Most costumes weren’t meant to last long. We have some easy care tips to help prolong the life of your costume.
Dry cleaning
Check to see if your costume has a tag with special care instructions and follow those guidelines. If you notice instructions that say “dry clean only”, you will not want to hand wash as it may shrink, fade, and bleed. If your costume is made of wool, pleather, rayon or velvet, find a dry cleaner that specializes in costumes or evening wear.
Hand washing
If your costume has beads, sequins or tulle, it is safe to hand wash.
Fill a clean sink or tub with cold water. Add a small amount of gentle detergent and fabric softener. Turn the costume inside out, gently kneed the costume by hand for just about a minute, rinse well with cold water to remove all of the detergent and fabric softener. Turn the costume right side out and hang it up to air dry. If you want your costumes to smell fresh after washing, dry costumes in full sunlight. Do not use a clothes dryer as this may damage or shrink your costume.
Machine Wash
Costumes made of polyester, nylon or acrylic can be machine washed on a cold setting. For white costumes, add a little bleach to washing machine. Always hang to dry.
Storing your costumes
Store your costumes in a cool, dry place, either in a sealed container where no mold is present, or a garment bag. You may want to use moth balls or cedar when storing your costumes to keep them fresh.
