How to Clean Rhinestones – Protect Your Bedazzled Clothing

You’ve just purchased your first blinged-out tee shirt. Or maybe, you’ve taken the time to bedazzle clothing yourself. Whichever the scenario, you’ve worn the article of clothing and now it needs washing. Do you know how to clean rhinestones affixed to your clothes?

How to Clean Rhinestones on Your Blinged-Out Clothing

Certainly, there are several ways to attach rhinestones to your clothing. While the most popular is to use glue, you can also use settings or sew-on rhinestones. Generally, all method types are safe to wash in the washing machine according to leading manufacturers Swarovski and Preciosa.

However, you need to take a few precautions to protect your bedazzled clothes. First, turn the garment inside out. Then, place the garment in a soft garment bag to protect the crystals as much as possible. Be sure to use a mild detergent and set your washing machine to the gentle cycle. Neither manufacturer recommends using chlorine bleach as this can damage the crystal.

Alternatively, you can also hand wash the garment with a mild detergent. However, avoid wringing the article of clothing to protect the embellishments.

Also, depending on the rhinestone type, you may be able to dry clean the garment. Crystal rhinestone manufacturers suggest only using a hydrocarbon dry cleaning solvent. While any type of dry-cleaning solution may crack acrylic rhinestones.

Drying Your Bedazzled Clothes

Ideally, clothes bedazzled with crystal rhinestones should be line dried out of direct sunlight. Some adhesives can loosen from the heat of a dryer causing rhinestones to fall off.

Often, manufacturers of less expensive rhinestones allow you to tumble dry bedazzled clothing. However, these manufacturers recommend turning the garment inside out. Additionally, these manufacturers also suggest placing the garment in a soft wash bag to protect the rhinestones. Furthermore, the dryer should be set to a low temperature. 

FAQs About Rhinestones

In addition to asking the question how to clean rhinestones, you may have other questions. We’ve compiled a list of commonly asked questions.

Does The Glue I Use Matter?

Generally, certain glues are better for attaching rhinestones to particular surfaces. For example, Beacon’s Gem-Tac is an excellent adhesive for attaching rhinestones to fabric, wood, suede, glass, vinyl, and metal. While you can use E6000’s on all these materials plus leather, cement, plastic, tile, ceramic, rubber, or Styrofoam. The manufactures do not recommend gluing acrylic rhinestones with E6000.

When choosing your glue, make sure the manufacture recommends the glue for your particular surface. Additionally, check to make sure the glue dries clear and is washable.

Can I Wash a Garment with Hot Fix Rhinestones?

Often, commercial blinged-out clothing manufacturers use hotfix rhinestones applied with a heat press. Hotfix rhinestones have a layer of glue on the flat side. When heated, the glue liquefies. The glue solidifies when it cools. This forms a permanent bond between the rhinestone and the material.

Generally, you may wash garments with hotfix rhinestones according to the directions given above. However, many manufacturers recommend line drying clothing with hotfix rhinestones. Sometimes, the heat from the dryer can reactive the glue, loosening the bond.

What Other Items Can I Bedazzle with Rhinestones?

Although clothing is a popular item to bedazzle, you can attach rhinestones to many other items. Shoes, pocketbooks, coffee mugs, key fobs, and sunglasses are just some examples of the many articles you can bling. Always check the glue manufactures suggested list of surfaces to ensure a good bond.

If you need to clean any of these items, be sure to use a mild detergent and gentle cleaning. For example, if you have a rhinestone mug, hand wash the item rather than place it in the dishwasher.

Where Can I Buy Quality Rhinestones?

Rhinestones Etc. has been selling quality embellishments since 2011. We offer fast shipping and great customer service. 

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