Best Way to Clean a Corset?

[Elennare]

I know this has been asked and answered before, but my attempts with the search function failed to turn up anything.

I have a couple of corsets I need to clean.  Unfortunately, they both have metal busks in them.  One of them has duct ties for all the other boning, the second one I have no idea if it's got metal or plastic boning (I suspect metal, but my husband purchased it as a gift, so I don't really know).  The first one is made out of machine washable fabric, the other one, again, I'm not really sure what it's made out of.

I think I remember seeing that machine washing was out with metal boning, because it can rust?  And that dry cleaners often won't deal with metal boning in corsets (either flat out refusing, or in worst cases, actually cutting it out of the garment!?!)?  Which leaves...?  Hand washing?  And/or spraying with lysol?

They're not stained or smelly.  I guess I need to sanitize them, more-so then "wash" them.  We just discovered our bedroom carpet is full of mold, so everything that's been in there needs to be cleaned in some fashion to get rid of any residual mold spores.     Maybe steam cleaning would do it?

Thanks for the help!

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

I wash my Corset  gently in the tub with a gentle detergent. I have either totally immersed a Corset in the water, or have taken a clean wash cloth and worked it front and back.

I suggest Hang drying it on a  clothesline all day. That way the layers get dry more evenly. I have used an Iron carefully to press out wrinkles.

Of course, it depends on where one lives that they have access to a clothesline for all day drying.

[DonaCatalina]

Bathtub with liquid dish detergent.
If you work on getting it dry immediately, your busk *should* be ok. Don't heat dry it because that will make the metal busk brittle and might cause it to snap.
You can use a blow dryer on a low/no-heat setting. That won't produce enough heat to hurt anything.

[Elennare]

Awesome!  Thank you very much for the advice!

Sadly, hanging it up outside isn't going to work (I live in the Pacific Northwest, and this time of year is "rainy season" ), but I can probably manage to find a way to hang them over the bath tub.

[stonebiscuit]

In addition, spraying the inside down with white vinegar will help cut down on odors between washes (obviously it will smell like vinegar, but that fades) and kill bacteria.

[Elennare]

I've been a bit busy trying to deal with cleaning up mold-infested room on top of work and life, so I haven't gotten around to washing my corsets yet.  I've got a couple more questions, though.

First, why the recommendation for dish washing liquid over regular laundry detergent?  Does the dish soap react less with steel or something?

Second, does the vinegar kill mold spores, or just help with odors?  Found a leather corset I forgot I had, and if the vinegar will kill mold, wiping it down with that sounds like a better option then full-on washing the thing.

Thanks again!

[Rowan MacD]

   I would take the leather corset to the dry cleaners.  The methods and chemicals used to clean leather are different than the ones used on woven fabric.  I don't think boning and busks will be an issue because I'm pretty sure they don't process the garment in a machine.
   As it was explained to me-the leather parts of the item are hand cleaned to remove stains by use of clean cloths, soft brushes and solvents,  then wiped down with conditioners to seal the hide. A solvent is used on the lining to remove odors and stains.  It's expensive-especially if the dye used on the leather comes off (some crafted leather pieces are painted, not true dyed).

   You might get the same results with a Dryell kit and elbow grease, but the corset would have to dry at room temp.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Once Garb and Corsets are cleaned and thoroughly dried,  store them in those air tight tubs you see at home Depot, target, Lowes, etc. I use them for my fabrics and Ren garb accessories.

[PollyPoPo]

RE:  Taking leather corset to dry cleaners

Just make sure to investigate the quality of the dryers.  Some can handle it, others not so much.

[Rowan MacD]

RE:  Taking leather corset to dry cleaners

Just make sure to investigate the quality of the dryers.  Some can handle it, others not so much.

^^that^^  I have had discount cleaners who gave me the garment back in the same condition I gave it to them.  Best to find one who specializes in fur and leather.

[Elennare]

Sounds like I probably don't need to bother with taking the leather corset anywhere to be cleaned.  I'll just check on an inside area that the lysol wipes won't mess up the dye and wipe it down with one of those.  It's not dirty, stained, or smelly, just been exposed to mold spores I want to make sure are gone.

Where do you find air tight storage tubs?  I've seen plenty of storage tubs, and have some I keep my fabric in, but I've never seen an air tight one other than for storing food.

[DonaCatalina]

2 Gallon size ziploc bags work as air-tight containers.

[Orphena]

Late to the party (as usual!), and I haven't tried it on leather, but I have also used vodka to remove odours from ultrasuede and other fabrics. I've heard that is how they clean tutus as well!