Clean Your Wedding Dress the Right Way!

After an exhausting search you have finally found it! You chose your wedding gown because it was perfect for you in every way and you want to keep it that way. Perhaps you are planning on passing it on to a daughter or daughter in law. Some plan on reworking there dress and wearing it at a future wedding. There are many reasons to preserve a dress and whether you are planning to seal, box, or bag the gown a proper cleaning is the most important and care sensitive step in the process. Learning about various cleaning methods and services is something every bride or bride to be should invest some time in and the costs associated should be in budgeted for in your wedding plans.

Even if you were careful and the dress looks fine it still needs to be examined and cleaned top to bottom. Just because the dress appears clean and white it may not be. Sugar based soiling, such as champagne, will not show up immediately but will eventually turn yellow or dark brown. Many rely on professionals to clean their dress, but a few clean it themselves. Beware either way. A well meaning friend offering to clean the dress for you while on the honey moon can ruin your exquisite memento in a heartbeat. Likewise an inexperienced dry cleaner can do equal harm. Windex won cut it here gals. Improper cleaning techniques or solutions can cause irreparable discoloration or damage to fabrics, something no amount of consolation can cure.

A dress preservation service is the safest yet most expensive route. Rates start at around $200, but can sometimes be as high as $1000. Here you can expect your dress to be operated on using clinical standards. Experts with special training and an encyclopedic knowledge of how fabrics interact with cleaning solutions and solvents will carefully examine the entire dress noting any areas that require special attention. Technicians in white lab coats and gloves then meticulously clean the gown according to a detailed care plan.

If you are on a budget and the dress is in relatively good condition you could consider cleaning it yourself. The methods you choose will depend on the kind of staining, the fabric, and decorative trims, such as beading or sequins. Wet cleaning techniques are safe for polyester and this is the best way to remove heavy stains, and starch deposits from manufacturing (which mice will be attracted to). Rayon or silk should be dry-cleaned with perchloroethylene. If you are going to pay for dry cleaning be sure to ask if they are using virgin or recycled solvents. Recycled solvents can leave deposits on your dress that will eventually yellow. Boxed preservation kits including padded metal hangers, acid free paper, and all the cardboard shapes needed is another great way to save money.

By properly cleaning and storing your dress you can keep it looking as gorgeous as you did the day you wore it.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of the Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of metal hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.closethangerfactory.com.

Wedding Dress Preservation

Searching for the perfect wedding dress is no small task. For some women it has been delightful and nearly lifelong endeavor. As the wedding day approaches there are the countless hours of intense research studying bridal fashion magazines and reviewing the latest Hollywood weddings. For some it all adds up to hundreds or even thousands of hours. Even though you have already spent so much joyful personal investment shopping the bridal stores, trying on numerous dresses, gathering your best friends’ opinions, and stressing about the $2000 dollar price tag do not stop there. Preserving your prized wedding dress after your special day takes some careful consideration as well.

Unless you have decided to trash the dress the options you will be looking at are sealing, boxing, or bagging. Sealing involves placing the dress inside an airtight padded box using cardboard cutouts and acid free tissue paper to preserve the shape. The thought behind sealing is that by making the package airtight the dress will be protected from the elements, however this lack of airflow creates a risk of mold and mildew. A long term storage method such as this can also cause permanent creasing at the folds. It is also quite expensive.

Boxing your dress is similar to sealing. These boxes are usually acid free and often lined with fabric. The difference is that the box is not sealed and you can access the dress easily any time. Seams and folds are looser so there is less risk of creasing, however a boxed dress should be periodically refolded and placed back into its container to avoid permanent creases.

Bagging is the method often used to preserve antique clothing in museums. Here the dress is hung from padded metal hangers and twill string or tape is used to reinforce and support the dress as it hangs, which is critical to reduce stretching. Once the dress is properly supported an all cotton outer bag usually between 5 and 6 feet in length slides over the whole dress.

Boxing or bagging your dress has other benefits aside from allowing it to breath. The best reason perhaps is that it allows you to easily inspect and refold the dress as you revisit memories as often as you wish. Do it yourselfers can purchase boxing or bagging kits that provide you with all the packing supplies, hangers, and instructions you will need to properly store and care for you garment over the years.

Store your basement in a dark room where it will be safe from dust and light. An upstairs closet is preferable. Never store you dress in the basement where moisture in the air will be absorbed by the dress causing discoloration or mold.

Of course a thorough cleaning is a must before any storage method is implemented. Wet cleaning or dry cleaning and how much cleaning should be decided based on your dress design and condition after the wedding. If you are considering cleaning your own dress take some time to educate yourself on the various cleaning methods their implications on your particular dress.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of the Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of metal hangers. For more information, please visit www.closethangerfactory.com