Golddiggers Boutique · The Locker Room
Your Dryer is Not Your Friend.
The complete care guide for rhinestone sets, holo microkinis, mesh bodysuits, vinyl two-pieces, and everything in your rotation.
We don't recommend the washer/dryer method — but if the photo above is you, keep reading. 💀
The complete care guide for rhinestone sets, holo microkinis, mesh bodysuits, vinyl two-pieces, and everything else in your dancer wardrobe. Because affordable exotic dancewear stays affordable when you know how to make it last.
Step 1
Sort by color first.
Before a single drop of water touches your outfits, separate them. Dancewear fabrics — especially neons and dark colors — bleed during the first few washes. Mixing them is how you end up with a white fishnet that's now very much pink.
🟡 Neons — Keep Separated
Neon pink and neon orange: wash together or alone. Neon green and neon yellow: wash together or alone. These bleed the most in the first 1–2 washes and should never go in with other colors.
🖤 Darks — Together
Black, red, and navy can be washed together. Purple and turquoise/aqua can also go with darks. Red and black latex are the worst offenders for staining — store them completely separately.
🩷 Pastels — Together
Pastel colors can be washed together. Keep them away from darks and neons, especially in the first few washes when dye is still settling.
🤍 Whites — Always Alone
White and very light pieces get their own wash, every time. One rogue dark piece can ruin a white set permanently.
Step 2
Know your fabric.
Not all dancewear is created equal, and care varies by material. Before anything else, know what you're working with — because what's safe for spandex will destroy vinyl.
| Material | Safe | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Spandex / Lycra | Hand wash ✓ | Most sets and bodysuits. Cold water only. Loses elasticity permanently if washed in hot water or machine dried. |
| Mesh | Hand wash ✓ | Extremely delicate. Snags and runs easily. Never machine wash without a mesh bag — never machine wash alone, ever. |
| Holo / Sparkle | Gentle hand wash ✓ | Take special care. Holo fades over time by nature — proper washing slows it down. No machine wash, no pools, no hot tubs. |
| Vinyl / PVC | Wipe clean only ✗ | Do not submerge. Wipe with a damp cloth. Machine washing cracks and destroys vinyl permanently — no exceptions. |
| Velvet | Cold gentle cycle ✓ | Lay flat to dry — the pile crushes if you hang it wet. Cold water only, never hot. |
| Rhinestone / Embellished | Hand wash only ✓ | Glue is heat and agitation-sensitive. Minimal handling while wet. Dry rhinestone-side up. Never machine wash or dry. |
| Fishnet | Hand wash ✓ | Machine agitation causes runs and permanent snags in the weave. Cold water, gentle hands. |
| Latex / Latex-like | Store separately ✗ | Rub off and stain each other when stored together. Red and black latex are the worst offenders. Store every piece apart. |
| Print / Graphic Fabric | Hand wash ✓ | Print placement varies — your piece will look slightly different from the product photo depending on how the fabric was cut. That's normal. |
Step 3
Hand wash — the right way.
Hand washing is the gold standard for all exotic dancewear. Here's the Golddiggers method — including the one tip most guides leave out.
No direct sunlight. No ironing. Both fade colors and damage fabric. For wrinkles, hang in a steamy bathroom or use a garment steamer held at a distance.
In a Pinch
Machine washing — emergency only.
We don't recommend machine washing for most exotic dancewear. But we're also not naive — sometimes you have 20 minutes before a shift. If you have to use a machine:
✓ If You Must Machine Wash
- Use a mesh laundry bag — non-negotiable
- Cold water, delicate cycle only
- Small amount of gentle detergent
- Wash similar colors together
- Air dry flat immediately after
✗ Never Machine Wash
- Rhinestone-heavy pieces — stones end up in your drum
- Vinyl or PVC — full stop, will destroy it
- Holo fabrics — accelerates fading significantly
- Loose mesh without a bag — runs and snags guaranteed
- Latex or latex-like fabrics
The Golden Rule
The dryer is the enemy.
If there's one rule you take from this entire guide: never put your dancer outfits in the dryer.
Heat destroys spandex elasticity permanently — once it's gone, it doesn't come back. It also melts rhinestone glue, shrinks mesh, cracks vinyl, and crushes velvet pile. Your dryer is for towels and T-shirts. Your stage outfits air dry flat.
How to dry correctly:
What You Use Matters
Detergent — use and avoid.
Your detergent matters more than you think. The wrong one breaks down spandex stretch, fades dyes, and loosens rhinestone adhesive over time.
✓ Use These
- Woolite Delicates — our top pick. Gentle on spandex, mesh, and embellishments.
- Baby shampoo — surprisingly effective for a gentle clean in a pinch
- Any delicate-specific detergent in small amounts
✗ Avoid These
- Bleach — destroys elastics, fades color, breaks down fabric structure. Never.
- Fabric softener — coats synthetic fibers and degrades stretch over time
- Heavy-duty detergents — too harsh for dancewear fabrics
- Stain removers directly on rhinestones — chemicals loosen adhesive. For spot treatment on fabric, Shout Wipes give you the most control
Shift Smell Is Real
Getting sweat & odor out.
You've been on the floor all night. The fit absorbed it all. Here's how to deal with it without wrecking what you're wearing:
Do not use hot water to 'kill bacteria.' Hot water damages the fabric before it actually eliminates the odor. Cold water cleans just as effectively for dancewear.
Handle With Care
Rhinestone & embellished sets.
Rhinestone and embellished pieces need extra love. The stones are heat-bonded or glued — both methods are sensitive to heat and prolonged water exposure. Always hand wash, no exceptions.
Minimal handling while wet. The glue softens in water — the more you handle a rhinestone piece while it's saturated, the more stones you'll lose. Press gently to remove water and let it do its thing flat.
If a stone falls off:
Save it. Re-attach with E6000 craft adhesive — mini size recommended if you're only gluing occasionally, as it dries out between uses. Apply a tiny amount with a toothpick, press the stone, and let it cure for 24 hours before wearing.
For holo and sparkle fabrics:
It's the nature of holo and sparkle fabrics to fade over time — that's an unfortunate reality of our favorite materials. To prolong the life of your holo pieces: follow the hand wash instructions above exactly, never machine wash, never wear them in pools or hot tubs (chemicals accelerate fading), and if possible, wear a micro thong underneath holo bottoms and remove them during lap dances to minimize friction.
If you're wearing holo during lap dances, go for air moves or an ass-facing-forward focused dance. The goal is to avoid fabric friction as much as possible. Your holo will thank you.
The Details
Special care disclaimers.
A few specific material types that deserve their own callout:
Diamond Connectors & Metal Accents
Diamond connectors, metal o-rings, and clip connectors should not be submerged in water for any longer than it takes to wash the piece. Pat dry with a paper or cotton towel immediately when it comes out of the water to prevent rust and wear.
Latex & Latex-Like Fabrics
Latex colors rub off and stain each other when stored together. Red and black latex are the biggest offenders — but store every piece separately to be safe. Do not store any latex items touching other colors.
Robes with Feather Trim
Hang robes for 24–48 hours when received to allow wrinkles to smooth out. Wash alone, one piece at a time. For feather trim: once completely dry, very gently brush with a soft-bristle wet/dry brush, then shake or use a cool setting blowdryer to fluff the trim back up.
Jewelry & Accessories
Mix lukewarm water with gentle soap and swish your jewelry. Use a baby toothbrush (superfine bristles only) to gently clean residue. Rinse in cool water, pat as dry as possible, and leave to air dry completely. Never soak — it loosens stones, weakens adhesives, and causes wear. Store each piece individually in a dry area.
After Washing
Storing your dancer wardrobe.
How you store your outfits matters as much as how you wash them. A few rules to keep everything in rotation longer:
Quick Reference
The DOs and DON'Ts.
✓ DO
- Sort by color before washing
- Hand wash in cold or lukewarm water
- Use Woolite Delicates — less is more
- Clean the gusset with a silicone brush cleaner
- Lay flat to dry, colors not touching
- Reshape while wet
- Pre-soak in white vinegar for odor
- Pat dry metal accents immediately
- Store everything fully dry
- Store latex pieces separately
✗ DON'T
- Use bleach or fabric softener
- Iron (especially rhinestones or vinyl)
- Use hot water — ever
- Put anything in the dryer
- Wring or twist
- Let items soak — fades color and holo
- Machine wash rhinestone or vinyl pieces
- Store while even slightly damp
- Wear holo in pools or hot tubs
- Store latex colors touching each other
FAQ
Your care questions, answered.
Can I put my dance outfit in the washing machine?
For most exotic dancewear, hand washing is the way to go. If you're in a genuine pinch, use a mesh laundry bag, cold water, and a delicate cycle. Never machine wash rhinestone-heavy pieces or anything with vinyl — the agitation and heat will destroy them.
How do I wash a rhinestone bodysuit without losing stones?
Hand wash only, cold water, Woolite Delicates, and minimal handling while wet — the glue softens when saturated. Press gently to remove water and lay flat rhinestone-side up to dry. Never machine wash or machine dry a rhinestone set.
What detergent is safe for spandex dancewear?
Woolite Delicates is our top pick. Baby shampoo also works in a pinch. Avoid heavy-duty detergents, fabric softener (it degrades stretch over time), and anything with bleach.
Can I put my exotic dancewear in the dryer?
Absolutely not. Heat destroys spandex elasticity permanently and melts rhinestone glue. Your dryer is the single biggest threat to your dancer wardrobe. Always lay flat to air dry.
How do I get body odor out of a dance outfit?
Pre-soak in cold water with a splash of white vinegar for 15–20 minutes before washing. This neutralizes odor naturally without fabric damage. Rinsing your outfit immediately after a shift is the best prevention — stops the smell from setting in before you can do a proper wash.
Why does my holo fabric look duller after washing?
Holo and sparkle fabrics fade over time by nature — it's just the reality of these materials. You can slow it down significantly by hand washing correctly, never machine washing, keeping them out of pools and hot tubs, and reducing friction during lap dances where possible.
How do I clean the gusset (crotch area) properly?
A soft silicone fingertip scrubber — the face-washing kind that fits over your finger — is the move. The textured nubs lift residue effectively without snagging the lining. A soft-bristle nail brush works as an alternative. Gently scrub the gusset area, then rinse under warm water.
How do I care for metal o-rings and diamond connectors?
Don't leave them submerged in water any longer than it takes to wash the piece. As soon as the item comes out of the water, pat the metal hardware dry with a paper or cotton towel to prevent rust and wear over time.
Can I store my latex pieces together?
No — latex and latex-like fabrics rub off and permanently stain each other when stored together. Red and black latex are the worst offenders. Store every single latex piece separately, regardless of color.
How often should I wash my stage outfit?
After every wear if possible. At minimum, rinse in cold water after each shift to prevent odor buildup and fabric breakdown from sweat. A full hand wash after every 1–2 wears keeps pieces in rotation longer.
How do I dry my dance outfit fast without a dryer?
Roll it gently in a clean dry towel to absorb excess moisture, then lay flat. A fan nearby (not blowing directly on rhinestones) cuts drying time to 2–4 hours for most pieces. Never use a hair dryer or put it on a radiator.
Can I use fabric softener on my dancer outfit?
No. Fabric softener coats synthetic fibers like spandex and mesh, which actually degrades stretch performance over time. Skip it entirely for dancewear.
How do I get sweat stains out of a bodysuit?
Pre-soak in cold water and white vinegar (about a 4:1 ratio) for 15–20 minutes. For set-in stains, make a paste of baking soda and cold water, apply to the stained area, let it sit for 10 minutes, then hand wash normally.
Will bleach ruin my dance costume?
Yes — immediately and permanently. Bleach destroys elastic fibers, fades dyes, and breaks down the structure of spandex and mesh. Never use bleach on exotic dancewear, even diluted.
My piece arrived wrinkled. Is that normal?
For robes, yes — the fabric wrinkles during shipping. Hang on a hanger for 24–48 hours and the folds will smooth out on their own. For other dancewear, hanging in a steamy bathroom for 15 minutes usually does the trick without any heat damage.
How do I store my jewelry to make it last?
Store each jewelry piece individually in a dry, room-temperature area — not touching other pieces. To clean: mix lukewarm water with gentle soap, swish the piece, use a superfine baby toothbrush for residue, rinse in cool water, and pat as dry as possible before leaving to air dry completely. Never soak — loosens stones and weakens adhesives.
How long does dancewear take to air dry?
Most spandex and mesh pieces dry in 4–8 hours laid flat. Heavier fabrics like velvet, padded pieces, or rhinestone-dense sets may need 12–24 hours. Rolling in a dry towel first cuts the time significantly.
Can I spot clean instead of washing?
For minor spots, yes. Apply a small amount of Woolite Delicates directly to the spot, work it gently with your fingertip, and rinse with cold water. For heavier soiling or a post-shift fit, a full hand wash is better.
What's the right water temperature for dancewear?
Cold to lukewarm — never hot. Hot water breaks down spandex elasticity, fades colors, and weakens rhinestone adhesive. Cold water is just as effective at cleaning dancewear fabrics.
How do I keep my prints from looking different than the product photo?
It's actually normal for print/graphic fabric pieces to look slightly different from the product photo — the placement depends on how the fabric was cut. Every piece is unique. No washing issue, just the nature of printed fabrics.
The Bottom Line
Take care of your fits and they'll take care of you.
Every set in your dancer wardrobe is an investment — in your stage presence, your confidence, and your income. The care routine above takes 10 minutes. Replacing a ruined rhinestone set because you threw it in the dryer costs you a lot more than that.
At Golddiggers, every piece ships with care instructions because we actually want your set to survive the season. Cold water, Woolite Delicates, lay flat to dry. That's the short version.
Drop us a message — or browse our exotic dancewear collection if you're building a rotation that can survive real shifts.
Wear the gold. Hit the goal. Leave paid.
✨ The Locker Room — Must-Know Info for Industry Girlies 🎀