How To Care For Your Corset

Because corsets are an investment, it is important to know how to clean your corset and care for it properly.
Here are a few tips on how to safely clean your corset and extend its life:
Cleaning:
1. Dry clean only!
Under no circumstance should you ever throw your corset in a washing machine. I don't care if you promise to put it in a lingerie bag and wash it in cool water on the most delicate setting! Putting your corset in a washing machine will completely destroy it so stick to dry cleaning.
2. Spot cleaning is okay
If you happen to get a little spot or stain on your corset, it is safe to spot clean it with a damp cloth. Start first with water alone and gently rub the soiled area to see if water alone will do the trick. If water isn't enough, use a delicate non-bleach laundry detergent. But use restraint! Most laundry detergents, even those intended for the most delicate fabrics, can be quite concentrated. A drop should be plenty.
If you do decide that you will need to use laundry soap of some kind, then be sure to apply the soap to the cloth, rather than directly to the soiled spot on the corset and once you've rubbed the spot out of the corset, do not fully immerse your corset into any sort of bath to rinse the soap off. Rather, take a clean cloth, add water to it and gradually wipe the soapiness off of the corset.
Once complete, allow your corset to air dry, preferably out of direct sunlight.
Maintaining your corset:
1. Seasoning your corset is key
In order to insure that your corset has a long and happy life, seasoning is very important. So rather than eagerly tightening your corset to its full capacity upon removing it from its packaging, give your corset about 7 to 10 days where you begin wearing it not fully tightened for several hours per day, and each day tighten it a little further and wear a little longer. This will insure that the corset forms nicely to your body and that the bones won't bend out of shape from immediate/aggressive use.
2. If you waist train, consider alternating between 2 different styles
This will not only give your corsets a chance to rest between regular/frequent use, but will also provide you with different styles to accommodate how you may be feeling from one day to the next. For example, on a day where you may be feeling a bit bloated, a steel boned corset may feel more comfortable than a waist trainer would.
3. Store your corset in a cool dry place
Moisture isn't ideal for corsets due to their steel boning. Stick to storing your corset(s) in a cool and dry place to avoid rusting and warped bones. It is also wise to keep your corsets out of direct sunlight, because as with any garment, the sun can bleach the fabric and leave it uneven, or worse yet weaken the fabric and leave it more prone to fraying or split seams.
And there you have it: 5 tips that should help insure your corset has a very long life!
Happy lacing!