Thread: Yes, I washed my beaded costume in the washer!

So, yesterday I got a gorgeous cossie from a fellow Bhuzzer, and like most of our cossies, it had the Moroccan restaurant smell (you know, the curry & hummus smell ). I wash almost all my cossies when I first get them, unless they are brand new.

In a fit of frustration with hand washing, which I've done a lot of lately, I decided to toss this baby...Swarovskis and all....in the washer. Call me crazy, but I am not a laundry girl.

So, I stuck the pieces of the cossie in pillowcases, tied the cases shut, tossed 'em in the machine with a bit of laundry detergent (just what I normally use), set the machine on "delicate", and let 'er rip. 20 minutes later I pulled it out, shiny, odor free, not even a strand of fringe tangled....Swarovskis still intact and sparkly, and hung it up to dry. This morning it is nicely laundered, clean, smells good, and looks great!

Not advocating, necessarily (so if your Bella sheds all it's glitz, please don't get angry with me), but wanted to share that it worked well for me. ..g.:

You are one brave trailblazer. So glad it worked!

Originally Posted by jewelbellydance

You are one brave trailblazer. So glad it worked!

Ditto!!!

Amazing!

sounds like something I would do - I hate hand washing.

I have a front load machine that has a "hand-wash" setting. It's great!

Great trick with the pillowcases! I'll remember that. (or try to anyway..c::)
Rosette

I have hand washed mine before. The only thing I worry about is the metal setting rusting but I usually hang them outside when it is really windy to dry.

Good to hear someone else washes them. I thought I was the only crazy one.

EM

Sonja, I had just signed, then had to sneak one last quick glance at the newest threads. As soon as I saw this thread, I had to log back in just to read it! That really caught my attention. LOL!

So washing the costumes is o.k.? I have a costume that needs a little clean up, but wat afraid of the washing machine, I might have to try this.

Originally Posted by Shaharazad

So washing the costumes is o.k.? I have a costume that needs a little clean up, but wat afraid of the washing machine, I might have to try this.

..g.: It takes a little resignation to the thought that the possibility of damage is there....but I had good enough luck that I'll do it with other sturdy cossies in the future. If in doubt, or if it's got a lot of loose stones, etc... you can always hand wash in the bathtub. Definitely if you do it in the washer, put it in a pillowcase and TIE the pillowcase (wouldn't want loose fringe to sneak out & get wrapped around the agitator!) Also, use COLD water, gentlest cycle (hand wash cycle if your machine has one), and color-safe detergent. Put each cossie piece in a seperate pillowcase!

Okay, those of you who would never ever ever do this can pass out now ..l;,

Wow! I'm impressed!

I think I can clean any costume the wrong way. I just hand-washed a chiffon skirt with gold seed bead trim only to discover that the gold inside the beads comes off in water. Good to know! Happily, they still look gold -- another basic laundering lesson learned the hard way.

Wow I thought the hummus/hookah odor was just a permanent part of a bellydance costume that has been properly "broken in". ..l;, I may get brave soon and try this, I've got some costumes that need a little shine boost.

One of my dancer friends doesn't even bother with the pillow cases - she just throws her costumes, fringe and all, in the washer on delicate, and says she's never had a problem.

If the person who bought my blue bella reads this, I washed her in the washing machine (in pillow cases) before I sold her. My pharaonics butterfly may be next...

WOW--I just get a rush of adrenaline reading about what you brave ladies did! Bravo, Sonja2 and TamrahennaTX! Sonja--just out of curiosity, which designer costume-maker is your costume? Bella, Pharaonics, Eman, Hanan...?

Originally Posted by Lesgemini_Zafirah

WOW--I just get a rush of adrenaline reading about what you brave ladies did! Bravo, Sonja2 and TamrahennaTX! Sonja--just out of curiosity, which designer costume-maker is your costume? Bella, Pharaonics, Eman, Hanan...?

I've done this with a Bella, my friend has done it with her Pharaonics costumes. Silver and red beads you must be careful with, sometimes they lose their silver lining, but most everything else is okay.

As with anything, YMMV

I would not try this with a top-loader (those things are evil and eat fabrics), but esp. higher-end front-loaders have all kinds of gentle cycles, which use higher water levels and carefully timed shakes for delicate fabrics.

Originally Posted by steffib

I would not try this with a top-loader (those things are evil and eat fabrics), but esp. higher-end front-loaders have all kinds of gentle cycles, which use higher water levels and carefully timed shakes for delicate fabrics.

I and my friend both have top loaders, but yes, I'd rather do this with a front loader. I usually wash costumes in the tub, preferring to let them soak without agitation.

Yeah some beads and sequins are dyed and are not colorfast. And, you'll want to make sure it's completely dry before you store it- the cotton thread inside beaded fringe can rot.

I'd much rather have less-shiny costumes than something that's smelly or stained, though, so I'm a big fan of hand-washing. A friend has had good luck with drycleaning hers.

I've tossed my L. Rose glitter skirts and tops in the delicate cycle and had no problem either - the glitter never washed off, it's all still intact.

Originally Posted by nitara

Yeah some beads and sequins are dyed and are not colorfast. And, you'll want to make sure it's completely dry before you store it- the cotton thread inside beaded fringe can rot.

I'd much rather have less-shiny costumes than something that's smelly or stained, though, so I'm a big fan of hand-washing. A friend has had good luck with drycleaning hers.

Dry cleaning can melt sequins and synthetic fabrics, be careful!

The first time I wash a costume (by hand), I watch it carefully for signs the color is coming off of the beads and sequins. If I don't see metallic flakes in the water I know I'm pretty safe.

And if you're handy with a needle and thread, you can always replace sequins and beads that don't wash well. It's much better than wearing a costume that reeks.

I don't think I am brave enough to wash in washer, but especially my dresses, I will wash in the kitchen sink with either soap made for delicate fabrcis or dish washing detergent. the hems of my skirts especially tend to get soiled.

Our front loader is a low water machine. It might work if I were desperate!

{{{HUGS}}}

Sonja,
You are my hero! Not sure whether I have the brass cymbals necessary to try this, though...

Nisaa

This particular costume didn't have a tag....lots of crystals but no tag, and it wasn't particularly expensive, so that's why I was brave, as opposed to tossing in a Bella...though now that I've read Tamra's post, you can bet I'll give it a go with my pink bella...she really needs a bath! I've hand washed her 5 or 6 times now, but she could use a better wash than hand washing can do.

I have a top loader, but on gentle seems okay in a pillowcase. I don't know that I will toss mine in without the case....too big a chance of having the fringe tangle. I agree with Tamra, though...I hate stinky clothes, and I really don't wanna be dancing past someone paying me to perform and have them get a whiff of stinky B.O. ;-)

Yes it works I have been doing this for the last 15 years to costumes .
i do have a top loader and just set it to gentle and toss them in cold water and no spin works best to keep beads from tangling ... and i just hang in the shower to dry ... lost some sliver and red bead shine on some but most look better after a wash ... dust will make all things less shinny ... and stinky smoke or B.O. got to go .

In a pillow case...freaking brilliant!

I have washed costumes in the washer too -- a Lycra dress and a stretch velvet one, both with lots of beads, sequins, and fringe dangles. I used a big zippered lingerie bag, cold water, dried them on sweater racks -- and they came out fine. It's nice to have a clean dress...

You guys are tempting me . . .

But I'm so scared! .w.:

Deborah

I've washed sequinned stuff in a lingerie bag with no problems (for those in the UK, Aldi's laundry bags are just the right size!) and also had no bother with practisewear with the cheap gold coins on...you know the sort... still, a quickwash 30degree cycle and the gold didn't come off, which says something!
I also machine-washed my 2-piece wedding dress- I got married in the local panto a fortnight after I did the deed for real, and five nights of stage-grot didn't make for a happy look, so in a fit of pique I flung the skirt in, zipped the heavily beaded and embroidered bodice in a laundry bag, set it off and hurrah...I told Other Half I was up for doing it again ;)

Okay I tried the lingerie bag, costume in washing machine. It works great! I'm a believer!! I never seen this costume this clean.

Alrana

Originally Posted by mehndidancer

Okay I tried the lingerie bag, costume in washing machine. It works great! I'm a believer!! I never seen this costume this clean.

Alrana

You go girl!