How to Wash and Care for Ballet Dancewear: A Complete Guide for Adult Dancers

Taking care of your ballet dancewear is essential for keeping your leotards, tights, skirts, knitwear, and slippers looking great, lasting longer, and feeling comfortable in class. Whether you’re dancing at the studio, at home, or during holidays and breaks, following the right care routine can save money, prevent damage, and extend the life of your ballet clothing.

In this guide, we’ll break down step-by-step instructions for washing and caring for your dancewear, plus a downloadable PDF laundry guide at the end!

Step 1: Rinse Your Dancewear Immediately After Class

Sweat can break down delicate fibers like Lycra, spandex, or elastane. The sooner you rinse your dancewear, the better.

Tips:

Rinse leotards and tights in room-temperature water immediately after class.

Even a quick rinse is better than nothing and helps prevent long-term fabric damage.

This simple habit keeps your items fresh and maintains their shape and elasticity.

Step 2: Wash Ballet Clothing With Care

When you're ready to do a full load of dancewear, follow these best practices:

🫧 Use a mild, fragrance-free detergent free from harsh chemicals and brighteners.

🫧 Wash in room-temperature water — never hot!

🫧T urn items inside out to target sweat and skin oils.

🫧 Spot-treat stains with gentle stain remover or diluted detergent before washing.

🫧 Hand wash or select a delicate machine cycle.

🫧 Use a mesh delicates bag for tights, chiffon skirts, or items embellished with lace or mesh to prevent snagging.

🫧 Separate lights and darks to avoid discoloration.

🫧 For sweaty warm-up clothes (trash bag pants, sauna shorts, waterproof lining items), always use a delicates bag and turn inside out.

Step 3: Special Care for Knitwear

Knitwear is cozy, stylish, and functional (one of my personal favorite categories of dancewear) but it's also delicate.

🫧 Wash sparingly to prevent wear and tear.

🫧 Hand wash or use a delicate cycle in a mesh bag.

🫧 Reshape and lay flat to dry to maintain structure and prevent distortion

Step 4: Dry Ballet Dancewear Properly

Never use a dryer! High heat damages elastic fibers, causes shrinking, and deforms knitwear.

Leotards, tights, skirts: Hang or drape out of direct sunlight.

Knitwear: Reshape and lay flat to air dry.

✨ Proper drying preserves elasticity and color, keeping your dancewear looking new longer!

Washing Ballet Slippers

🩰 Canvas slippers: Machine wash in a mesh bag on gentle cycle; they may shrink slightly!

🩰 Leather slippers: Do not wash; wipe inside with damp cloth or use a leather cleaner.

Pro Tip: Air out slippers after each class to prevent odor buildup.

Keep Your Dance Bag Fresh

Your dance bag can harbor sweat, bacteria, and odors.

🫧 Wash monthly (or every other month) with mild detergent.

🫧 Reshape and air dry completely before use.

🫧 Add a lavender or eucalyptus sachet for freshness.

Takeaway

Caring for ballet dancewear doesn’t have to be complicated. By rinsing after class, washing gently, and drying properly, you’ll extend the life of your leotards, tights, knitwear, and slippers, save money, and feel confident and fresh in every class.

💌 Download your FREE PDF laundry guide to make caring for your ballet wardrobe even easier.

xx, Hannah