Costumes

[This information comes from the LAPADA website with their permission. You may read the entire unedited information on their website by clicking here.]

Costumes should be handled as little as possible and kept away from sunlight and extremes of dryness or humidity. They can be displayed on a padded stand or hung on a well padded wooden hanger (never metal), making sure that the shoulders of the hanger are not longer than those of the costume or the sleeves will be distorted. Some garments may not be strong enough to take the strain of hanging - beaded dresses for example are probably too heavy to hang safely.

Cleaning

It is best to check with an expert before washing or even spot cleaning or testing for colour fastness. If it is considered safe to do so, dab an inconspicuous small area, preferably on the reverse, with a soap and warm water solution on cotton wool. Press a piece of white blotting paper on the damp spot and if it and the cotton wool remain clean, the colour is fast.This test should be carried out on each colour in the piece.Washing old material is inadvisable and only very simple cotton or linen costumes should be washed, only by hand, never in a washing machine, using a soap suitable for woollens, rinsed thoroughly and dried flat having dabbed it with white towelling to remove excess moisture. Never use a tumble dryer. Iron if necessary with a cool iron and protect the fabric with a damp cloth but never iron dirty pieces as heat seals dust into the fabric and can fix stains permanently.

Removing Stains

Stains on any old, fragile or valuable costumes should not be treated at home and are best left to the professional. Always ask for advice if you are unsure as stains or marks are more of a problem the older they are.Very old stains are always best left alone but newer ones can sometimes be removed. If you are prepared to take the risk of tackling stains on less valuable items, always test for colour fastness and use only weak solutions with a pad of white blotting paper, rag or tissue under the stain before treating it. Work inwards from the outer edges of the stain and always rinse thoroughly.

For alcohol stains, use water and detergent worked in with fingertips. For blood, soak in cold salt water. Coffee and tea stains can be soaked for 10 minutes in 30g borax to half a litre of warm water, then rinse. Fats, oils and grass stains can be dabbed with white spirit, ballpoint ink with methylated spirit. Dab fountain pen ink with warm water then apply a paste of salt and lemon juice, leave for 10 minutes then rinse. For iron mould and mildew, try lemon juice and salt, for perspiration, dab with a solution of one part white vinegar to 15 parts warm water.

Storage

Costumes should be stored flat and protected from dust by covering them with closely woven cotton sheets which protect them from dust while allowing ventilation. Do not use polythene bags as they attract dust and condensation can form inside which may cause mould. As with textiles, if cardboard boxes are used, ideally they should be made from acid-free card and be lined with plenty of acid-free tissue paper. Avoid folding costumes as damage occurs along fold lines, but if items must be folded, use wads of acid-free tissue paper along the fold lines.Take a sheet of tissue and gather it in your hands concertina style so it looks like a fan then twist the ends which creates a good padded shape.

Textiles must be refolded regularly. Avoid putting heavy textiles or costumes on top of lighter ones and do not put too many in the same storage box.