Historical speaking prior to Marie Antoinette popularizing bathing, people just perfumed themselves and changed their shirts throughout the day. Basically to flex on how many shirts they owned. However when they did start bathing in Versailles, they always bathed in their undergarments. So Marie was quite literally washing herself and her clothes.
@@mintjaan though she still only washed 1-2 times a month. Much better than the norm of the time, which was 4-10 times in your life. Marie Antoinette was very much into perfumes, so much so that she reinvented perfume in France. She seriously was really good for France, just not the correct time for reforms and steeper taxation.
lolitas problem require victorian solution: wearing a proper clean undergarment so that dresses dont smell like sweat after a day not only it protect the skin from synthetic fabric and layers of petticoat but your clothe also stay clean muuuuch longer why is not a thing anymore T.T
If nothing else you can use the early 20th century solution of sewing sweat catchers into the blouses. A temporary solution (say for a convention that was warmer/more humid than expected) is to use pantyliners stuck to the armpits on the inside
Yesss! I always wear a linen or silk chemise under my Lolita dresses. They were a bit expensive but worth not ruining my clothes with sweat. And yeah cleaning your cleans is all fine and dandy but in reality clothes can only survive so many washes. So I recommend if your clothes only have a slight body smell just air them on on a clothes line on a dry cloudy (not too sunny cause sun can fade clothing)
There are a lot of enzyme cleaners and the like these days. 100 years ago you had to use 60+ Celsius degrees to get clothes actually clean. These days we have better cleaning tech.
Goth here (I dunno why) Hot water also makes colors fade as well as black. Also BONUS TIP! If you have graphic t-shirts, turn them inside out before you wash them. it will help keep the graphic from cracking.
Thank you for this video! I have a couple of bright red lolita dresses that really aren't washable so I found a local drycleaner who specializes in wedding gowns. They knew how to deal with the weird fabrics from Japan, had no trouble with the dry cleaning instructions, and my dresses came out perfect with no fading. :) And yes I've also handwashed some lolita with no issues (atelier boz, violet fane). None of us should ever have to go around smelling like an old kitchen sponge. Lol.
Cuz yeah....purchased a used AP lacemarket dress that clearly had a "smell"......yikes people. We are in a 1st world country! Washing is a thing for clothes! And toss out your old kitchen sponges! 😑
@@kg4862 regularly microwaving will extend the lifespan of the sponges, but you have to do that from the start. Once they smell badly it's already too late and you really need to toss the sponges
Girl, thank you! I've heard so many disturbing excuses for NOT doing laundry, from "spot-cleaning stains is all my clothes really need" all the way up to "sweat doesn't actually smell bad if you eat a healthy diet"! Um, no! WASH. YOUR. DAMN. DRESSES.
There are people with GENES that greatly reduce body door, but that doesn't mean they don't need to wash clothes. Diet doesn't make as much of a difference as genetics, but not having to wash as intensely and frequently doesn't mean you don't need to regularly wash clothes so any one who tells you that is as dumb as the people who claim you never need to wash towels.
I wear vintage and I always wash my clothes after 1-3 washes for dresses (depending on the fabric and construction as sleeveless sundresses tend not to get so sweaty) and every 3-6 wears for skirts. You automatically have to wash it if you spill anything that stains/smells on it. The only time I've not washed super frequently was in theatre when doing a show, and we'd use sweat covers (or the cheap option of pantyliners) to make the blouses last longer with little to no sweat staining.
Also as a costumer, if your dress doesn't have stains, doesn't have a prominent smell, and the stank is mainly in the pit area. I recommend 4 parts water and 1 part vodka, spray it on both sides of the pits, and let it rest overnight/24 hours.(This also works on dry cleaner only dresses) THIS IS ONLY IF THE STANK IS THE PITS, IT IS NOT AN ALTERNATIVE TO CLEANING THE DRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!
And for dresses/blouses/undergarments with sleeves you can see on removable/replaceable sweat covers that can be washed instead of the whole dress. A quick fix for a heatwave is using pantyliners in the pits to catch sweat
Two comments: 1) Spot treat for stains (carefully) using a cotton bud and some soap with a white cloth behind. Dawn dish detergent in a teeny tiny amount plus some water can be highly effective. And repurposed cloth baby diapers are awesome for backing cloth (absorbent & white). 2) if you are a messy eater, USE AN APRON. I learned this the hard way when my oldest daughter sprayed soy ramen all over her AP Marshmallow Bunny OP. 😫 Gah! She now carries an apron in her purse (easy to clean and appropriate for the aesthetic). Vintage hostess aprons made of cotton and lace are perfect, and you can often find them at Goodwill or in Grandma’s closet.
I recommend washing used Lolita clothing before wearing. I wash things before I sell them, but I've had many items from both American and Japanese Lolita that when I hand-washed them definitely turned the water brown and really cloudy 🤢 Also, we have the same washing machine
I tend to wash my dresses by hand, especially the ones with print, unless I'm 100% sure they're able to be yeeted in the washing machine. This is really helpful for the latter!
Because it's Tyler and she's a treat. I will not only sit through a 26-minute how-to-wash video, but I will be enamored and amused by how much salt she produces over the mere thought that filthy gremlins are prancing around in unwashed AP. C'mon, admit you feel the same way.
I don't know why this was recommended to me, since I've never looked at anything Lolita in my life, but this is incredibly useful for all of my ridiculous goth clothes, too.
something that can also help speed up the drying of the dress ( without damage) is to use dehumidification. it is much more gentle on the fabric than using heat, but will shorten the drying time loads. I live in a cold/ damp region so air drying is sometimes a loosing battle. dehumidification can help it to get dry before it starts to smell manky.
@@hellyathe1st yeah, the dehumidifier takes the moisture out of the air, and then the drier air makes it easier for the moisture in the dress to evaporate out, drying the fabric. Then you dont need to use heat, which can affect things like elastic in shirring over time. Think of it like the moist heat/dry heatthat people talk about and they cant cool down by sweating properly( sweat cools by surface evaporation)
Good shout - you can also buy indoor tents for growing weed, but put some metal shelving unit inside and put towels on the shelves, and then all your dresses can go on the shelves with the dehumidifier inside. Turn it on and zip it up, all your dresses will dry in a few hours
One warning about the color catchers, depending on your washer they can get stuck in the drain and clog the washer to the point it won't clean properly. If I use more than one I'll put the other one in a small delicates bag. It still works and it saves the washer from being clogged
I would still highly suggest taking out the corset ribbon on the back. This can easily come untied and kind of strangle/wrap around parts of the dress if your washer isn't super gentle in the wash/spin cycles. I've been ignoring laundry tags since day 1, but I'm still as careful as possible!
I always love how reverently Tyler takes care of her wardrobe. Every time she pauses when she fixes the lace the look of pure Bliss and love for the print is outstanding. 🤧🤧💞💞💞
I loved this and it is a good reminder for those who might normally send everything to the dry cleaners. I love 7th generation lavender I use it to wash antique doll clothing. Love your coordinate and thumbs up to cameraman(lol) and hugs to Marshmallow.
I might have to find a UK equivalent for my vintage as I have done pretty mint condition (and maybe rare) 80's Laura Ashley. I'm going to be a student so hopefully it's not quite so pricey!
If my IW can't survive getting shucked in the laundry from time to time, they have no place in my wardrobe 🙈 P. S. Marshmallow cameos are the best cameos! ❤️
For real! Both old and new IW is super durable and easy to take care of, though their velvet pieces do demand special attention (and are totally worth it).
@@Slithera I don't understand why all my nice casual cotton skirts have dry cleaning tags, they've never been remotely affected by my laundering (maybe some fading but thankfully that's no biggie with solids) 😊
oh my god, same. Or at least something that can't be hand washed. I heard too many horror stories about bleeding and fading to buy something that can't go in water!
@@SwimmingInSunlight Maybe they do it as a sort of safety precaution, but I agree, a big portion of my wardrobe is solid pieces from 2006/2007, they're all in flawless condition and I only ever wash them by hand or machine. Material and color permitting, I think the majority of pieces can be washed if you're cautious and take good care of your clothes.
This was super soothing to watch in the midst of isolation and pandemonium! I usually wash my dresses in a netted wash bag, but your comment about the zippers never occurred to me as a concern until now. I feel like I'm tempting fate suddenly @_@
Another tip for clothes in general is to wear good quality linen/cotton under shirts+slips. This keeps your skin off the fabric, and it's actually the way historically people kept their clothing clean. You wash the underthings often and the actual clothing far less often (essentially like you treat coats/jackets). In this way dry cleaning also becomes much more affordable if you can wear a piece a dozen times before it needs cleaning.
I once bought a Btssb JSK that arrived fully covered in yellow stains (that the seller didn't mention). There were some in the armpit area, on the collar and small stains all over it D: I thought it would be helpless to try to wash it but it all came of SO QUICK after simply putting it in water... I really wonder to this day what the seller was thinking. And why she never washed it once D':
I actually have a ‘camping’ washer and it’s hand cranked. It’s soooo handy for delicate clothes. 10/10 would recommend (even though you have to hand wring)
If I'm not mistaken (and I don't think I am because I stalk that shop like crazy and own half their stuff) the bow-shaped cookies are from SweetDollyHouse on Etsy. It's very reasonably priced and the owner is a darling!
I own a few velvet dresses for years and although not lolita all of them get the same treatment and have come out of a washer with agitator just fine. How I've done it is to use a fabric laundry bag that cinches up with stoppers instead of a zipper. I still turn all inside out even if they're in the bag. Cold water and gentle cycle using woolite black. I've only been able to put two dresses at time in the bag but that depends on what is on it even inside out. Anything with glitter is always by itself in the bag as it's not mesh and will contain the possible glitter bomb. After the wash with anything velvet you will have to hang it up and make sure it's on the shoulder seams and not carelessly uneven. Do not flat dry velvet as it will crush the velvet's pile. However, after you hang it and with velvet do not try to hang it over the bottom part of a hanger even if it is long it will leave a crease and hardly anyone has the needle brush like tool handy to press velvet. To combat creasing in velvet at home you must steam it while wet right out of the wash after hanging. Steaming while dry even with spritzing has not been that effective with velvet and you won't be as happy with the results. I have used the laundry bag trick with knits as well to stop stretching and other clothes with questionable permanent decoration instead of mesh. This has worked with many Gothic and non Gothic clothes that say dry clean only and chances are if it says that it never goes in the dryer. I hope this helps.
Forgot to mention to do the seaming while the dress is still inside out. Also, if you can't get a hold of a steamer you will still have to hang it up right away out of the wash but then make sure to smooth it out while still wet, unfold anything that shouldn't be and reshape where needed. It will dry however you leave it and will be more difficult to fix if you don't properly take care which may lead to starting over in a rinse cycle to reshape as desired. Unnecessary frustration avoided if you just do it right away since this is what you signed up for when you like anything that needs more care than tossing in the wash and straight to the dryer after.
As someone who is planning to get into the Lolita fashion after 5 years of taking an interest, I'm glad I saw this. Because when I see a really pretty dress sometimes I get intimidated because how do I get it cleaned if I was in it after a long day or if I got a stain and I can't get it dry cleaned. So again, thanks for this video.
Wish I could send this to the person who sold me a Putumayo set with unlisted armpit stains, I hand washed it and used an absolute heck ton of oxiclean...the water was grey when I was done, the whites were so much whiter...I don’t think it had ever been cleaned....*shakes head in disappointment*
I've washed an AP skirt (Chess Chocolate) in a top load washer, put it a pillowcase, used Tide, and everything was fine. Nothing faded and I didn't have any issues.
I wish I had this video before I did my first attempt at washing Lolita. I washed it in the washing machine like I usually washed anything and then the print bled. Luckily it was just Bodyline, but I’ve never worn it again and it’s been forever hanging in my closet since 2011. I don’t really know what to do with it now.
There are kits for "reversing" bleeding. They should be used as soon as possible so it might be too late for that red dress but you should know they exist. I had an incident with a green pillowcase bleeding on my favourite sweater and the kit saved the sweater. Can't recommend a brand because I'm from Italy. But if it exists here it must exist in other countries
I don't do Lolita and it's clearly been a while...but I've used a Tide catcher before for a second wash when I forgot to include it in the first one and it bled. Works sometimes. Can't hurt at this point.
Im sure there is a gothic lolita out there that would buy and dye that thing. Make your $$$ back and get a new one. Or dye it a lovely dark red/purple.
Really good advice! Another tip from historical costuming wear a 100% cotton or very light modal or rayon blend chemise (light dress, oversized tshirt) as your base layer before putting on your blouse, petticoat and dress. It absorbs the sweat and will prevent you from having to wash your dress too many times. You will likely still need to wash your blouses especially if you sweat in them. Also, polyester dresses are more durable and can take more wear so there's less of a need to be super delicate with them. I'd still turn them inside out, put in a delicates bag and wash in cold on delicate cycle. You can dry on low with polyester but better to air dry if you can. With cotton, silk or any knit, I 100% would follow the recommendations Tyler has laid out. Modern washing and especially drying machines were just not meant for natural fibers.
I feel like being a tailor and making my own clothing is a plus in this situation. I can make sure everything is either detachable or durable enough without lossing the cute.
Dryel is my favorite home dry cleaning. I use a delicates bag for it in a drier. I also use Woolite darks for darker dresses/blouses or Woolite delicates for lighter dresses/blouses in delicates bags. For the dresses that need dry cleaning, I use one of those clothes steamer and instead of water, I use the dry clean spray solution (from the Dryel). Accessories are usually handwashed with Castile soap. Edit: SOAK Unscented detergent wash is also great for washable dresses
I just want to mention that I bought a top loading washing machine last year that doesn't have a middle agitator. It mostly uses jets and spinning to clean. Just fyi they exist now. lol And thanks for this video! I can't believe how often I hear about people not washing their dresses. Especially after sweating in them all summer. 😫
This was great! I have found mesh laundry bags that tie instead of zip that I use for my more delicate dresses. But thank you!!! Because I don't understand how people aren't washing their clothes smh.
@@kawaiielephant7772 So, that's my voice that you hear in this video and some others. Yes, my name is also Tyler. And yes, even we think it's weird. Some of our cheeky friends like to call us "Tyler squared." We've been together 9 years, and even to this day sometimes we'll have the following exchange- "Hey, you know what's weird?" "What" "We have the same name." "Yeah, that is weird!"
Wow this is beautiful. I was really nervous about washing my dresses but now I feel less scared about washing my dresses. Thank you so much will be saving this for when it’s Lolita wash day!
In my mind, when you talked about being gentle with velvet, there was a cut away to me stuffing a velevet coat in the washing machine with some dye backed by sirens.
Great video, good info! One note, however: you definitely need to take the plastic off of your dress. My m-i-l is an antiques dealer, specializing in clothing, and she says NO PLASTIC BAGS ON GARMENTS. EVER. Her shouting, not mine. What can I say, she's five feet tall and angry. Anyway, plastic traps moisture, promotes mold/mildew/fungus growing on fabrics over time. Invest in a breathable fabric garment bag, or hell, put a king-sized natural fabric pillowcase over it, cutting a small hole for the hanger, and it will be so much better for it. Edit: I'm talking about the velvet dress you showed for 5 seconds.
I’m so scared to do this. I have an Emily Temple Cute dress that has a waist tie that is different from the rest of the dress. I may just have to dry clean it.
I never plan on wearing a Lolita style dress, regardless I thoroughly enjoyed your dedication to the attention to detail and explanation of every single FRACKING step.LOL. I think I'll apply this to washing my bras, because I DESTROY them in the washing machine.
If your bras have foam inside them (which some push-ups do), the dryer can totally destroy them too. I've got some that get a regular wash but boy they can't go near the dryer.
Great instructional vid Tyler, I tend to hand wash most of my dresses cuz I’m scared of damaging them. When it comes to drying, I use a wire drying rack. I put the bodice and the top part of the skirt on top of the rack. This way I can arrange the bows and stuff so they won’t get wonky. I let the skirt hang after I straighten all the layers. This takes up less room, which is great if you live somewhere people need that table you’re using and you don’t want people stepping on you stuff. If you buy second hand, asking the previous owner how they washed a dress can be helpful too, though hearing they just threw it in the washing machine at 40C is something I hope never too hear again. My poor meta OP
A fiber artist here. Great gentle cleanser for hand washing is called Soak, knitters use it for hand washing wools, silks, cottons, etc. and you don’t have to rinse it, you can buy it at a local yarn shop or on line. Synthrapol is a detergent that dyers use to reduce back staining and it helps pull off rouge dyes, most quilt stores have it or you can find it on line. It is concentrated so a dime sized drop will do. Another gentle cleansers that hand weavers use is call Orvus paste it is used on horses and can be found at a store like tractor supply or online. In a pinch a silicone free shampoo works because it is ph balanced. Most care tags tell you to go for the most gentle cleanse, most fabrics can handle a good wash, It is the dryer that will do more damage.
This video is adorable, I know it’s a tutorial but the amount of care you put into it is so cute! I’ve had a relative wash multiple dresses without realizing there was a process so I know the pain of ruining a dress! 😭
I can already hear my mom.... "I aint got time for that shit. Im washing it with the rest of the clothes. This shit is $1. Im not spending that for 1 dress!"
Where was this video last year?! I totally did NOTHING said in this video. I just turned my dress inside out, tossed it in the washing machine on the lowest settings possible, took it out, tossed it in the dryer, and done. I will admit, my petticoat came out with a super super light hint of pink (which is odd because the white on the dress stayed white) but the dress looks the same. Nothing got ruined on it, no wrinkles, no fades, no missing shapes. I think I got lucky. But will definitely be more careful with my dresses in the future.
This whole video reminded me of that one time someone in a local comm was selling a Romantic Rose letter tiered version in one of my fave colorways. They said that the stain on the front was "hardly noticeable" even before I clicked on it, I saw the huge makeup, maybe tea, stain on the front and I was so upset. Why even sale it?! Anyway, thank you for this. I tend to only spot treat out of fear, but I did wash one of my AP dresses in a top loading washer and it came out fine. I'll try and see about buying one of those tiny washers that they sell instead for my lolita
thankyou Tyler! i just got my first dress, AP Dreamy Planetarium, i´ve read the washing instructions and it says dry clean, but i don´t trust any service around where i live, my mom had various ruined pieces from them, i´ll try this trick, it had a noticeable stain at the front bow (sailor jsk) and i was super worried about ruining the fabric since the tag just says about dress´s chiffon but not the bows? i mean, i need to wash both of them anyways but still It would be nice if you can make a video about washing pettis too, so they wont loose poof?
this is just generally good life advice. the amount of times i have heard people say they can't wash couch pillows (with removable covers!),fabric curtains, coats, mitts and hats, etc.... just yuck. Wash your fracking stuff.
My friend got a fancy new washer dryer set with a shallow handwash bin similar to ye old washboard. I wash my Lolita in there because I know how gentle it's being (it's my own strength). There's also a small basket insert for the delicate cycle stuff that I can put them in and know they won't be getting whirled around real fast and beaten to peices. Lol I go to my friends house to do laundry
