What's the best way to clean a corset?

Question

So one of my most prized posessions is a custom made corset. I've had it for about three years, and never cleaned it. I know, gross, but I've only worn it a handful of times. I'd ask the person who made it for me what to do, but she seems to have fallen off the face of the planet.

The corset is cotton velveteen, has 18 stainless steel bones, and laces in the front instead of a busk. I know I can't exactly toss it in the washer (yikes! the horror!!), but just wiping down the inside liner with detergent and water isn't enough either. I've tried the at-home dry cleaning methods, but it just ends up smelling like sweat, B.O., and the scent of the cleaning cloth. I'm afraid if I take it to a cleaner, they will make me take the laces out, and I know I'll never get it put back together again as perfectly as it is, plus I'm afraid it will lose its shape. Any ideas? I know soaking ruins silk velvet, but what about cotton? I'm at the end of my stinky rope!

Answer 1

Best wayto clean would be by hand and lay flat to dry. Victoria secrets has a laundry-cleaner for delicates like that and will help lengthen the life of that garment, you can buy it at there stores or at there online store. I have three and I have had them for years and there in perfect condition!

Answer 2

If your bones are stainless (not common) then you can hand wash it using woolite. You do have the option of giving it a good shot of febreeze on the inside. However, boning is usually plastic coated steel or galvanized wire in the case of spiral boning. Stainless in uncommon because it generally lacks the spring quality and is very spendy.

Still, dy cleaning is your best option. Re-lacing is not the ordeal that you fear. Just pay attention to how it's done now, take it out just a few grommets at a time and put them back in to get a feel for how it goes. It really isn't that hard.

Answer 3

Listen to Trid for cleaning it. Soaking cotton velvet shouldn't ruin the fabric, but the boning is probably not rust-proof.

For future wearings, you may want to wear a shirt/shift/chemise (different names from different time periods) underneath it to protect it from the sweat.

When I wear Elizabethan attire, my shirt goes on under the corset, and I've worn the outfit many times even in the heat without having to wash the corset yet.

Corsets are usually pretty easy to lace- if the lacing pattern doesn't look like X's or like your shoe laces, it might be one of these types.
http://www.festiveattyre.com/research/lacing/lacing.html
Spiral lacing is very fast and easy, but the corset has to have been made with offset lacing holes to do it (my corset is spiral laced).

Answer 4

You definately want to take your corset to the dry cleaners. Corsets with steel boning should not be hand-washed. You can take your corset to the dry cleaners and then re-lace it yourself. There are directions at http://www.CorsetConnection.com - a video is linked on the front page on the bottom left, "How to lace your corset".
For light cleaning, spray the inside of your corset with "Febreze" and hang it by the laces over a tubular hanger inside-out.
Let me know if you need more help!

Answer 5

I don't understand why removing the laces would be such a problem.

You could use two large safety pins on each top and bottom eyelet area to keep each side in its correct place, so that relacing it would be easier. You have already tried the home version of dry cleaning so it cannot hurt to do the real thing. Besides they can get the "smell" out.

Good Luck

You can also try contacting local tailors or seamstress's in the area and asking their opinion of the best way to clean it.

Answer 6

Fill your sink or bathtub with cold water, and add a capful of woolite or lingerie soap. Submerge the corset and swish it around some, then drain and fill with clean water. Swish the corset in clean water baths until no more suds come out, then place it on a towel and use the towel to squeeze the water out. Do not roll or wring a wet corset.

Answer 7

i say dry cleaning tell them tht you dont want to take the lace and tht if your paying them your money you should have it clean the way you like.. but if not frebreeze(check spelling) it steam up the bathroom and let sitl. do tht about twice tht should get it stright!