How to Deodorize A Dance Costume

When your dancer was just a little tot, you probably did not have “costume odor” on your list of nuisances that you had to deal with as a dance mom. After all, your child probably performed in just one or two numbers, maybe a handful of times a year. Plus, baby dancers typically have not yet developed the body odor that can accompany puberty (ah, fun times).

But all good things must come to an end. Before you know it, your dancer’s costumes begin to trap the odors that the body creates during exertion. I’ve created several memes on this phenomenon, and their popularity leads me to believe that most kids just…stink!  When it happens to your child’s costume, you need some tools in your dance mom arsenal to battle the stench. 

First, A Warning

*Before you apply any treatment to an entire costume, you’ll want to spot-test it in an inconspicuous place first. Because fabrics and embellishments vary so greatly, I cannot guarantee that these methods will work for you as it did for others. If you can’t spot-test the actual costume, dig around to find a retired costume that has similar fabric and/or embellishments to be a test subject!

If the method passes the spot-test, you may have to concentrate most of your efforts on the places that bacteria is most likely to get trapped – the armpits, the crotch (sorry to be so vulgar, but how else can I say it?), and any other areas that trap moisture. You may need to repeat several cycles of whichever strategy you use, so you might not want to give up after the first round if nothing went horribly wrong!

*This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon Influencer, I may earn a small commission on each purchase you make using those links (at no additional cost to you).

Spray It, Don’t Say It!

Vodka

Dance moms often seek advice from others in related groups on Facebook. Pretty frequently, I see posts requesting help with removing costume odors. And on EVERY SINGLE ONE of these, another mom recommends spraying the costume with vodka. Some recommend diluting the vodka with water (a roughly 50/50 mixture) or just using it straight. Many moms claim that the cheaper vodka works better than the pricey stuff! Just hang the garment, spray it in the stinky spots, and allow it to air dry.

Personally, I’ve used this method myself with limited success. After I first sprayed it, I silently prayed before leaning in and taking a whiff. Much to my delight, the smell had diminished significantly! But as I let the costume dry, the odor returned to nearly its full strength. I repeated the process for several cycles, but the smell was only slightly less offensive than when I started. And believe me, I used the cheapest stuff I could find (I’m pretty sure it would strip wallpaper, if I tried it). 

I wonder if I should have started hosing it down before the smell became unbearable. Maybe repeating this process after each time my girl wore it, starting from the very first, would have kept the smell at bay. Thankfully, I did not observe any change in the fabric’s color after I applied the vodka treatment.

Vinegar

Other dance moms have reported success with using white vinegar to rid a costume of stink. The theory behind using vinegar is that, like vodka, it will kill the bacteria that is creating the funk. Some moms have sprayed it onto the fabric (much like the vodka method), while others have let the garment soak in the sink with a mix of two-thirds water and one-third vinegar. 

Commercial Spray Deodorizers

If you search for “spray deodorize for clothes” on Amazon or another shopping site, you are likely to be met with countless results. Ideally, your best options will have some type of antibacterial properties to their formulas to zap the source of the stench. Some well-rated products are Fabric Refresh by The Laundress New York, FunkAway Spray (safe for clothes, shoes, and gear), Odoban Odor Eliminator/Disinfectant, Zep Air and Fabric Odor Eliminator, and Defunkify Odor Remover Spray. 

Personally, we used Out! this year with somewhat positive results. A fellow dance mom highly recommended it, and it made sense. The formula is designed as a stain and odor remover for PETS, so the enzyme formula is designed to kill odor-causing bacteria. Again, I think it would have been more effective had I begun to spray it after their very first performance, and regularly thereafter. Another dance mom had success with Nature’s Miracle, another pet odor remover.

Whichever of these you decide to try, I cannot overstate the importance of spot-testing first! Find an area of the fabric that won’t show if something goes sideways and give it a spray. 

Hand Washing

Beware dance moms, hand washing a costume can be tricky business (but it might be your only viable option if spray treatments don’t work). So many factors will impact how well this works for you. The fabric, the color, and the embellishments (and the adhesive used) on each costume will all be affected when you submerge it in water, so doing a spot-test in an inconspicuous area first is highly recommended (are you noticing a pattern yet?). 

My Experience

Recently, I washed my daughters’ black mesh production costumes because the stench rising off them could curl your nostril hair. We just wrapped up our regional season, so I wanted to eliminate the stink before my girls needed to wear them for the recital next month. I couldn’t, in good conscience, let them fester for another five weeks. I cleaned the bathroom sink and filled it with cold water and a little bit of blue Dawn. Gingerly, I dipped a rhinestone-encrusted cuff into the mix. What I noticed pretty quickly was that the glue we used on the stones was turning white and soft again (it was Gem-Tac). I let the cuff dry, and didn’t see any other changes. 

Obviously, I knew I couldn’t let the whole costume soak for long or I would risk losing some stones. I gently pushed the whole costume through the suds and into the water and worked quickly. With care, I rubbed the mesh fabric of the underarm area against itself, praying the light friction would work out some of the bacteria. Delicately, I scrubbed the material in the “nether region” to freshen that up as well. I gave the entire costume a few easy swishes in the water, and took it out.

Finally, I let it air-dry in our bathroom, and compared it to the unwashed costume of my other daughter. The color remained the same, and the odor was nearly gone! I repeated the process so that both costumes were given new life, and both of my daughters remarked on how much better the costumes smelled. I used the same method with their rhinestone fishnet tights; the process actually went more smoothly because those stones were hot-fixed onto the mesh, so there was no mushy glue to fear. 

Making It Work for You

Instead of blue Dawn, you can use a detergent that is made especially for hand washing delicate fabrics. Check out highly-rated options like Dreft, Woolite, and Delicate Wash by The Laundress. If you’re feeling a bit bolder (and the fabric isn’t quite as flimsy or fragile), you can try a detergent formulated for sports or activewear.  For this, Atsko, Tide Hygienic Clean, Rockin’ Green, Persil, Arm & Hammer, and Biokleen Sport come highly recommended. 

Most manufacturers will recommend drying the garment flat so as not to pull or tear the fabric. In my experience, you can hang the costume to dry if there is a sturdy strap or some other less-delicate place to hang it from. As long as the material won’t pull too much when it’s wet (affecting its shape), it could work. In the past, I flipped the “undercarriage” area inside out and used the clip from a hanger (like these, my favorites) to grab it before hanging. If you have a salad spinner, try giving the costume a whirl in it to make it less saturated before air-drying.

Machine Wash – Proceed With Caution

In the spirit of full disclosure, I have machine-washed exactly one costume in my entire dance mom existence. Another mom had already washed her dancer’s costume in the machine, the stones were hot-fixed on, and it was black in color. Otherwise, I don’t know if I would have had the moxy to be the first to try it. The costume came out just fine, and certainly less stinky.

Honestly, I don’t plan to machine-wash any costumes again (there’s just too much at risk). Use your judgment; if you have any doubts, it might be best to find an alternative method. If you do decide to go ahead with it, put the costume in a lingerie bag to keep it from getting snagged. Give one of the above-listed detergents (Dreft, Woolite, etc.) a try. Use the quickest, gentlest cycle available on the lowest spin setting with cold water. To keep colors from bleeding together, use a “color-catcher” sheet like this one from Xcleen.

Dry Cleaning

Some dance moms regularly use a dry cleaner for some of their dancer’s pieces. While I’ve never gone this route myself, I would strongly suggest that you use a provider that you have already worked with, comes highly recommended from another dance family, and/or has experience specifically with dance costumes. If you’re unsure, you can test the waters by having a “retired” costume dry cleaned first (try to find one with similar fabric and embellishments). 

An Ounce of Prevention…

Let Them Breathe 

To prevent odors from deeply rooting themselves into the fabric, air the costumes out between performances. Many dance moms recommend hanging them up and airing them outdoors. Just don’t leave them outside too long; the sun can bleach or otherwise alter the color of the fabric. Use your judgment as to whether the wind is right; neither you nor your neighbor will be thrilled when a wayward costume gets caught up in a gust and drops into their topsoil!

If you don’t have a foldable drying rack (like this one), you can use a ballet barre or garment rack; I’ve rolled our Dream Duffel outside and hung the costumes on the rack to air them out. 

If outside is not an option for you, hang them in a room with a clean floor (in case they fall) and turn on a fan. I’ve wrapped this stroller fan around a towel bar in my bathroom to create some wind when I was doing my airing-out inside on a rainy day.

Another trick that dance moms often use is to keep dryer sheets in the garment bags at all times. You can also do this with a zippered plastic baggie of laundry scent beads. 

The Role of Hygiene

To keep the stink at bay, encourage your dancers to take a shower or bath before putting on their costumes. Also, make sure they are applying an antiperspirant/deodorant regularly. Even if your child is on the younger side, help him or her get into the habit of doing this. 

My girls didn’t necessarily need deodorant when they were nine years old, but that’s when I started insisting that they wear it. By establishing a routine early, you’re increasing the odds that it will stick by the time puberty makes its appearance (they use the Degree spray that doesn’t leave white marks). If you’re concerned about starting too young, pick one of the natural, aluminum-free brands (like Native). 

Fingers Crossed!

Hopefully, at least one of these methods will work for deodorizing your dancer’s costumes. If you have any more tips or tricks, PLEASE leave them in the comments on this post – we would truly appreciate it!

Check out Competition Essentials – Costuming for everything you need to maintain your dancer’s costumes!