Oktoberfest: Does the dirndl really need cleaning?
The Oktoberfest is over, innumerable measures are drunk, one or the other Hendl is eaten and you can usually see the Dirndl. After continuous use in the marquee, the dress, the shooter and the blouse want to be washed and cared for. So that the costume at the next "O'zapft is" again looks like new, here are a few tips.
Washing machine or cleaning?
A dirty dirndl does not automatically have to be cleaned. Of course, the washing machine does it too. Normally you do not go wrong with low temperature, low spin rate and mild detergent. Nevertheless, you should pay attention to the instructions on the label. If the dress is made of 100 percent cotton, it is usually a so-called Waschdirndl and can be easily inserted into the washing machine. For sensitive materials such as silk, velvet or linen cleaning is certainly the better choice.
Important in machine washing is to turn the dirndl on the left - ie the inside out - and put it in a laundry bag. The apron should only be washed if it has a similar color. The blouse, whether black or white, must be cleaned separately in each case, in order to experience no evil discoloration surprises.
That is not how it works!
It is in any case more gentle for the fabric to wash the individual components of the dirndl by hand. This is also easier than expected - especially when it comes to rugged fabrics such as cotton or linen: Dirndl dress and apron are soaked in a warm water-filled sink along with some detergent for a few hours, then the clothes are rinsed with warm water and hung up to dry.
Speaking of drying: please never put the dirndl in the tumble dryer. It is better to hang the dirndl on a hanger and let it dry outside in the fresh air. Unattractive wrinkles are self-evident. If you still want or need to iron the dirndl, you should start with a low temperature. Straight dirndl aprons made of glossy fabric can not withstand high ironing temperatures.
