Place costumes composed solely of synthetic fabrics into a lingerie, or delicates, bag and place in the washer. Use the delicate cycle. Hang the costume to dry.
Hand wash more-delicate fabrics, such as silk or tulle. A costume with sequins must also be hand washed as opposed to being cleaned in a washer. Fill your sink or bathtub with warm water and a splash of vinegar; use detergents made for delicate fabrics. Hang the costume to dry.
Instead of washing the entire costume, you can apply specialized costume and uniform sprays to areas that come into contact with the dancer's sweat, such as under the arms. This method is appropriate when only small areas of the costume need cleaning. You can also spot clean any marks or stains on the costumes, such as makeup stains, with these specialized costume-cleaning treatments.
Dry clean costumes that do not have sequins or rhinestones according to Dance-Teacher.com. Read costume labels to determine if dry cleaning is recommended for the costume.