Need Recommendations ~ wrinkle costumes

angelique2 · 09-23-2007, 01:59 PM

I am not sure if this was posted before,

I was wondering what your recommendations for getting wrinkles out of costumes.

I have mine in a wedding dress box with tissue paper. When I got them out, I had wrinkles, wrinkles and more wrinkles.

How to get wrinkles out safe?

What works?

What don't!

Any costume disasters?

Any help is greatly appreciated

beafarhana · 09-23-2007, 02:30 PM

It might make a difference if you said what kind of costume it was- chiffon? lycra? velvet?

SummerSahar · 09-23-2007, 02:57 PM

I would suggest steaming it, assuming the fabric isn't synthetic (chance of melting). I wouldn't let an iron touch my costumes!

elisagamal · 09-23-2007, 04:00 PM

my lycra costumes lose their wrinkles pretty well just by hanging them. to speed up the process, you could mist it with water, and then let it hang and air dry.

angelique2 · 09-23-2007, 05:18 PM

It is chiffon and the top is velvet with beads and coins.

emijane · 09-23-2007, 06:40 PM

I steam my costumes too, that works really well. You can purchase rather inexpensive steamers from amazon.com. I wouldn't steam the part with the beads and coins though... maybe thats just me, but I'm too scared to go near anything with beads or coins with a steamer.

sabrinabellydancer · 09-23-2007, 09:08 PM

i agree with carefully steaming only the chiffon. please cover the velvet and beads to avoid disasters.

if in doubt, ask the people who take care of high end wedding dresses in your area.

wigglewhiz · 09-24-2007, 08:30 AM

I've ALWAYS meant to buy one of those little portable steamer things to try to sort out my costume wrinkles. But then, I'd be packing it in a case to take to the gig and they'd get wrinkly again. <sigh> In your case, I'd definitely steam the chiffon part, but protect any beading/coins/sequins.

You know how people do the weak vodka solution spritz thing to freshen your costumes? Ever tried a weak vodka solution in the steam? Just wondering if that'd work of if adulterating the water for the steamer is a big no-no...

beafarhana · 09-24-2007, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wigglewhiz

I've ALWAYS meant to buy one of those little portable steamer things to try to sort out my costume wrinkles. But then, I'd be packing it in a case to take to the gig and they'd get wrinkly again. <sigh> In your case, I'd definitely steam the chiffon part, but protect any beading/coins/sequins.

Aha, but if it's portable, you can pack it in the case & steam it there & then...

Quote:

Originally Posted by wigglewhiz

You know how people do the weak vodka solution spritz thing to freshen your costumes? Ever tried a weak vodka solution in the steam? Just wondering if that'd work of if adulterating the water for the steamer is a big no-no...

You'd be boiling the alcohol off, surely? And that's never a good thing

wigglewhiz · 09-24-2007, 10:35 AM

Very true. Perhaps I'll just drink the vodka and then I won't care if my costumes are wrinkly.

BabsGrrrl · 09-24-2007, 04:10 PM

I swear by Downey Wrinkle Release. I just took a dyed silk veil out from the bottom of a rubbermaid tub where it had been balled up and sprayed it down with the Downey stuff and....voila! Ten minutes later no wrinkles! The only thing I had to do was lay it out over the backs of two chairs (so the length of it was stretched out. Added bonus: the lovely fresh smell of Downey - which fades quickly so it is not overpowering. (I am sensitive to scent and get headaches easily)

So far it's worked on just about every fabric I've tried it on with NO staining. I HAVE done a small test area on everything first to make double d*mn sure it wouldn't stain though.

angelique2 · 09-25-2007, 05:51 PM

Thanks ladies for all of the tips!
I just bought one of those portable steamers.
I'm off to see how it works

lylagus · 10-05-2007, 11:38 AM

what is a good brand for a steamer?

tigerb · 10-05-2007, 05:18 PM

I am told (but can't swear) that Downy Wrinkle release is basically just very, very, very diluted fabric softener. The proportion I was given was 20 oz distilled water to 1 teaspoon of fabric softener -- mix in a spray bottle and apply.

This would also reduce static in a veil, come to think of it, but I wouldn't want to use too much of it on silk.

angelique2 · 10-09-2007, 12:09 PM

I was in a few stores today and I saw a whirlpool fabric freshener, I had to come home and look it up on the net. Here is the link for it. I guess it has been out a few years but It is my 1st time seeing it.

http://www.whirlpool.com/catalog/pro...?productId=513

Removes Odors, Relaxes Wrinkles,
Gentle on Your Clothes & the Environment, Collapsible & Portable
Three Cycles for Optimal Performance

Just wondering by chance if anyone here has one of these?