Steam cleaning costumes?

[GRisdale]

This is a bit out of my area, so am hoping for some of that BR wisdom. A show I'm helping to produce at the moment is looking to involve a lot of "delicate" costume - dresses etc that are hand wash at best or dry clean only at worst. Obviously this doesn't really work from a touring point of view, and as it's a dance show they will need to be cleaned daily. The production will most probably end up hiring a wardrobe person to look after them if fates/budgets allow, but I'm just trying to think about how they will do that and what it will cost.

 

I've seen wardrobe people using steam cleaners on such things, and am led to believe that this is basically what they do at the dry cleaners. Is that true? Is steaming alone a sufficient means of cleaning sweaty costume?

 

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

Gareth.

[Jivemaster]

Professional cleaners use steam to remove creases with steam wands and steam irons and shirts they button up then inflate with steam as instant pressing. Prior to this they are properly cleaned in water or dry cleaning solvent.

 

Touring local info that you need includes places to do the laundry and the hours that they are open / working

[andy_s]

Sounds like the sort of time-consuming problem that will need a dedicated wardrobe person as you've already surmised! Are the costumes already designed / acquired? if not, then the maintenance issues and cost are worth mentioning at the next production meeting, arguing that high cost maintenance means less to spend on the actual costumes....or a transfer of funds from another part of the budget....

 

 

assuming a fait-accompli, then a good wardrobe supervisor will advise to provide machine washable undergarments wherever possible to try to minimise the effect on the more delicate stuff. Have removable sweatpads in the armpits. If possible, get "doubles" of the costumes to use in alternate performances so they don't need to be cleaned daily (big cost implication, obviously). Get hold of a supply of "Fresh Again" spray - one source is Upstage Dry cleaners in London - specialists in Theatrical costumes. it's not a substitute for drycleaning, but using it overnight might mean less frequent dry cleaning. Upstage used to collect / deliver anywhere in the country - at a price, of course, so could do a clean over the weekend as you move to the next venue. (assuming it's weekly touring...)

They don't seem to have a website, the address is: Upstage Theatrical Dry Cleaners, Unit 8 Acorn Production Centre 105 Blundell Street, N7 9BN ...

Jivemaster's right about the steaming; useful part of the touring wardrobe supervisor's kit, but no substitute for cleaning.

 

One problem you will find with normal dry cleaners is that they may not accept unlabelled items, which of course would rule out a lot of bespoke costume items. Check with venues to see if they have arrangements with local firms who will accept theatrical items at your own risk.

 

I don't know if it still happens, but a lot of wardrobe people used to prefer a twin-tub washing machine, you could wash much quicker than an automatic and keep an eye on the delicates, Not quite hand-washing, but better than sticking them in a front loader, even on the "delicate" cycle... I don't imagine this kind of thing is easily available these days, but a lot of companies used to tour their own, easy to do as they didn't require to be plumbed in.

 

don't bother with Febreze. All it does is disguise the smell. (but if it comes to the worst, at least the performers will think it's clean!)

 

Conclusion - a good Wardrobe Supervisor will be worth the expense!

 

(anecdote alert!)

I shared a theatre once with a very energetic dance group (we did children's show in daytime, they performed evenings), including sharing the dressing rooms. They didn't bother much about maintenance and their costumes reeked to high heaven, to the extent that the stench appeared to migrate to our costumes! there was absolutely no excuse for this, as it was not a touring show, and there was a day off during which costumes could have been sent out (Upstage was actually just round the corner) But they really didn't think it was a problem until we complained bitterly! The show transferred to the West End, hopefully they decided they could afford clean costumes at that point....

[Jivemaster]

You have two choices, carefully chosen machine washables at initial cost and cheap cleaning, or delicates with expensive cleaning, and I thenik you have already chosen the latter!

 

VERY worthy point also above that commercial cleaners do read the labels and no care/clean instructions may mean item not cleaned.

[GRisdale]

...and I think you have already chosen the latter!

I wouldn't use the word 'chosen' - but yes... Doh!

Many thanks for that chaps, very helpful indeed.

 

Cheers,

Gareth.

[w/robe]

Everything that Andy_S said above plus pit pads