We want your garments to stay in good condition for as long as possible as I am sure that you do. Foil print and metallic garments may fade or dull with wear and repeated washing. Areas that incur friction or abrasion may show some loss of foil. This does not constitute a fault. To ensure your garments stay in “as good as new” condition please see the advice below on how to care for your garment and also the practices to avoid:
After wearing your leotard
It is best to take off your leotard as soon as you can after you have finished your session and to then turn it inside out. This is to allow any moisture to evaporate rather than be trapped within the leotard, Body fluids can discolour the leotard and so care needs to be taken to clean these from the garment as soon as possible.
How to wash your Gymnastics Garments
What not to do….
- DO NOT machine wash
- DO NOT use bleach/machine wash detergents or fabric softeners
- DO NOT rub or scrub foil print or metallic garments
- DO NOT twist or wring the garment out
- DO NOT Tumble Dry
- DO NOT iron
- DO NOT hang over radiators or put near direct heat
- DO NOT allow to stay damp or wet for long periods
Now that you’ve been told what not to do, here is what you can do…….
- Turn your garment inside out
- Hand wash separately
- Use a very small amount of hand wash (neutral soap) detergent – many of the common machine wash detergents are too harsh and will make colours run and metallics fade. Gently hand wash your leotard in a large volume of cold water using a small amount of mild detergent. Too much detergent can have the same effect so never exceed the manufacturer’s instructions on dilution of detergent. If you are unsure what detergent to use then please ring for more advice.
- Lay the leotard between two towels and roll up to remove the excess water.
- Hang garment to dry on a hanger and away from direct heat, but always avoid using clothes pegs as they weaken the fabric and, especially with velour, leave unsightly pressure marks.
Colour
- If your garment contains sensitive colour combinations i.e. both dark and light colours, always wash in a large volume of water. If you notice the water starting to discolour, remove the item IMMEDIATELY and rinse in fresh cold water until bleeding stops. It may be that the detergent is too strong or that you have used too much.
- After washing, rinse with cold fresh water.
- Do not allow to drip dry as bleeding of colour can happen at this point also.
- If hanging on a coat hanger, do not let the leotard touch itself front to back as the dampness can cause bleeding also.
Please bear in mind:
Shimmer, Hologram and mesh fabrics are designed for competition leotard and therefore repeated wearing and washing may cause the fabrics to fade or lose foil. Foiled fabrics could be potentially be damaged due certain routines or excessive rubbing against abrasive equipment. Delicate fabrics can be affected by alcohol in products such as deodorants, perfume and hair products. Uric acid from perspiration and chemicals in deodorants may cause foil damage, we recommend antiperspirant deodorant.
A Star may refuse returns that have not been cared for as advised and will not guarantee any garment that is not washed and dried as directed.