to dryclean or not to dryclean

[shadagirl]

I've heard horror stories and have always hand washed my wares - just wondering if anyone would recommend drycleaning costumes or what process of drycleaning is recommended.

Have a light colored costume that needs some help.

Thanks in advance for any tips!

[*maria*]

I'd be terrified to dry clean any costume. I don't even bring my dry cleaner blouses with a small amount of beading - did once, and my dry cleaner ended up having to pay me for the shirt.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone was brave enough to try....

Hand washing, always works for me......

[tamrahennatx]

Dry cleaning melts sequins.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

I won't dry clean a costume myself. I'm too scarred to take that risk. I do have some costumes from Hallah Moustafa and she says her costumes are dry-clean safe, don't know if that's try for other designers' work.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Another thing Hallah said, is something you can take a costume and turn it inside out (if its sleeves or a dress) and put it in the washer. But then again, I personally won't take that risk myself. Also, I don't know how other costume designers' costumes would withstand the washer/dryer or dry cleaners.

[*maria*]

Originally Posted by ChristinaRizkallah

Another thing Hallah said, is something you can take a costume and turn it inside out (if its sleeves or a dress) and put it in the washer. But then again, I personally won't take that risk myself. Also, I don't know how other costume designers' costumes would withstand the washer/dryer or dry cleaners.

::eek:

[tamrahennatx]

Originally Posted by *maria*

::eek:

I have a friend who swears by this method.

[theresa2]

In Zaghareet magazine a few issues back, I think Leila of Cairo shares how she washes her costumes. If I remember correctly, it was largely a quick hand washing in a basin of water. I can try and dig it up if you're interested.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Also, as Hallah mentioned, dancers in Egypt need to wash their costumes more frequently partly because of the heat and humidity, but also because they allow smoking inside restaurants which can dirty a costume (at least in California, you are not allowed to smoke indoors).

[steffib]

Originally Posted by ChristinaRizkallah

Another thing Hallah said, is something you can take a costume and turn it inside out (if its sleeves or a dress) and put it in the washer. But then again, I personally won't take that risk myself. Also, I don't know how other costume designers' costumes would withstand the washer/dryer or dry cleaners.

In a (German design ;-) ) frontloader with a gentle cycle where the laundry is only gently shaken by the drum rotating a little bit, that is a whole lot less scary than when one has one of the more common top loaders.

[shadagirl]

wow - that would be awesome (article) - always interested to hear any tips or secrets on this. I usually spot clean, but have some lighter costumes now where the dirt is showing. The costumes are pretty nicely constructed, so they could probably withstand a good soak, but in what? woolite?

Nothing like swiffing atop a restaraunt floor with gosh knows what on it after who knows when last mopped, swept, looked at. Hmmm...me thinks those darker places are trying to hide their icky floors!

[perizaad]

I use a dash of woolite in cool water in my bath tub so I can lay the costume out flat in the water. I've never had a problem with this method, but I've heard some sequins and pailettes can lose color even with this gentle treatment...

[aazura]

I've never dry cleaned. Hand washing with Woolite works fine for me, but like Perizaad, I have had some sequins and beads lose color even with this.

[theresa2]

Here's what Leila says:

"First, dissolve hand-washing soap in a plastic tub of water; submerge the costume and swish it around gently. Pour out the water and add clean water a couple of different times, keeping the costume in the tub. After the water runs clear, pick up the costume (avoid lifting the costume from the top when it is wet as it is very heavy and can break bead threads) and let the water drain off. Lay the costume flat in an airy place or near a fan. There are a few things to watch out for when washing a costume for the first time. Lycra will not bleed the color, but most of the linings of the bras are made of cotton, and reds, purples, blues and black lining will bleed. So if you have a lighter color on the costume you may want to remove the lining. The beads and stones may also lose some of their glitter, so keep the costume in the water as little as possible and dry it quickly."

I have heard that Woolite is actually a pretty harsh soap, but that may be what you need in order to get any significant schmutz build up out of the hem. But you might want to focus more on the hem if that's what is really dirty and just give the rest a quick dunk.

Good luck!

[mish_mish]

WASH costumes? I've never heard of this!

[phillyraqs]

Hi Shadagirl -

I washed a costume and posted about it on old bhuz - here's the link:

http://ads.bhuz.com/forum/topic.asp?...6&SearchTerms=,

I used a mix of washing powder and detergent, both are much gentler than woolite. And here's another article about washing costumes, from Princess Farhana on BDLA.

http://www.bellydancela.com/CostumeCareRepair.html

[jmdruadh]

I'd be terrified of dry cleaning, but if you want to risk it, have a swatch cleaned first. A lot of costumes come with pieces I don't end up using: wristlets, anklets, extra straps, etc., and I always save them just in case.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Despite all these precautions, I still wouldn't wash or dryclean my costumes. I guess I am just too paranoid. If you have a lot of costumes, you can rotate them regularly so that each costume only gets worn a few times a year (depending on how often you perform and how many costumes you have). I think this is what I do to avoid having to wash them.

[phillyraqs]

Originally Posted by ChristinaRizkallah

If you have a lot of costumes, you can rotate them regularly so that each costume only gets worn a few times a year....I think this is what I do to avoid having to wash them.

That's my excuse, I mean, reason, for buying costumes too. Yeah, that's the ticket - I NEED all these costumes so I don't have to wash them!

Yes, mwah hah hah....(insert evil laugh and hand wringing here)

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Oh, that is a fantastic way to justify buying more costumes (so you don't have to overwear the costumes you have thereby putting yourself in the position to be forced to wash and possibly ruin them). I am always coming up with reasons to justify in my mind constantly buying costumes-this is a good excuse I will add to my list!!

[Melinda77]

Originally Posted by mish_mish

WASH costumes? I've never heard of this!

I'd be way too terrified to try it! I air my costumes out overnight and spray the inside lining with Febreeze. I don't let anything liquid touch the front for fear that it could make the color of the beads or sequins run off.