Care Guide & Washing Instructions
Keep Your Festival Drip Fresh, Bold, & Ready to Rave—Wash After Wash
While you can find a specific Care Guide in the product description for most items sold at Festival Drip, we have put together this extended guide to help preserve and maintain all your festival fits, regardless of where they came from or what they're made out of.
In this ultimate guide, we break down how to wash and maintain everything from mesh lingerie to vinyl bodysuits. Let’s make sure your drip stays clean, wearable, and iconic.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Keep Your Festival Drip Fresh, Bold, & Ready to Rave—Wash After Wash
☔ Waterproof Polyester Blend Clothing
👟 Shoes (Sneakers, Platforms, etc.)
🌈 Holographic & Iridescent Clothing
🧼 General Clothing Care and Maintenance Tips
🧼 Common Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Clothing
🌈 Tie-Dye Clothing
Tie-dye is all about bold, saturated colors — and keeping those colors vivid takes care.
Washing Tips:
- Always wash tie-dye items separately the first few times. The dye can bleed.
- Turn garments inside out.
- Use cold water and a gentle cycle.
- Avoid harsh detergents — go for a color-safe or pH-neutral detergent.
- Line dry or lay flat to dry to prevent shrinkage or fading.
Avoid: Bleach and high heat, which can strip color and damage the fibers.
🩳 Cotton Shorts
Cotton is durable but still benefits from gentle handling to avoid wear and tear.
Washing Tips:
- Wash in cold or warm water with similar colors.
- Tumble dry low or hang dry to maintain shape.
- Pre-treat any dirt or mud stains before washing.
Avoid: High heat drying — it causes cotton to shrink and fade faster. Do not bleach. Do not iron.
☔ Waterproof Polyester Blend Clothing
This applied to anything marked "Sweatproof and Odor-Resistant" on Festival Drip.
Washing Tips:
- Hand wash or machine wash cold on a gentle cycle.
- Use a mild detergent without fabric softener — softeners break down waterproofing.
- Reapply waterproofing spray if the fabric begins to lose its resistance.
Avoid: Hot water and dryers, which can damage the waterproof coating.
🧢 Hats (Caps, Bucket Hats, etc.)
Headwear takes on sweat, sun, and sometimes mud — handle with care.
Washing Tips:
- Spot clean with a gentle detergent or dish soap using a toothbrush.
- For deep cleaning, soak in cool water with detergent, then air dry.
- Reshape while drying.
Avoid: Washing machines and dryers unless the hat is specifically labeled as machine-washable.
💕 Delicate Lingerie
Lace and silk-like materials require a soft touch.
Washing Tips:
- Hand wash in cold water using lingerie-safe detergent.
- Rinse gently and avoid wringing out.
- Lay flat to dry on a towel or mesh drying rack.
Avoid: Bleach, fabric softener, and machines unless in a mesh bag on delicate cycle.
✨ Sequin Clothing
Festival sparkle? Yes. Broken sequins? No, thanks.
Washing Tips:
- Spot clean when possible.
- If washing is needed, turn inside out, use a mesh bag, and wash cold on delicate.
- Hand wash for best results.
- Air dry flat.
Avoid: Wringing, heat, and tumble dryers — sequins can melt or fall off.
🌫️ Mesh and Sheer Clothing
These delicate pieces require minimal agitation.
Washing Tips:
- Hand wash with cold water and a mild detergent.
- Gently blot dry with a towel and reshape.
- Lay flat to dry to avoid stretching.
Avoid: Scrubbing or twisting the material. Mesh can snag easily.
🐠 Fishnet Clothing
Durable yet easily tangled — wash wisely.
Washing Tips:
- Hand wash or machine wash in a mesh bag.
- Use cold water and a gentle detergent.
- Air dry flat.
Avoid: Exposed zippers or hooks in the wash — they can snag the netting.
👟 Shoes (Sneakers, Platforms, etc.)
Festival shoes take a beating — here’s how to refresh them.
Washing Tips:
- Remove insoles and laces.
- Spot clean fabric with a toothbrush and mild soap.
- For canvas shoes, use a mix of baking soda and water for stains.
- Let shoes air dry completely before wearing.
Avoid: Soaking or machine washing unless labeled safe.
🥾 Canvas Boots
These need more rugged care.
Washing Tips:
- Brush off dirt and debris with a dry brush.
- Use a sponge or soft brush with warm water and soap to clean fabric.
- Allow to dry naturally, stuffing with newspaper to maintain shape.
Avoid: Direct sunlight drying — it can cause discoloration.
🧵 Tapestries and Flags
These large, colorful pieces need thoughtful handling to avoid fading or pilling.
Washing Tips:
- Wash separately in cold water on a gentle cycle.
- Use a small amount of gentle detergent.
- Line dry or tumble on low if label permits.
Avoid: Overloading the machine, which can cause tearing or stretching.
🧵 Blankets
Blankets: As with tie dye, blankets contain large amounts of dye that might run into other clothing if washed together. This is why it's best to wash blankets all by themselves in a washer with cold water.
Keep it Soft: Note that your blankets will lose their softness if they are exposed to extended periods of time spent in the dryer. To maintain quality, wash only when necessary.
🎒 Backpacks and Fanny Packs
These accessories hold all your essentials — give them a solid clean after festivals.
Washing Tips:
- Empty all pockets and shake out debris.
- Hand wash with warm water and soap using a brush or cloth.
- Rinse and hang dry upside down.
Avoid: Machine washing unless the care label allows it — stitching and structure can warp.
🪡 Embroidery Patches
Whether sewn on or ironed, embroidered items should be handled carefully.
Washing Tips:
- Wash cold on gentle or hand wash if patches are delicate.
- Turn items inside out before washing.
- Avoid soaking if the patch has metallic or special thread.
Avoid: Ironing directly on patches — use a pressing cloth or turn inside out.
Attachment Issues: See our easy video walkthrough on how to iron on your embroidery patches to any fabric here.
🐻 Faux Fur Apparel
Fluffy, cozy — and delicate if not handled properly.
Washing Tips:
- Spot clean where possible.
- Hand wash in cold water with gentle detergent.
- Shake out and air dry — then brush with a pet brush to fluff.
Avoid: Heat of any kind — it melts synthetic fibers.
💿 Vinyl Apparel
That slick, glossy look needs a specific cleaning method.
Washing Tips:
- Wipe down with a damp cloth and mild soap.
- For more intense cleaning, use cool water and hand wash gently.
- Hang or lay flat to dry.
Avoid: Heat and folding — vinyl can crease or melt.
🖤 Faux Leather Clothing
Faux leather adds edge but can crack if neglected.
Washing Tips:
- Wipe with a damp cloth or use a faux leather cleaner.
- Air dry only — never use heat.
- Condition occasionally with a vinyl-safe conditioner.
Avoid: Machine washing or drying.
🌟 Glow-in-the-Dark Clothing
Keep these pieces looking lit — even after the lights are out.
Washing Tips:
- Turn inside out before washing.
- Wash cold on gentle cycle.
- Hand wash when possible to preserve the luminescent coating.
- Air dry.
Avoid: Bleach and fabric softener — they can dim the glow effect.
🌈 Holographic & Iridescent Clothing
This eye-catching gear needs gentle love.
Washing Tips:
- Hand wash in cool water with a very mild detergent.
- Pat dry with a towel, then hang dry away from sunlight.
- If machine washing, use a garment bag on delicate.
Avoid: Heat, rough scrubbing, and over-washing — they dull the shine.
OTHER NON-APPAREL ACCESSORIES
These items must be spot cleaned. Dip a wash cloth in warm, soapy water and dab at the areas that need to be cleaned. Do not use bleach.
🧼 General Clothing Care and Maintenance Tips
To keep your festival wardrobe vibrant and wearable year after year, follow these core rules:
1. Read the Label
Always check care instructions first — some items have coatings or materials that require special attention.
2. Use Mesh Laundry Bags
For delicate and embellished pieces, mesh bags protect against snags and tangling.
3. Go Easy on the Detergent
Too much detergent can leave residue or fade colors. A small amount of gentle, scent-free detergent goes a long way.
4. Wash Cold
Cold water is your best friend. It preserves color, prevents shrinkage, and is safer for synthetic fabrics.
5. Line Dry Everything
Tumble dryers can ruin delicate fabrics, shrink cotton, and melt synthetics. Hang or lay flat to dry whenever possible.
6. Rotate Outfits
Don’t overuse your faves — rotate outfits to extend their life and keep your looks fresh.
7. Store Wisely
Keep clothing in breathable garment bags or folded in drawers. Avoid plastic containers, which trap moisture and can lead to mildew or odor.
🧼 Common Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Clothing
DO NOT…
- Mix tie dye with any other items the first time you wash them.
- Wash with hot water
- Use bleach, even on white fabric
- Put sheer lingerie, fishnets, or stockings in the washer.
- Leave wet clothing sitting in the washer for extended periods of time
- Leave clothing running in the dryer for an expended period of time
- Repeated exposure to high temperatures or long dryer cycles will diminish the quality of most fabrics.
Final Vibe Check 🌟
Festival fashion is all about creativity and freedom — but that doesn’t mean your pieces should be one-wear wonders. With proper care, your glitter, glam, and gear can survive all the dancing, sweating, and wandering you throw at them.
By treating your wardrobe with a little post-rave love, you’ll make every piece last longer, look better, and be ready for your next unforgettable night under the lights. 🌙✨
Follow this care guide and washing instructions for individual apparel and non-apparel items to keep your wardrobe looking and feeling like brand new drip.
Please contact us with any questions about caring for your Festival Drip items that weren't covered here.