After Every Wear: Airing
Never put a corset directly into storage after wearing. The moisture from your body — perspiration and ambient humidity — needs to dissipate before the corset is closed and stored. Hang the corset with the laces fully loosened over a clean towel or a padded hanger for at least 24 hours after each wear. Never store a warm, just-removed corset.
Cleaning
Do not submerge a boned corset in water. The steel boning will rust; the coutil interlining will distort; the structural integrity of the construction will be compromised. Spot clean only: a small amount of mild soap on a damp cloth, applied to the specific area needing attention, then wiped clean with a damp cloth and allowed to dry completely before storage.
If the outer fabric is genuinely soiled and spot cleaning is insufficient, the corset can be carefully hand-washed in cool water with a very mild detergent — but this should be done no more than once or twice in the corset's lifetime, and only if the fashion fabric is appropriate for washing. After any moisture exposure beyond spot cleaning, the corset should be dried flat (not hanging — which stresses the boning channels) with the laces fully open, with the bones removed if possible.
Storage
Store flat or on a padded hanger with laces fully loosened. Never store on a narrow hanger that would cause the corset to crease at the hanger points. Never fold or compress a corset — the boning channels cannot recover from being bent at an angle. Store away from direct sunlight (which fades fashion fabrics) and away from moisture.
Maintaining the Lacing
Inspect lacing periodically for wear, fraying, or stretching. Lacing that has stretched will produce uneven tension and may affect the corset's fit. Replace lacing when it shows wear — it's an inexpensive consumable compared to the corset itself. When replacing lacing, use the correct width for the eyelets and replace like-for-like on material (satin ribbon lacing vs cotton lacing have different properties).
Frequently Asked Questions
No — never machine wash a steel-boned corset. The steel will rust; the coutil will distort; the structure will be permanently compromised.
Daily wear (waist training) is possible but requires a break-in period and should be approached gradually. Occasional wear has no specific frequency limit. Always listen to your body and stop wearing if you experience pain.
Decades, with proper care. Heidi's corsets are built to heirloom standards — they should outlast most other items in your wardrobe.