Prewashing question

[Taffy Saltwater]

Should I prewash heavy duty - almost canvas-y - cotton for a corset?  It's obviously not something I will be washing once it's come together.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Taffy!!

I usually do not pre-wash Cotton Canvas Duck for  corsets due to it's heavy thickness. Because corsets do not touch the body per se, I do wsh them after they have been made by hand in the bath tub, then hang dry on a  line. There's very little if any shrinkage. I do that to my corsets and they still fit me fine.

[Taffy Saltwater]

Lady K, that's why you're the Queen & I am but a lowly acolyte!  Thanks!

[Syrilla]

I was going to say to opposite.  I prewash everything, that can be washed that is (and even some that They say shouldn't be).  Esp. as I do wash my corsets, even tho it may not touch my skin, it will still absorb sweat!

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

You are correct there, Syrilla.  I just do not pre-wash the Cotton Duck like i do most everything else. But I do wash my corsets and hang them out to dry.

I did pre-wash and dry  a large piece the Cotton Canvas Duck I used for a Corset once to see how it would feel afterwards. It was a hassle. Much of the body was lost and a witch to iron out afterwards.

[Syrilla]

It best to get it out of the dryer still damp, then iron with steam.  If it is still wrinkled you can always use a bit of vinegar as a spray. 

My issue with not washing the canvas is in the treatments that are put on to the fabrics to create the stiffness.  It varies what type of chemicals they use, but some coatings acts like waterproofing.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Syrilla

I do see why you need to make sure your corsets are cleaned. You are in a  more humid climate where anything sticks to the human form no mater the temperature. How you stay cool in all your layers is a miracle.

[lollergirl]

i'm in AZ so being able to wash a garment is a must because of dirt/dust & sweat.  i have a canvas-stiffened bodice that's unwearable now because i didn't prewash the canvas.  it's shrank so badly after washing that the bones warped.     i now prewash my canvas once.  i pull it out of the dryer while it's still damp & iron it out as best i can. 

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

It can get quite hot and dry here in Minnesota as well.

All my Bodices are underlined in 2 layers of Canvas Duck. To clean them, I take a clean dish cloth, wet it down in AMWAY's L.O.C(Liquid Organic Cleaner)diluted of course, and then hang dry. I don't get my bodices soaking wet like in the washing machine because of the trims and pearls. But damp enough that they can dry within a couple of hours.

I do the same to my skirts as well. Though when extremely muddy, that's harder.