To prevent damaging, hang the costume to dry rather than using the dryer. Be extremely careful when finishing the costume. Excessive heat or steam may ruin the costume. Sometimes buttons are cracked, chipped, unraveled, melted or even missing. The failure of buttons to withstand the dry cleaning process can be attributed to many manufacturers in the button fashion industry.
Many buttons can become soft or brittle in cleaning.
Heat is also a factor which can also cause buttons to bend or crack. Buttons that have glued on accessories may also unravel or come apart in cleaning. There are also buttons made of plastics which dissolve in cleaning solvents and may result in the shrinkage of the button. Some buttons have dyes that can discolor, fade and or tarnish. Manufacturers need to choose buttons that are completely compatible with care instructions on the garment.