It really depends on the material of the cosplay. If I've made it out of cotton and I know it's secure then I have no problem with washing it in the washer and dryer. If it's something like velvet or if it has any kind of facing then I'll usually dry clean it.

Bump because I also need to know what to do about dirty cosplays. A few years ago it was around 85 degrees at a con I was at and I sweated on my white sailor uniform, leaving embarrassing yellowed marks as well as a make up foundation ring around the collar from when I removed it. Afraid to wash it because I may cause further irreversible damage.

>>5530289
http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Yellow-Armpit-Stains

Basically don't use bleach, don't wash it in hot water, and consider using sweat guards for events or changing your deodorant. You can buy specially made armpit guards but if you want something cheaper, basic panty liners do the job. (Regular pads if you except to sweat a lot, though this may be too bulky depending on the costume) Whatever you choose to use, it's going to feel strange at first but they really do work in not only protecting the costume from staining but from pit stains which could ruin a photo.

>2012
>people wear costumes so often/in such hot weather that they actually need to be washed
>mfw

Uh yeah. If there's a close-fitting body piece I might wash that, but wearing 4 layers of undergarments + not sweating + febreze afterward generally does it for me.

I also don't wear costumes more than a handful of times, generally speaking.

>>5530382
Some people go to a lot of conventions and meet-ups.

I'm paranoid when it comes to my things, so I just take them to the dry cleaners.

>>5530365
mfw I'm now going to imagine every cosplayer I meet with pads on their armpits.

>>5530454
Same anon here- lol, well I found out about this through working on set. I've worked under costumers who do this with actors clothing and it actually works. Newer actors are a little surprised when they see them. Some don't even know what they are and just assume it's for sweat. (When we use panty liners)

Like >>5530285 said, it depends on the material. Anything that would typically be machine washable (denim, cotton, polyester) gets machine washed. Ironing is done too as needed. More fragile/"dressy" pieces--usually wool, poly-blend, or one oddball velvet piece--get dry cleaned. Leather gets a good coat of leather balm rubbed in, and if it has a lining, that gets wiped down first with diluted detergent and then with some plain water to rinse. Leather usually gets cleaned after a few wears. Everything else gets washed after each con. Oh, and anything attacked by a sweaty hambeast gets washed ASAP.

I like freshness, and cosplay is kept at the same standard as everything else I wear.

>>5532920
OP here. I think that's the issue sometimes with cosplayers and their costumes. They don't think of them as actual garments or 'real clothes' so they don't take care of them the same way and the costumes get nasty/smelly fast. I think this is more often when they make it themselves because it feels so handmade to them versus their manufactured mass produced clothes and they don't want to ruin it.

Another question I forgot to add: Does anyone else bring their own irons or steamers to cons? If I have room I usually bring my iron and I just got a travel size steamer so I bring that too. Hotels can be unreliable with their irons so I figure it's less hassle to just bring your own. I'm really starting to love my steamer for softer fabrics because it speeds up the process of getting ready. Plus it helps in making it a little more clean and fresh.

I don't tend to look after them well. So I make them robust. In between cons they sit in boxes/cases in my "cosplay shed". Yes I have a cosplay shed.

I've ruined my death the kid jacket by washing it in the washing machine. It was a pure linen jacket and the white stripes turned gray from the wash.

I dry clean all of my cosplays, and double Fabreeze them - the day before I wear it, and the day after I wear it
I transport all of my cosplays in a separate bag if I have the space.

>>5533259
I take my steamer to cons with me. I can't iron my weeping angel costume, since it's covered in paint, and the steam is the only way to get it unwrinkled from transport. I use it for everything except when constructing a garment. pic related
as for washing: I prewash and shrink all my fabrics before I even cut out my pieces, so I am not afraid of washing them at all, and toss everything in the washer. the only things I don't wash in the washer like normal are pleather, leather, vinyl, and weird materials, like a dress that is 100% covered in paint.
I wash fur in the washer, brush it while wet and hang it to dry in front of a fan.
For odd things that can't be washed, I Febreeze the hell out of them, and air them out for a few days in the sun, spot treating when necessary.

I make as much machine washable or hand washable as I can. If that fails, I take stuff to the dry cleaners.

My dry cleaner loves me. Every time he sees me coming he's like "what are you bringing me now?"

>>5533368
I am totally guilty of not prewashing my fabrics. When it comes time to wash my costumes I'm always worried of it shrinking (or something going horribly wrong) so I just febreeze the hell out of it and spot clean when necessary. My next project I think I'm going to actually prewash my fabric. Would prewashing also help a fabric in not 'running?' I once used this red poly/cotton fabric and it rubbed off onto the white apron and even a little on my wig.

>>5533428
prewashing definitely helps.
What I do is wash it on the highest heat setting on the roughest setting, for everything except silk/similar lightweight fabric.
Then I dry it on the highest heat setting.
Washing it and drying it on super hot will hopefully shrink your fabric as much as it's possibly going to shrink.

As for it bleeding: reds are THE worst. I'd wash it a couple of times by itself just to try to get as much of the excess dye out. You don't have to dry it inbetween washes if you're washing it multiple times to get it to not bleed.

You could always hand wash in cold and hang dry the thing that bled on you. It might help.

>>5533455
What about those color catcher sheets they advertise on tv? I wonder if those work?

>>5533458
I've personally never used one. I just learned the methods I posted in my dye classes.
It wouldn't hurt to try one?

>Cosplaying powergirl
>Be a retard and don't prewash red cape
>After 1 day wearing it, red bleeds onto white body suit
>Bring it home, notice stain
>Grandma offers to wash it
>Notice 3hrs later the spandex bodysuit is sitting in a sink full of bleach
>GRANDMA NOOOOO

Yeah... I learned that day. Never bleach spandex. It turns nasty.

I handwash my costumes currently.

If it's durable, I'll wring it out and hang it up, if it's more delicate, I roll it gently in a towel until the towel absorbs the water (changing for replacement towels as necessary), then hang dry/dry flat.

I am a poorfag, dry cleaners would kill my limited budget.

>>5533455
Thanks for the info! So when washing fabrics to get it not to bleed would this be done with cold water, after doing the first prewash to shrink it?

I think I'm scared of prewashing some fabrics because usually it was a battle to find it in that exact color so I worry that if I wash it it will fade. Is there anyway to prevent this? Or do you take this into account when buying it. (like for example maybe buying something brighter than what it needs to be?)

Grew up in predominantly Asian neighborhood, so I have lots of friends whose parents own dry cleaning businesses. I pay a VERY cheap price (would be free, but I insist on paying since they're still using resources) for all my cosplays to be dry cleaned (never over $5).

>>5533613
>>5533421
>>5533304
I've never had anything dry cleaned so I was wondering if there are certain items that they won't clean? Like spandex or something like that?

How much do you guys usually pay to get your costumes dry cleaned?