How to Wash Your Dance Costume: Tips and Tricks that will hopefully save you stress (and maybe a costume or two). re you staring at a sweaty, stinky dance costume after a long comp weekend wondering how in the world you’re supposed to wash it? You’re definitely not alone! Dance costumes are delicate, detailed, and yeah expensive. Washing them the wrong way can cause fading, fabric damage, or even dye bleeding (yep, I learned that lesson the hard way).
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to safely wash your dance costume, share a few tried-and-true products I love, and include a couple of helpful YouTube videos that show the process step-by-step.
Before you do anything, check the costume’s care label. Some costumes are spot-clean only, while others may allow gentle hand washing. Fabrics like mesh, lace, and sequins often require extra care.
If there’s no tag or instructions, it’s safest to assume hand wash only — and never toss it in the washing machine.
Fill a clean sink or basin with cool water and add a small amount of gentle bleach free detergent. My detergent of choice has been ‘Forever New‘ — it’s gentle on delicate fabrics and leaves costumes smelling fresh without any residue. Gently swish the costume in the water, focusing on areas that get sweaty like underarms and waistbands. Avoid scrubbing or twisting the fabric.
I learned this the hard way — not all costumes can be fully submerged. I once completely soaked one of our costumes and the dye bled all over the mesh.
If your costume has multiple colors or mesh overlays, it’s safer to spot clean instead of soaking the whole thing. Test a small area first to make sure the dye doesn’t bleed.
For small stains, I’ve had amazing results using Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover Laundry Spray (you can find it on Amazon). When dye bled onto our mesh, it took out most of the stain and saved the costume for our last comp — hands down the most stressful costume moment yet!
Just apply a small amount to the stained area, gently blot, and rinse carefully with cool water.
Never wring out or hang a wet costume — the weight of the water can stretch or damage it. Instead, lay it flat on a clean towel and gently press out excess moisture. Then, let it air dry completely away from direct sunlight or heat.
