FAQ Friday: Cleaning your costumes

Today’s question is…
How do yo keep your costumes clean?

I’m going to start this off with a story.
Several years ago, I bought a used costume piece from someone. I figured it would make things easier and cheaper than buying it new/making it myself.
Well, first it was like pulling teeth to get this person to mail it to me after I paid, and then when it arrived, it STUNK. It was like getting hit by a full blown waft of concentrated con funk when I opened the box. It was obvious it had been worn, sweated in, never cleaned and probably left in a box until they decided to sell it. Why in the world would you send something like that to another person? Thankfully after multiple cleanings (and probably cutting out about 1/2 the costume itself – it was too big) – it was back to being wear-able, at least.

The reason I tell this story is because it’s a lesson. If you ever want to sell your costumes, keep them clean, because you don’t want to get send someone something like that.

The first step is to take preventative actions to keep your costumes clean.
Keep yourself clean, obviously. I’m not going to tell you how to do that LOL But here’s a couple of helpful tips:
Most drugstores also sell guards that can be stuck or sewn into your costume’s armpits to help keep sweat off. I’ve never used these myself, but they look like a great option if you’re going to be wearing something hot and you know you’re going to sweat.

What I do is, when possible, I always try to wear something underneath costumes – similar to the way people protected their clothing in period times, by wearing a chemise or similar underneath their expensive dresses. I have a whole drawer full of tanktops, long-sleeve shirts, tights, bodysuits and other items that I wear underneath costumes whenever I can.
Of course, always make sure you wear undergarments with your costumes. If you’re worried about a bra strap or pantylines, wear tights or, Capezio sells a full bodysuit that can act as underwear underneath a leotard/unitard!

Now, what happens even if your costume gets a stain on it at the con, or it just isn’t quite as fresh as you’d like?
If it is safe to wash in the washer, do it! Anything that is store-bought/altered and doesn’t have anything glued/painted on it is usually fine. I use the delicate cycle. If you’re not sure if it’s ok, don’t risk it.

I don’t put anything in the dryer. I air dry everything (if possible by hanging it outside for a while). This is also a great thing to do if it’s something you CAN’T wash but it needs to be freshened up. For things like that, I will usually febreeze them, then hang them outside to air out. I’ll turn it inside out if possible. A good example of this is the Vader suit I made my husband – it’s a sweatbox but we can’t put it in the washer. We febreeze it after events and hang it outside to air out, and we’ve never had an issue with it being smelly.

For other things that can’t go in the washer but need washing, spot clean it in the sink. A dab of detergent or stain remover, and a light scrubbing with water usually takes care of most issues.

Stains are going to happen – food, makeup, dirt, etc. My favourite stain remover is “Grandma’s Stain Remover” which I get at Hancock Fabrics/Hobby Lobby. It’s seriously amazing, it got a beer stain out of my white Emma cape with no problems. And it smells sooo good!

I keep fabric scraps of almost everything (much to my husband’s chagrin), not only just because I could possibly use them one day, but it’s also a great way to test out stain removers before using it on your costume, to make sure it’s not going to mess it up. If you don’t have that option, test it out on hidden or interior spot first.

I know several people who get their costumes dry-cleaned, however I really don’t trust leaving my costumes with someone else. I’ve read horror stories about the things that have happened to costumes at dry cleaners. If you have a good store you already trust, then talk to them about it beforehand.

And while it’s not really cleaning related, I always try to remember to take a lint-roller with me to the con, because inevitably I have dog hair and pieces of thread all over my costume by the time it emerges from my sewing room, and it’s easier to use a lint-roller than to pick them off one at a time!