Corset Care

Proper care will extend the beauty and life of your corset. Natural oils, perfumes and deodorants will begin to breakdown fabric over time if not cleaned properly after each use. Having multiple corsets is ideal and advised for proper care. This will enable you to alternate between cleaning and allow for drying completely between each wear. This distributes wear and tear and greatly extends the life of your garments.

After wearing your corset, take a slightly damp cloth to the lining and wipe it down. Let the corset air out and dry completely before rolling and storing. Be careful not to get the cloth too wet as certain fabrics may cause water spotting or water marks. All of our corsets are constructed with spiral steel metal boning that can rust if exposed to too much water.

You may spot clean your corset with mild soap and cold water. Harsh chemicals or cleaners are not recommended as fabrics may react differently and cause staining to become worse.

Dry cleaning is not recommended. If you have a stain that cannot be removed with gentle home care or you want to get your garment professionally cleaned, we recommend finding a preservationist. Before choosing a preservationist, do some detective work and make sure you choose a reputable service. These services are used primarily for wedding dress preservation and there are tons of options out there. We have seen this service range in price from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand and a cheap service can ruin your investment, so be sure to do your homework to find the service that’s right for you.

There are three different ways that we suggest that are suitable for storing your corsets. Common among each method is to be sure to keep out of direct sunlight as it this will cause the fabric to fade.

The simplest method (if you have the closet space) is to store your corset laced and laid flat in a drawer.
Pull the laces taught so that the back fabric on either side of the laces kiss. Tie the lacing into a bow and lay them straight up then over, tucking the excess inside the corset at the center back. If stacking multiple corsets, be careful when placing delicate fabrics on top of one another. If you have very delicate details on multiple corsets you may consider separating them with a piece of lightweight linen or cotton between each one.

Another method is rolling your corset and placing in a drawer or a bin. For corsets that are not particularly delicate, this method works well and can save a ton of space. I usually keep my laces loosened for this. Fold the corset in half with the lining facing outward (the busks should meet but not clasp). Start rolling from the busk so that the busk is in the inside of the rolled corset. When completely rolled, wrap the laces loosely around the corset to hold in place. These can be stored as is or covered using a pillowcase or with a matching custom corset case. We prefer the custom corset case because it allows you to easily identify the corset without removing it from its protective enclosure.

Hanging your corset from its laces is another storage option you can use. If you are using this method for storage, we recommend tiered swing arm slack hangers (like these). These hangers are sturdy, save valuable closet space and do not pinch and damage fabric like most clamp hangers do. Simply drape your corset over the hanger by its loosened laces.

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