Vinegar is great for whitening and removing grass stains. Oil stains (including face and body oils) are best removed with chalk or salt, as they absorb oil. Coffee and other dark stains are best removed with a 1:1 ratio of baking soda and water to make a paste. Peroxide is the most effective way to remove bloodstains, though it can have a bleaching effect.
Wash your hands before handling your leotards to avoid depositing dirt or your body’s oils as you clean.
If you are treating a leotard with many different colors, all of them prone to running, you can place your hand underneath the stain to make sure only that portion of the leotard gets wet.
Your practice leotards may hold up well inside of a machine wash.
Many care tags will say “Dry clean only. ” Although this can be a bother, you should adhere to the instructions on the tag, as this will ensure your leotard performs optimally.
Gentle detergents such as baby detergent are best for leotards, as the fibers present in leotards are quite delicate and easily damaged.
If the slimy feeling persists, you may have used too much detergent. You can dump out ½-⅔ of your mixture, and refill the basin the rest of the way with water.
If you have a multi-colored leotard and see the color running, wash each side of the leotard separately, if possible. If the color continues to run and washing each color separately is not possible, you may need to have your leotard dry cleaned.
Removing all of the soap from the fabric will help your leotard last longer. Leaving soap behind can result in the breakdown of fabric, and a loss of vibrant color.
Wringing your leotard can cause it to lose its shape and can damage the elastic and spandex in the fabric. If you are having trouble removing water on your own, you can hang your leotard to drain water over a bathtub or sink.
If you are using a hanger, pin the leotard to the hanger to avoid making “dents” in the fabric. If you are laying over a drying surface, quickly wipe it down to make sure you do not deposit dirt on your freshly-cleaned leotard. If your leotard has multiple colors, it should be laid flat to dry to prevent the colors from running together.
If your practice leotards are prone to bleeding, washing one at a time, or washing with similar colors will prevent discoloration.
Use the shortest delicate cycle possible. The longer your leotards are in the machine, the higher the risk of damage is, so use the shortest cycle possible for your machine, including a single rinse.
Note that some powdered detergents do not dissolve well in cold water and some liquid soaps do not disperse. Check your detergent to make sure it is formulated for cold water.
Overloading your washer can cause your leotard to get caught on the machine’s spindle, or caught in the door. Overloading can also make the rinse cycle less effective, leaving behind dirt and detergent.
Excess heat will damage the elastic properties of the fabric, dramatically increase wear on metallic or other effects, and may even shrink the leotard. If you must use a dryer, use a no-heat setting and make sure the leotard is inside-out.
