Not only are belly dancing costumes stunning items of clothing, but they are also valued possessions that require special attention and cleaning in order to preserve their durability and colorful beauty. It is imperative that you are aware of how to properly clean and maintain your belly dance costume, regardless of whether you are a professional belly dancer or merely a fan of this art form. This tutorial will give you with step-by-step directions and helpful hints on how to effectively clean your belly dance costume, ensuring that it continues to be in fantastic shape and is prepared for your subsequent performance or event.

How To Clean Belly Dance Costume?

A lot of dancers get the shivers simply thinking about the prospect of submerging a costume that costs between two hundred and eight hundred dollars in water. In fact, a lot of dancers are taught to never wash their costumes. If you only sing a song every once in a while, you probably won’t need to. On the other hand, many professional dancers recoil in horror at the idea of not washing their costumes, which is in contrast to the opposite reaction. “Sweat butter,” as Savannah affectionately refers to it, is a common occurrence, especially after performances lasting two hours or 15-minute to half-hour marathon sets. Coming backstage literally dripping and with mascara running (the one day I didn’t wear waterproof makeup) is reason enough. When you add lotion, glitter, hair spray, bronzer, dirt, smoke, and whatever else you would come into contact with on a semi-daily basis as a professional dancer, the interiors of your costumes will resemble this image before too long. A little bit dirty.

So, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about how often you should clean your costumes: once every few months or so, roughly speaking, depending on how often you perform. This takes place multiple times per week in this area. Now, before we move on to the “how to” section, I want to make it clear that you should avoid overwashing because it will eventually cause the item to lose its sheen. Although there was some metallic glitter that rose to the surface throughout the washing process, the finished product was significantly brighter and more shiny than before. It is absolutely worth it to have a cleaner lining.

Therefore, in order to get started, you are going to need some mild soap. A lot of dancers use Woolite or lingerie detergent, but I have a feeling that any detergent will be too powerful for the beads and sequins. I wash my hands with a gentle hand soap that is formulated to dissolve body oils. Towels, a place to lay the costumes flat to dry, a fan, and a tooth brush or some kind of soft scrubbing brush are other items that will be required.

Step-By-Step Guide On How To Clean Your Belly Dance Costume:

Step 1: Spot test –

Always test a small, unnoticeable section of your costume to see how it reacts to water and soap. This should be done before you wear it. Before moving forward, be sure to check for any discoloration or warping.

Step 2: Prep –

Collect all of your supplies, eliminate any padding, and examine them carefully for any loose hooks, stones, or sequins. A bathtub should be filled with water, then a few drops of gentle soap or hand soap that is formulated to dissolve body oils should be added.

Step 3: Dunk, swish, and scrub –

Put on your costume, then dip it into the soapy water and move it around in the water so that the soap is distributed evenly. The unclean lining should be the primary focus of your attention while you scrub it with a toothbrush or a soft scrubbing brush. Be careful not to get too much soap on the sequins, and never scrub the side that has the decoration on it.

Step 4: Rub –

To clean the sequins and the fringe, use a soft cloth to rub the sequins and swish the fringe. If there is a stain that is difficult to remove from the side that has been decorated, use a gentle washcloth to rub it.

Step 5: Rinse –

After draining the soapy water, fill the tub with fresh cold water and start over. Ensure that there is no trace of soap left on the outfit by giving it a thorough rinse. If it’s necessary, you should go through the rinse process again.

Step 6: Dry –

The outfit should be allowed to drip, and any surplus water should be removed by gently shaking it. To remove even more moisture from it, roll it up in a dry fluffy towel and give it a light squeeze. To expedite the drying process, lay the garment out flat, preferably on a wire rack that provides ample ventilation. If you want to avoid fading and potential damage from the environment, you should avoid drying it outside. Make sure the costume is totally dry before storing it in a container that allows air to pass through it. Stay away from plastic or containers that seal the air out.

Top Tips For Looking After Your Belly Dance Costumes:

Do not dry clean your professional, beaded costume:

In addition to the risk of causing harm to the delicate beading, dry cleaning is not an efficient method for removing the smell of perspiration. Your Egyptian costume is a work of art that was hand-beaded and was made by a professional. It is built to last a lifetime. It is important to take care of it and maintain its value because of its one-of-a-kind qualities and stunning appearance because handcrafted beading is becoming increasingly scarce and pricey.

Air out your costume after wearing:

It is essential to let your costume air out after each usage if you want to keep it smelling fresh and prevent unwanted aromas from emerging as a result of perspiration or perfume. After that, give it a good shake and then lay it out flat on an airer, preferably in the fresh air. To prevent the item from being faded, try to avoid exposing it to direct sunlight for an extended period of time. Nevertheless, there are actions you can take in the event that your costume requires a more in-depth cleaning.

Hand wash your costume gently:

If your costume requires a more thorough cleaning, it can be carefully hand washed in lukewarm water with gentle baby soap or shampoo (avoid using detergents). The washing should be done in a gentle manner. If there are stains on the inside of the costume from fake tan or makeup, gently squeeze and rub the inside of the costume. Never use hot water since it has the potential to remove any glitter or shine that may be present in the cloth or sequins. To properly clean the outfit, give it a thorough rinsing in cold water, then wring out any extra liquid and pat it dry with a fresh towel. When drying the outfit, lay it flat on an airer and keep it out of the direct sunshine. Until it is totally dry, give it a few turns in each direction. After going through this process, you will be blown away by how revitalized, bright, and clean your costume looks and smells.

Bonus tip:

when you put away your costume, place it in its own box to prevent it from being crushed or otherwise damaged. Put all of the costume extras in a separate bag and place it inside the box. Consider including a packet of silica gel to act as a moisture absorber in the package. If you want your costume to continue to smell great, you may also put a bar of natural soap that has been wrapped in tissue paper inside the box. It is best not to store costumes in plastic boxes because these containers do not allow for enough ventilation. Use boxes with ventilation instead, or think about putting them in drawers to keep them from getting crushed. Before you put the costume away, you should make any necessary repairs, check the fasteners, seams, and beading, and replace any sequins, stones, or beads that have been misplaced.

By according to these guidelines, you can make certain that your belly dancing costumes continue to be in pristine condition, so ensuring that they continue to bring you years of pleasure and spectacular performances.

Important Points To Keep In Mind While Cleaning Your Belly Dance Costume:

It is best to avoid washing costumes that contain faux pearls or particular types of inexpensive plastic sequins, as the coating may flake off or bleed if the garment is exposed to water. Always perform a localized test on these components before moving on to the whole wash.
It’s possible that low-quality fabrics and cheap construction will cause costumes to fall apart in the wash if you try to wash them. Because washing certain costumes might cause the dye to run and the fabric to fall apart, it is advised to avoid washing them at all costs.
In most cases, it is best to hand wash belly dancing costumes rather than use a washing machine. The delicate embellishments and textiles of the costume can be damaged if they are exposed to water for an extended period of time. While some people use the pillowcase method on a soft cycle, this can be problematic.
During the cleaning process, if you see what appear to be metallic shards or sparkles floating around, you shouldn’t be worried by this. It is to be expected that some of these features will be lost, just as they would be lost throughout performances.
If you clean your belly dancing costumes according to the instructions provided, you may end up with great results. The costumes have a tendency to look brighter and more sparkling, and the lining could even look if it was just purchased. Making an effort to keep your costume clean and smelling fresh is work that will pay off in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions – How To Clean Belly Dance Costume?

How do you wash a belly dancing skirt?

Cleaning skirts is not a very difficult task. If it is velvet, cotton, lycra, durable chiffon, or normal spandex, you should be able to wash it in the washing machine using cold water on the gentle cycle and then hang it to dry. Before washing, colorfastness should ALWAYS be checked, especially with less expensive or offshore textiles.

How do you get the smell out of dance costumes?

Vinegar. White vinegar has been said to be effective at removing odors from costumes by other dance parents who have tried it. Similar to how vodka works, the idea behind using vinegar is that it will destroy the germs that are responsible for producing the odor.

How do you wash dancewear?

The garments can be washed in cold water on a regular cycle (high or heavy cycles are usually OK, particularly if the items are unclean or soiled), but washing them on a regular cycle can help prevent color bleeding. Do not use fabric softener because doing so might harm the fabric and make the material less breathable. Instead, avoid using water to wash your clothes. Dry the dancewear either by letting it air dry or by using a light or gentle cycle in the dryer.

How do dancers keep from smelling?

Good cleanliness is the most important factor in the fight against body odor, much more so than the use of deodorant and antiperspirant. Take a shower and change into clean clothes as soon as possible after the lesson or rehearsal you just finished. If you don’t have time for a shower straight away, at least try to change into some dry clothes.

How do dancers deal with body Odour?

Showering frequently, using deodorant, and ensuring that dancewear is cleaned as soon as possible are all things that dancers may do to reduce the amount of body odor they produce.

Sonali Yadav

As a content writer on jewelry and fashion, Sonali Yadav is committed to providing readers with a wealth of knowledge, practical advice, and inspiration. Whether you’re seeking guidance on accessorizing, understanding the latest fashion trends, or exploring the symbolism behind different jewelry pieces, Sonali is here to guide you on your style journey.