Cleaning

Bridal Cleaning & Care Tips for your special bridal gown:

Always:

:: hang your wedding gown by loops inside the gown that are connected to sturdy side seams, never by fragile shoulder seams that can stretch or sag.

:: avoid storing your wedding gown in plastic bags or vacuum-sealed, plastic wrapped containers because plastic emits fumes that can yellow your bridal gown and trap moisture that mildews your wedding gown.

:: ask what precautions the specialist takes to protect delicate trims and decorations on your wedding gown and how the cleaner guards against latent stains on your wedding gown.

:: choose a specialist who will personally process your bridal gown, never one who sends your bridal gown away to be cleaned.

:: ask to inspect your wedding gown personally before it is put into the container, which should be a completely acid-free museum quality archival wedding chest lined with fabric or acid-free tissue.

:: avoid storing your bridal gown in the attic or basement where there are extreme changes in temperature or humidity.

Emergency Bridal Gown Cleaning and Care

:: Have safety pins on hand.

Too often someone steps on your bridal gown or you catch your bridal gown on something, and pins will get you through the day. Be prepared for a broken bustle loop, torn strap or broken zipper. In a pinch you can use sticky tape or even staples, but you run the risk of damaging the fabric of the wedding gown. Better to avoid pinches.

: : Know the fabric of your wedding gown.

When you spill something on artificial fiber, it is much easier to get rid of the stain than if you spill something on a natural fiber such as silk. Natural fibers are hollow and absorb the spill. In either case, unless the spill is major and makes you uncomfortable, better leave the spot alone until you can get professional treatment for your bridal gown. If you must do something and the stain is coffee, mud, blood, tea or some other water-soluble stain, dab the spot gently with cool water and air dry. Club soda will also work.

CAUTION: silks and rayons, particularly silk and rayon velvets, are water-sensitive, and you may have permanent water spots.

Try camouflaging spots on your wedding gown with something white and relatively harmless such as baking soda, cornstarch, or baby powder (white-out and shoe polish are tricky)—especially if the stain is not water soluble. Grease, lipstick, and other cosmetics can only be dissolved by solvents such as cigarette-lighter fluid. If the solvent contains alcohol, it can also dissolve any dye that may have been used to color your wedding gown. Again, better leave the spot alone until you can get professional treatment for your wedding gown.

Remember no matter how much you love your gown, try to remember your family and friends share your happiness on your special day.