The
ABC's of Conservation"
All textiles should be protected from contact with
wood or paper with a barrier of acid-free material. Much washed cotton
sheets or pillow cases are good. Remember to check them periodically.
Remove and wash when they are beginning to yellow. Do not bleach. The
residual bleach will harm fabrics.
Notice the difference in the color of the textile on the back of the doll. It is much brighter on the back where it was protected from light. However, there is discoloration where it touched the cardboard box.
Wash hands often when handling dolls or accessories, and use gloves when indicated. Cotton gloves work, but disposable plastic surgical gloves provide more protection to you from unknown contaminants and give a safer grip on the object.
Current conventional wisdom states that frequently washed bare hands, minus any lotions, are better than either.