How to Wash Your Idol Costume

Danced your heart out and ready to unstinkify your grimy performance costumes? The steps you need to take to keep your idol costume in perfect shape! No grime here!

You'll need:

1. All costume pieces (even hair pieces if you want)

2. Large basin, like a bathtub or plastic drawer

3. Regular laundry detergent

4. Optional: something to stir/agitate the water.

5. DO NOT USE fabric softener.

1. Remove all detachable pieces

Spot clean things like badges, pins, fur, metal decals, and other detachable accessories. Some things can be machine washed with your normal laundry such as store-bought pleather gloves and safety shorts. For the rest, follow the next steps.

2. Spot clean any areas with makeup/food/stains

Each fabric is different so be sure to research what's the best way for your fabric.

For a basic stain removal, here are some options you may want to look at: https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/laundry-linens/stain-removal/removing-stains-from-fabrics/

3. Separate your costume pieces by color

Do your best to separate the colors as much as you possibly can. This will prevent the colors from bleeding into each other, and the costumes will stay vibrant longer. If you have detachable pieces on your costume that differ in color (such as bows or sleeves), detach those to separate the colors. If there are large pieces that are permanently attached to the costume (like a train or skirt layers), you can carefully place these colored sections into the large basin without placing the entire garment. This will preserve the color vibrancy and fabric quality.

4. Fill your basin with room temperature water

Do your best to separate the colors as much as you possibly can. This will prevent the colors from bleeding into each other, and the costumes will stay vibrant longer. If you have detachable pieces on your costume that differ in color (such as bows or sleeves), detach those to separate the colors. If there are large pieces that are permanently attached to the costume (like a train or skirt layers), you can carefully place these colored sections into the large basin without placing the entire garment. This will preserve the color vibrancy and fabric quality.

5. Dissolve 1 tsp of laundry detergent into the water

Note that the water will not get sudsy with detergent. If you’d like, you may also dissolve a tiny amount of detergent booster into the basin too. Again, do not use fabric softener. Stir it around to make sure it’s well dispersed. There is bleach in laundry detergent. Be careful with your skin! It’s safe to stir it around with your hand, but can irritate your skin. Feel free to use a tool to stir the water.

6. Place your color group into basin

Make sure the entire piece is fully immersed in the water. It may take a couple seconds for the costume to absorb the water and stop floating above the water. Place the easily separable sections of large, permanently attached adornments into the basin. Ensure they are immersed in the water as much as possible without allowing the other colored pieces to soak in the water too much.

7. Gently agitate the costume in the water

Do this for 3-5 minutes. If your costume is particularly grimy, you can agitate it for longer.

8. Soak for 30-45 minutes

Leave the costume pieces to soak for 30-45 minutes.

If your costume is particularly stinky, let it soak for up to 45 minutes, rinse, then replace with new water and detergent.

Don’t let it soak for more than 45 minutes in the same water, as the dirty water could set in stains or dye bleeding, and if there is too much detergent, it could eat the fabric.

9. Gently agitate to shake away the loosened dirt.

When it’s finished soaking, agitate it in the water a couple more times to shake away the loosened dirt.

10. Drain the water

Gently rinse the detergent out of the fabric

11. Repeat with the other color groups

Use a fresh basin of water with new detergent.