Overview

 

This standard is about your ability to clean individual costumes used in a production. This may involve assessing appropriate cleaning methods, dealing with specialist and delicate garments, awareness of the shooting location and production schedules, knowing the impact of the cleaning choice on fabrics and fibres, maintaining continuity when washing and drying costumes and assessing and working within limited resources and facilities.

This standard may be applicable to costume supervisors, costume assistants, costume stand bys or wardrobe assistants.

 

Performance criteria

You must be able to do:

  1. assess the item and identify the most appropriate cleaning method
  2. recommend cleaning methods for those items identified as un-washable
  3. identify and assess allergies and sensitivities of performers and the costume team to cleaning products
  4. assess and select the appropriate cleaning products
  5. source and use dry cleaning specialists when appropriate
  6. liaise with dry cleaners to confirm the timescale and budget
  7. regongnise care labels, cleaning symbols and instructions
  8. clean items following care instructions
  9. confirm continuity requirements and clean items accordingly
  10. identify, assess and remove stains
  11. identify stains and odours that cannot be removed via standard methods and make cleaning recommendations
  12. identify issues as they arise and liaise with the appropriate personnel
  13. consider how much of the costume is seen in each scene
  14. create a cleaning schedule in line with the production schedule and sequence
  15. identify and source the necessary washing and drying facilities required within the budget
  16. follow COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations
  17. communicate across production staff and other relevant departments or individuals
  18. follow health, safety and environmental legislation, policies and guidelines

 

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand: 

  1. the production requirements, budget and schedule
  2. the costumes to be cleaned taking into account continuity and the reason for cleaning
  3. allergies or sensitivities to cleaning products (of performers and costume team) the production budget
  4. different cleaning methods and cleaning products
  5. how to assess items and select appropriate cleaning methods and techniques
  6. how to handle and clean vintage / fragile items
  7. how to interpret care labels and symbols
  8. water temperatures and their impact
  9. how to use different cleaning products
  10. cleaning methods used for stubborn odours or stains such as ozone cabinet, odour eliminators, stain removers
  11. how to clean / polish footwear and accessories
  12. how to identify issues prior to or during cleaning and drying
  13. spot cleaning and stain removal techniques
  14. laundering techniques and equipment for delicate, vintage and specialist costumes
  15. drying techniques and equipment for delicate, vintage and specialist costumes
  16. suitable dry-cleaning specialists and cost
  17. the continuity requirements and how to maintain continuity
  18. the most appropriate time to carry out cleaning of items in line with the production schedule
  19. the appropriate and adequate cleaning facilities required and how to acquire and organise them
  20. production staff and departments involved and the communication protocol
  21. statutory responsibilities under health, safety, COSHH and environmental legislation