Properly Caring For your Tutu
Instructions & best results Suggestions
Due to your Crochet-Top Tutu Dress being suppressed into a small packaging box for its Journey (Not recommended for storing), you can expect your Dress to be a little flattened upon arrival. The tulle part of the dress, which is the skirt, will most likely be wrinkled as well. PLEASE DON’T PANIC, but do prepare to make a few adjustments in order to shape it back to its beautiful form!!
Here you will find proper instructions on caring for your tutu along with suggestions and extra tips!
UNPACKING:
After taking your new tutu dress out of its package, gently run your fingers through the tulle to straighten the tulle skirt starting from the upper end all the way down, removing any twisting, crumpling, kinks or knots.
Next, flip it up-side-down (& inside-out, if possible) and clip it to a skirt hanger, child’s hanger, or other clipped hanger. You can alsoslightly stretch the top and slide it over a round object such as a roll of paper napkins or something that has an hour glass shape. I personally prefer to use a dress stand or large vase. You will understand why in a second!
If you have a steamer, you may want to plug it in & turn it on prior to these first few steps! This way it will be ready when you are!!
REMOVING WRINKLES
This may be your most repeated step
For best Results: You will need a steamer for this; an inexpensive humidifier iron will work, but be sure NOT TO GET TOO CLOSEwith the iron. It WILL RUIN the material!!
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Steamer - Once you have complete your first few steps and your steamer is steaming, you can start passing it around the skirt. Grab small sections of the skirt and Just as before, rake your fingers through the skirt prior to passing the steamer.By sectioning it off you should receive better and quicker results; however, you can make a second pass on any sections or pieces you feel may need it.
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Humidifier – Hang dress over humidifier and let steam rise up to the dress. This is the safest and easiest way; especially for those of you with younger kids (and it’s hands-free)!»
Iron – Fill iron with water and set it on the lowest steam setting. Follow instructions as recommended in *Steamer*-Step. Please DON’T PUT IRON TOO CLOSE TO MATERIAL. Only use this instruction if no other options are available or you are confident and experienced in ironing.
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Other Options - Spray with water bottle, hang, and let the weight of the water straighten it while it drip-dries. Some people have put their tutu in a steamy bathroom or shower (DON’T RUN WATER DIRECTLY ON TUTU), but I have never tried it nor am I recommending it, but if that’s all you have for now, it may be helpful! Just please remove any embellishments, sashes, or extras from the dress before doing so. Please note that this way will take much longer and will use up much, much more water!
For an extra-fluffy tutu: Do the outer (top-side) first then turn inside-out to do the underneath. You may want to hold it inside-out for a longer period of time than you did the other side for fluffier tutu results. Preferable, I steam it inside-out & up-side down only; however, this may not be possible for highly embellished tutus.
Steaming should be repeated prior to wear. Depending upon weather conditions, you may also need to repeat more frequently. Windy weather will cause the skirt to crinkle – Be prepared!
STATIC CONTROL: The secret to a static-free Tutu is…
Mix a fabric softer in a spray bottle with water.
Using a spray bottle lightly spray water on the tulle while passing fingers through tulle.
Hang to dry over a towel, in shower, or above bath tub to catch water drips. Tulle will straighten from the weight of the water.
• Static Control Mix: Some people use a 50/50 mixture of water & fabric softener; however, I tend to prefer a 30/70 or 40/60 to avoid any sticky residue. By the way, this also helps it smelling Fresh
This will eliminate the steaming step prior to wear on windy days.
You can also rub a fabric softener sheet on tulle before each wear!
WSHING YOUR TUTU
*DO NOT MACHINE WASH* Spot clean or gently hand-wash your tutu: DO NOT WASH in machine
Gently spot clean with soap and water. Do not bunch up or compress the tulle together during this process. Once done, rinse, shake, straighten, and let dry (drip dry).
To wash your tutu, hold it directly under cold water fully saturating the material. Again, do not bunch up or compress the material while you while doing so. After you are done rinsing the tutu, shake the excess water out and hang the tutu to dry. Repeat the straightening process here as well.
Preserving Your Tutu
Follow the care instructions above and hang to store after each use!
TERMS to be aware of:
Tulle fabric – The skirt of your tutu dress is made from this mesh/net-like material. Tulle Fabric is often a combination of polyester and nylon and burns easily.
Remember: No Ironing … No Machine Washing … & … Please always hang to dry!!
