I'm kind of OCD about bows. I'm kind of OCD about a lot of things, but one of my favorite things about having a girl has been bows. So I'm extra obsessive over it. I can't stand a dirty bow. And the older Hadley gets the filthier her bows get. Especially now that she's a self-feeder and in to everything.
This method is nothing official, but was born out of necessity. I wasn't sure how her bows would hold up to washing the first time around, but it was either that or replace them so I went for it... And it has worked for me every time so I stick to it!
I do limit ewashing though. It hasn't affected our bows so far, but I don't want to push the limits. I only do it every 3-4 months and only to the ones that need it. Mainly her pink and white ones, probably because she wears them the most and they show more.
{1} I put them in a mesh, zip-up laundry bag. I wash on the gentlest cycles with cold water. Just plain free and clear detergent; nothing extra. I also throw in a few pieces of clothing or towels to kind of act as a buffer for the bows against the machine.
{2} Once bows are washed - kind of poof and shape them, then let air dry on a flat surface for several hours.
{3} When they are completely dry - poof and shape them once more. Then I spray them with a light mist of stiffener. Cleaning will wash out any stiffness they already had, and this will just help them keep a nice, perky shape.
{I found this stiffener at the craft store. In the glue section - of all places - not with the ribbon/fabric.}
Just a light spray goes a long way. Poof as you go and I even like to do the bottoms lightly. Let dry for several hours.
And there you have it - nice perky, clean bows!
**Actually, only about half of these were dirty ones I'd washed. The other half are new bows I'd ordered to stock us up for the fall. I don't wash the new ones, but I do shape and spritz them because a lot of times they can get smooshed and creased in the mail.
Stacked boutique bows are fun, but I'm really partial to the big classic, Southern bow on Hadley. I typically buy them from a little boutique shop here but sometimes they don't always have the staple colors I need, so more recently I ordered some giant ones from SheSheMade and PolkaDotPosies. I've been pleased with the quality of both! And I'm picky, so that says a lot ;)
7 comments:
Awesome Post! Loved it so much I had to pin it! Thanks for sharing!
Love this post a little jealous hadley will keep headbands on! We are stuck with medium sized alligator clipbows thats all avery will keep right now but as soon as she has enough hair forma french clip the big bows will be back!
Great post! Thanks for the info. :)
LOL I'm pretty ocd about bows and big ole flowers on my Eva. In the past when they got dirty, I'd just re-make them ... now I know! Thanks!
Great post! Thanks! Question: what size bows did you put on Hadley when she was a newborn?
@Cathy and Marshall - I actually used the bows from Hobby Lobby. I think they're like 3in but they were a perfect "big bow" for a newborn. I also used the nylon bow bands as oppossed to the crocheted ones... Hadley still wears those bows, but now they are "small ones" I can clip straight in her hair without a bow band. :)
Thanks!
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