Nadiyah's Costume Care Survey

Costume Care
Survey Conducted & Reported By Nadiyah

To assist those with their costuming concerns, another survey was conducted. This time, only eight Yahoo Groups and 28 instructors were contacted. Although the survey was distributed on a much smaller scale, the responses have, once again, yielded quality and usefulness. (Since the questions were open-ended, one response may result in several answers.)

Costume Care Questions
1. How do you store/pack your costumes?
2. How do you clean your costumes?
3. How do you prevent your costumes from molding?
4. How do you remove odors from your costume?
5. What is your favorite fabric to work with?
6. What types of fabrics are the most difficult to maintain?
7. What styles of costumes seem to be the most troublesome?

Costume Care Responses
1. How do you store/pack your costumes?
Responses: 26

Fold the costumes and/or accessories. 3
Hang the costumes. 13
Hang costumes inside muslin or pillow cases. 2
Pack the costumes in a suit/travel bag. 2
Pack the costumes in a large duffel bag. 1
Place bedlah in sealed/unsealed plastic bags. 4
Roll the costumes, veils, and/or accessories. 5
Roll bedlah in towels. 2
Store bedlah in color-coordinated cotton bags with pads between the pieces. 1
Store bedlah in hanging breathable shoe holders. 1
Store bedlah & other accessories in plastic and/or color-coordinating shoe boxes. 5
Store costumes and/or accessories on shelves. 3
Store costumes in breathable containers. 2
Store costumes in sweater boxes or other storage containers. 7
Store costumes in a separate closet. 1
Store costumes in dresser drawers. 3
Store hat on a Styrofoam head to maintain it's shape. 1
Store jewelry in a standing jewelry closet. 1
Store jewelry in a jewelry box. 1
Store jewelry in a jewelry roll. 2
Store jewelry inside of coordinating costume 2
Store jewelry on a jewelry pedestal. 1

2. How do you clean your costumes?
Responses: 26

N/A 4
Air Out. 6
Change linings and/or bra base. 6
Cold water rinse only. 1
Dip sequin bras/belts into soapy, then plain water & set them on drying racks. 1
Dry/Professionally Clean. 10
Hand Wash. 13
Hand wash with Oxyclean. 2
Hand wash with people shampoo. 1
Machine wash. 9
Machine wash in mesh lingerie bag with or without delicate cycle. 3
Replace 1
Soak coin belts in metal cleaner, polish, then buffed with a soft cloth. 1
Spot clean. 5
Spot clean with Naptha (lighter fluid). 1
Spray 3
Steam 3

3. How do you prevent your costumes from molding?
Responses: 26

N/A 9
Dry the costumes out before storing. 15
Keep sidewalk or bowlers chalk near costumes, in a muslin bag if needed. 1
Line belts and bras and toss linings when soiled. 1
Purchase a dehumidifier for the costume closet. 3
Purchase best quality fabrics/costumes. 1
Store the costumes in a dry, dark place. 1
Store the costumes in a roomy location.1
Store costumes in cotton bags in metal mesh drawers. 1
Store costumes in breathable place. 4
Take good care of them and wash periodically even if sitting in closet. 1
Wash with Oxyclean. 1

4. How do you remove odors from your costume?
Responses: 28

Air it out. 11
Avoid spritzing with perfume. 1
Avoid wearing costume in odoriferous places. 1
Burn incense. 1
Clean it. 6
Dry clean it. 2
Put the costumes in a dryer on low heat with good-smelling dryer sheet. 1
Sell it. 1
Sponge costume with Vodka, vinegar, or special solution. 2
Spray it with a special solution. 4
Spray it with Fabreeze. 10
Spritz them with perfume. 2
Steam it in the shower. 1
Store costumes with baking soda in the closet. 1
Store costumes with scented soaps when traveling. 1
Store costumes with sachets containing herbal insect-repellant blends. 1
Store costumes with a sock containing baking soda (absorbs smells) and rice (absorbs moisture). 1
Surgically remove sweat glands. 1
Use removable dress shields/sweat-pads. 2

5. What is your favorite fabric to work with?
Responses: 20

N/A 2
Anything light weight that flows and doesn’t wrinkle 1
Anything stretchy and silky 1
Cotton 2
It depends. 1
Lycra 1
Old blue jeans (belt base)1
Ones with texture 1
Peach Skin 1
Polyesters 1
Poly-chiffon 3
Rayon 1
Satin 1
Silk 8
Stretchy metallic fabrics 1
Tricot 1
Valet 1
Velvet/stretch velvets 3
Wool-broadcloth 1

6. What types of fabrics are the most difficult to maintain?
Responses: 27

N/A 2
Antique fabrics and brocades 1
Anything sequined, beaded, or glittered 8
Anything that wrinkles 2
Asian fabrics 1
Cheap sequin appliqués 1
Certain Lycras 1
Chiffon 3
Egyptian cottons 1
Fabrics from India 1
Fabrics with non-removable decorations 1
French dressmaker's lame, Liquid lame, tissue Lame 3
Fringed material 1
Manmade fibers 1
Nylon 1
Satin 2
Shipon 1
Silk 5
Velvets 5
Woolens 1

7. What styles of costumes seem to be the most troublesome?
Responses: 26

N/A 2
All about the same 3
Cheaply-made costumes 1
Costumes with looped fringe 1
Form-fitting styles 1
Galabeyas made of shipon like Egyptian assuit. 1
Heavily decorated or elaborate costumes 2
Multi-piece costumes 2
Styles from the Edwardian or bustle period 1
Styles involving beadwork 4
Styles involving coins 3
Styles involving fabrics that snag, get static or ball 1
Styles involving rhinestones 2
Styles that don’t match the body type 1
Styles with fur on it 1
Thobes 1
Turkish 2

Other Tips Provided by the Responders
Cleaning
Avoid exposing costumes to long periods of sunlight.
Hand wash costumes in a cool water and a vinegar solution to set the dye.
Iodized salt can also set the color-fast dyes.
Heat sets odors, so air dry when applicable.
To preserve color and to remove odors, combine 2 parts water/1 part vodka.
To remove odors, dilute Fabreeze using less than a tablespoon to a pint of water and spray on fabric.
To remove odors, mix lemon juice (without pulp) or vinegar, with water, about half and half, or less if using vinegar into a spray bottle and spray directly on place of odor. (Test the mixture first on an inconspicuous place just to make sure the lemon doesn't leave a stain or remove color from the fabric.)
Woolite and baby shampoo are too harsh for costumes.

Preventive Care
Avoid garlic consumption for three days prior to performance.
Pre-shrink fabrics before sewing.
Sew felt lining inside bras and belts to absorb moisture.
Spray sequins with clear plastic non-enamel spray paint and/or clear nail polish.

Storage
Fold costumes with elaborate beading or material that easily snags inside out or wrap them in tissue.
Hang skirts for several months before hemming them to prevent the uneven hems later on.
Keep accessories in individual plastic bags to prevent them from catching on one another.

Traveling
Roll the beaded costumes into the veils and skirts to protect the fringe.
To prevent wrinkles during traveling, place garment flat in a large plastic bag, then roll or fold. Spot clean glittered fabrics with Goof-off (test in inconspicuous place first).

Nadiyah's Conclusion
The respondents had many great ideas for the care of costumes. Half of the respondents hung their garments and most stored their bedlah and other accessories in containers, drawers, or on the shelves. Plastic storage containers were relished by some looking for see-through organized systems and relinquished by others citing the fabrics' need to breathe. For a compromise, some found containers with holes in them or breathable containers with windows. Chalk, rice, towels, and cotton bags were proposed as options to absorb excess moisture. Almost all respondents, at some point in the survey, referred to the critical need to air out their costume after a performance.

I hope the surveys' results provide food for thought for those considering the future use and care of their costumes. Thank you all who contributed. May your costumes live long lives!

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