Whether your family in Australia went out in spectacular pirate costumes or you kept things simple, the special care required to keep costumes clean and intact can be overlooked. Costumes are made of cheap materials such as acrylic or acetate and feature basic stitching and structure that are designed for one-time wear. If you find a great costume that requires some mileage in the years to come, you need to know how to take good care of it to ensure it can be re-used. Here are some tips to take good care of your costume.

Pre-treat

While you are enjoying a melting chocolate bar, some candy or dripping caramel, it may get its way onto your costume. Pre-treat your costume with a stain remover formula to remove food stains. Costume fabrics are not breathable so you will want to pre-treat areas where stains have occurred.

Machine wash

When you buy your costumes online in Australia, they should have washing instructions. If the costume is made out of polyester, cotton, nylon or acrylic, and does not have special embellishments, you can wash it in the washing machine in cold water. Wash it on the delicate cycle to maintain its shape.

Hand wash

If your costumes are made of spandex or tulle, you can hand wash them at home. Hand wash them gently if they have plastic attachments or sequins. However, be very careful when hand-washing your costume to avoid ruining it. Before you place the costume in cold water with a gentle detergent, flip the costume inside out. Gently squeeze your costume after washing to remove excess water.

Professional care

If your pirate costumes are labelled “dry clean only,” you should take them for a professional for professional cleaning. A professional cleaner in Australia will have the necessary equipment to do a thorough cleaning. You will spend a few dollars but your costume will be in good hands.