As a costume designer or wardrobe worker, you know how important it is to keep costumes looking and smelling fresh throughout a production. That’s where vodka spray comes in. This powerful tool is a favorite of industry professionals for its ability to eliminate odors and freshen up fabrics without damaging them.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the benefits of vodka spray for theatre costumes. We will also provide you with some tips and tricks for making the most of this handy tool. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out in the wardrobe department, this guide will help you keep your costumes smelling their best. So let’s get started!
This post may contain affiliate links. We only recommend products we have tried and tested ourselves. If you use these links to purchase something, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These links help us cover the running costs of The Wardrobe Guide! Read our full disclaimer.
What Is Vodka Spray?
Vodka spray is a mixture of vodka and water* sprayed onto clothing and costumes to remove odors.
*not all vodka spray contains water. Sometimes, you will come across vodka spray that is pure vodka.
How Vodka Spray Works: Understanding the Science
The alcohol in the vodka works as a natural deodorizer, breaking down and neutralizing unpleasant smells. When sprayed onto clothing, the vodka mixture can penetrate the fabric and eliminate odor-causing bacteria, leaving the clothing smelling fresh and clean. Wardrobe professionals in the theatre and entertainment industry use vodka spray to keep costumes fresh and odor-free between performances. It is an effective and eco-friendly alternative to commercial fabric deodorizers and fresheners.
Why We Use Vodka Spray on Costumes
If you’re working on a show that features non-contemporary costumes, chances are you’ll come across a hand-made, beaded, or vintage piece that can’t be washed or is dry-clean only. This is where vodka spray comes in handy. Instead of washing the garment, you can simply spray the smelliest areas to kill bacteria and eliminate unwanted odors. Vodka is a natural odor absorber and dries quickly without leaving any residue or stains.
Vodka Spray vs Isopropyl Alcohol
Both vodka and rubbing alcohol can be effective for freshening up clothes, removing odors, and killing bacteria. However, compared to rubbing alcohol, vodka is typically considered to be more gentle on fabrics and less likely to cause damage or discoloration.
Rubbing alcohol typically contains a higher concentration of alcohol (usually around 70-91%) compared to vodka, which is typically around 40% alcohol. This higher concentration can make rubbing alcohol more effective at killing bacteria and breaking down odors in some cases. However, it also means that rubbing alcohol can be more aggressive on some fabrics, particularly delicate or synthetic materials.
In general, vodka is a safer choice for use on most fabrics, but rubbing alcohol can be more effective in situations where stronger disinfection is needed. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on the specific cleaning needs and the fabric being cleaned. It’s always a good idea to spot test a small, inconspicuous area of the fabric before applying any cleaning solution to the entire garment.
Vodka also tends to be cheaper when buying the large amount that you might need for a production.
What Vodka Should I Buy?
When looking for vodka to use on costumes, you should be looking at the bottom shelf of your local liquor store. You’ll want to make sure you’re using plain vodka, not a flavored variety.
Look for the cheapest vodka you can find that comes in a large, plastic handle.
In NYC, you can find a cheap handle of vodka for under $20– so you should never be paying more than that for your vodka spray.
Some brands to look out for are: Fleischmann’s , New Amsterdam, Avalanche, Starr Blu, Classic Club, and Popov
How to Mix Vodka Spray for Costumes
- Gather your supplies. You’ll need a spray bottle, vodka, and water.
- Mix your ingredients. Add your vodka and water. Add a drop of your essential oil, if needed.
- Give the bottle a good shake to mix the vodka and water together.
How much vodka/ water should I use in my spray bottle?
The answer to this question is much debated. It also depends on what the costumes you are spraying look like.
Use 100% vodka without any water added if you are spraying a costume that is made out of a fabric such as wool that doesn’t react well to water.
You should also check in with your wardrobe supervisor regarding how they prefer you to dilute your vodka spray. Some supervisors might want half/half water and vodka, while some might not want you to include water in your spray at all.
Essential Oils
You can try adding a couple of drops of essential oil to the vodka spray. Lavender, tea tree, and peppermint are all common choices for their natural odor-fighting properties.
Because of how concentrated the oil is, you should only need one or two drops.
If you do end up adding essential oil to your vodka spray, just be aware that none of your actors are allergic to anything in your mixture.
Can I Vodka Spray Everything?
If you have a wool or silk piece that really needs a little deodorizing, be sure to work with only 100% vodka solution (don’t use a vodka spray which has been diluted with water). When spraying something made out of these materials, be sure to spray from a distance, so you don’t end up with a high consentration of moisture on the garment.
The great part about vodka spray is that it can be used on beaded, leather, vintage, and other fabrics that typically can’t be thrown into the wash.
How To Vodka Spray a Costume
- Hang the costume on a hanger.
- Lightly spray the vodka with a light, sweeping mist to the parts of the costumes that touch the parts of the body with the highest concentration of BO (I.E. Armpits and crotch), being careful not to over-saturate the fabric. Spray with the nozzle of your spray bottle approx. 18″ from the surface you are spraying, while moving the spray bottle in a sweeping motion. *
- Allow the vodka to dry completely before wearing or storing the costume.
- If the costume has a strong odor, you may need to repeat the process several times.
*PROTIP: When using vodka spray, you want to aim your spray bottle directly at the part of the costume that touches the skin. This could mean spraying at the armpits of a shirt through the neck hole or opening the jacket to spray at the inside lining. If you simply spray the outer shell of the costume, the odor-fighting properties of the vodka might not reach where it is actually needed.
How long should I let the vodka spray dry before wearing or storing the costume?
The last thing your actor will want is to put on a costume piece that has damp areas. If you are working a 2 show day, you might need to hold off on doing a full spray of all of the costumes until after the evening show, depending on how short your turn-over is.
However, if there are just a couple problematic pieces that you think could use some deoderising after every show, pick a select few pieces to turn inside out, spray, and let hang over a fan during your dinner break!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Vodka Spraying Costumes
I have one jacket in particular that is constantly very smelly. Nothing seems to work to remove the odor. What do I do?
Turn the jacket inside out on the hanger and saturate it in vodka spray until it is wet. Then, hang the coat over a fan (still inside-out) to dry!
Will Vodka Spray Make the clothes smell like alcohol?
No, vodka spray dries quickly and won’t leave behind any residue or scent.
How often can I use vodka spray on a costume?
You can (and should!) vodka spray costumes at least daily. If you stay on top of body odor in your garments from the beginning, it is much easier to keep your costumes smelling fresh than it is to reverse any smells that have built up in the garments for long periods of time.
Can vodka spray remove stains?
Vodka Spray is not a stain remover– it is simply an odor remover!
Is it safe to use vodka spray on delicate fabrics?
Silk is the main fabric you should be wary of when vodka spraying. Typically, if it is a silk shirt, and you are using 100% vodka, you can still get away with using a bit of spray- just keep your spray bottle at a good distance, and really utilize the sweeping motion with your spray, not to saturate any part of the costume too much.
If the piece you are caring for is something extremely delicate, such as hand-painted silk, then check in with your wardrobe supervisor before spraying the costume for the first time!
People Keep Stealing my vodka! What do I do?
If you are having an issue with your vodka supply disappearing faster than you are using it, consider letting someone know. Inform your shop manager or production manager, and they might be able to take care of the issue.
If the problem persists, you can typically deter people by putting a new label on your vodka bottles with Gaff tape that reads “COSTUME SPRAY – CONTAINS DETERGENT – DO NOT DRINK” or something of that nature. You can even go a step further by adding a drop or two of the aforementioned essential oils to your bottles being stored, so when opened, someone can immediately detect that the bottle contains more than vodka.
Product Suggestions
Industrial spray bottles like these are the industry standard for vodka spray. They are heavy duty, so they won’t quickly break. They also hold at least a week worth of spray, so you won’t have to refill often.
Some people prefer the bottle below as a “fancier” choice. With this bottle (typically used by hair stylists), you don’t have to squeeze the trigger for every spritz, so it might be easier on your hands, if that is something important to you!
If you are including essential oils in your spray, just make sure they are 100% pure essential oils!
So there you have it – vodka spray might just become your new go-to for costume care. It’s a simple and affordable solution that can help extend the life of your costumes and keep them smelling fresh and clean.
Do you have any tips and tricks for vodka-spraying costumes that aren’t covered here? Let us know in the comments below!
