How to Protect your dress from yellowing

Did you choose a beautiful wedding dress that makes you look and feel gorgeous? Most likely, you would like to keep it looking just as pristine as the day you brought it home.

Many brides choose to purchase their gowns months before the actual date of the wedding so that they can focus on other things leading up to the big day. Since planning a wedding can take so much time, it helps to have the dress all picked out and checked off the list before proceeding. It may also be easier to enlist the help of friends and family in assisting with choosing the dress if you all meet sooner rather than later.

However, now that you have your dress, you’ll need to find a way to store it safely without it turning yellow. Since wedding dresses are made of delicate fabrics, it is very easy for them to disintegrate. Plus, the dress is white, so every little imperfection will show.

But never fear, there are plenty of ways you can keep your dress from showing wear and tear from storage. Here are our top tips to help keep your dress from turning yellow before the big day.

Be Careful of Plastic Bags

Many boutiques will let you take your dress home in a plastic garment bag that will protect it from any damage or dirt on the drive home. However, this is not a long term storage solution. Plastic will trap moisture in with the dress, causing mold, mildew and discoloration. Instead, remove your dress from the plastic bag and put it in a box with tissue paper.

An Acid-Free Environment

You should also store your dress in acid-free materials. If you choose to store it in a box, make sure all of the box materials do not contain any acid, and use acid-free tissue paper to wrap the dress and prevent discoloration at the seams and folds. You should also keep your dress out of direct sunlight at all times. Instead, keep it in a cool, dry place with even temperatures.

Consider Preservation Services

After the wedding, you may want to look into wedding gown preservation services. These services will not only get your gown cleaned professionally, but will also provide a special box for you to store your dress so that it can be preserved as a family heirloom.

Are you looking for a safe way to preserve your wedding gown? For many people, a wedding gown is the most expensive article of clothing they have ever bought. Plus, it holds important sentimental value as the dress you wore when you began your married life. No doubt you want to find a way to keep it looking beautiful as long as possible.

If you are considering wedding dress preservation, you have several options to choose from. Some people choose to clean their gowns at home and then put them away, while others opt for a professional preservation service that will help keep your dress looking fresh and beautiful. Read on to learn more about your choices for caring for your wedding dress after the big event.

Commit to Doing Something

Whether you’re more of a DIY girl or interested in getting help from a professional, make sure that you do something with your dress. Those wine and frosting stains are only going to get darker and more difficult to get out. And if you just leave it hanging on a hanger in your closet, you can end up stretching the bodice out so that it looks misshapen. Whether you want to clean your dress at home, get it dry cleaned or preserved, what’s important is that you take proper care of your beautiful dress.

Wash Minor Stains at Home

If you only have a few spots you would like to get out, you can wash your dress at home in a clean tub with lukewarm water and some detergent. Make sure the tub is clean first and then dissolve the correct amount of detergent for a small load of laundry. Then submerge your dress and leave it to soak. Afterward, rinse in more lukewarm water and dry flat over a rack. Don’t hang it up to dry, as this will only stretch the fabric. Also, only attempt this method if the dress does not say “dry clean only” on the label.

Consider a Professional

On the other hand, you can consider using a professional cleaning and preservation service. You can get your dress dry-cleaned and sealed in a professional-grade box that will protect it from the effects of age. However, not all companies are created equally and you should shop around to find one that suits your budget and requirements.   

1.  Never wash your dress at home.

Washing your dress at home by yourself is a terrible idea. The washing machine will be too harsh and will most likely cause damage to the delicate fabrics. Furthermore, the detergent we use at home probably won’t get out the worst spots, or may even cause them to spread and look worse! Instead, get your dress cleaned by a professional who specializes in wedding dress preservation.

2.  Never wrap your dress in plastic

Plastic will trap moisture in with the dress and cause unsightly discoloration, mold and mildew. Instead, speak with a dress preservationist about acquiring a special box and tissue paper to store your dress properly.

3.  Don’t use a hanger

Hangers will cause a heavy dress to stretch in the shoulders and bodice. Instead, store your dress in a cool, dry place in a specialty preservation box made of acid-free materials.

4.  Keep your dress out of the sun

Never store your dress in direct sunlight. Why? Because the intense light will cause discoloration and make the dress look yellow instead of white. You should also store your dress in a cool, dry location such as under your bed. Don’t store it in the basement or the attic, where moisture and uneven temperatures can threaten its condition.

Additionally, you can consider meeting with a professional wedding gown preservationist to have the process done professionally. Then, you’ll be able to keep your dress looking just as perfectly white and gorgeous as the day you brought it home from the boutique. 

Want To Preserve Your Beautiful Wedding Dress? Dry Cleaning Method

Now that your wedding day has come and gone, you’re probably wondering what to do with your wedding dress. No doubt you want to keep it as fresh and beautiful as the day you put it on and went to the church to say your vows!

However, we are all human, and sometimes no matter how careful we are, our wedding dresses get stained and dirty anyway. While you may be heartbroken looking at your beautiful dress with stains and blemishes on it, know that help is available. You can have your dress professionally dry cleaned so that it looks like new again. Read on to learn about how you can preserve your beautiful wedding dress through dry cleaning.

What is dry cleaning?

Dry cleaning is a chemical process that does not involve water. For this reason, it’s a great choice for the delicate fabrics used in your wedding dress. For example, silk cannot be washed in water without being ruined.

There are two different types of dry cleaning, depending on different chemical processes. The first involves a chemical called perchloroethylene, or perc. It’s a harsh chemical that can ruin certain materials, so if your dress has any glue, beads or sequins, you may need to investigate  the other form of dry cleaning.

The other type is more gentle. It involves a petroleum-based chemical that is less harsh but might not get the worst stains out. Because it contains oil, this method will make your dress look lovely and shiny.

What are the advantages of dry cleaning?

Dry cleaning lets you remove stains that would otherwise be impossible to remove. You’ll be able to get all of those unsightly spots out, like wine, dirt, baby spit and cake frosting. While dry cleaning is strong enough to remove spots, it won’t destroy your gown, so you can preserve it for years to come.

Finally, who wants to do all that washing alone? You can hand your dress off to a professional and have him or her do all of the dirty work. No doubt you’re exhausted after planning a wedding and being the star of your own show during the ceremony and reception. Instead of cleaning your dress, you most likely want to enjoy your honeymoon and savor the first moments of married life. Instead, hand your dress off to a professional and get it dry cleaned. 

How to do Wedding Gown Cleaning at Home

Are you considering getting your wedding dress cleaned at home? While some people opt to have their dresses professionally cleaned after the big day, this can be costly in terms of both time and money. If there aren’t any egregious stains or marks, then it’s definitely possible to clean your dress by yourself. Not only will you save money, but you will also be able to have the satisfaction of doing the job yourself, in true DIY spirit! Read on to learn how to do a wedding gown cleaning at home.

Start with the Label

In the United States, all garments are required by law to put a label inside all articles of clothing that detail exactly how to clean the garment without causing damage. If you look on the inside of your wedding dress, you will find the label in question. Take a good look and read the directions carefully. Then, follow them to the letter.

Additionally, be aware that different types of fabrics require different types of cleaning processes. For example, polyester can be cleaned at home just by washing by hand, while silk requires a dry cleaning because water will ruin the fabric. Make sure you know what kind of material you’re working with before you proceed.

Cleaning Polyester

If your gown is polyester, you can wash it right in the bathtub. First, make sure your tub is completely clean and free of hairs, soap scum and dead skin cells, since these will definitely make your gown look unsightly.

Once the tub is clean, fill it about half-way to the top with lukewarm water and dissolve the amount of detergent needed for a small load of laundry. Then submerge the gown until it is completely underwater. Leave to soak for about 10-15 minutes, then drain the tub and fill again with lukewarm water to rinse, swirling the gown to get the soap out.

Finally, do not hang the gown to dry. All of those folds of fabric will be heavy when wet and will cause the bodice and shoulders to stretch. Instead, place it on a drying rack where you can spread it out to dry completely.

Once it’s dry, you can wear it again for a second reception or for a second photo shoot. Provided there are no major stains, it should look and feel like new. 

Cleaning and Preserving Your Wedding Dress

Are you a newlywed concerned about preserving your wedding dress? First of all, congratulations on your wedding! If you’re worried about how to keep your dress as fresh and beautiful as when you first put it on, then you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about cleaning and preserving your wedding dress.

Step 1: Get It Cleaned As Soon As Possible

Your first priority should be to get your dress to the dry-cleaners. No matter how careful you are, there is always at least one stain on your wedding dress. Things like red wine, mud, and frosting from when your husband smashed cake in your face can all leave noticeable stains. And since stains darken over time, it’s imperative that you do something about them immediately.

Additionally, remember that wedding gowns are made of special materials, like lace, silk, satin and taffeta, that react differently to stains. You’ll want to make sure that your dry cleaner uses a gentle cleaning process and isn’t too rough. Otherwise, you could damage the fabric.

Step 2: Consider Boxing

When it comes time to consider storing your dress, don’t just hang it up in your closet. Hanging for years from a hanger can stretch the shoulders and the bodice, especially if the skirt is heavy and has lots of luxurious layers of fabric. Instead, consider storing it in a padded box. The box should be sealed to prevent dust and insects from getting in, and should be made from acid-free materials. Then, place the box in a cool, dry environment, such as under your bed. Don’t place it in the basement or the attic, as these areas don’t always have regular temperatures, which can cause damage.

Step 3: Use Tissue Paper in the Folds

To prevent discoloration around the folds, insert bits of tissue paper. This will help maintain the color evenly and also prevent dust from settling deep down in the folds.

Step 4: Consider Professional Service

While these tips are all well and good, you may wish to consider a professional gown cleaning and preservation service. These companies will not only clean your gown so that it looks like new, but also provide treatments and a proper storage box, as well as helpful tips on how to make your dress last longer. You can find them online, in the phone book or by asking a friend for a recommendation.

5 Things You Should Know Before Getting Your Wedding Gown Cleaned

Are you considering getting your wedding gown professionally cleaned? Many newlyweds wish to have their gowns cleaned so that they look just as beautiful as the day they came out of the bridal store. Some people also want to take it one step further and find a professional preservation method so that they can turn their wedding gowns into family heirlooms.

Whichever you choose, know that getting a wedding dress cleaned is a big process and you should think carefully about how to go about doing it. To assist you, here are five things you should know before getting your wedding gown cleaned.

1.  Price

Remember that expression, “You get what you pay for?” Well, sometimes that’s true here too. Oftentimes, cheaper cleaning companies don’t deliver quality work. However, sometimes they still charge an arm and a leg but don’t deliver quality work, and you’re left feeling ripped off. To avoid these situations, make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for. It may help to shop around to find the perfect cleaning company to suit your needs and budget.

2.  Spot-Cleaning

When shopping for a cleaning company, make sure to ask about spot-cleaning. You’ll want someone to inspect your dress completely and remove any spots, while also explaining exactly what kind of chemicals are being used. Since wedding gowns are made of special fabrics like lace, taffeta and silk, you’ll want to make sure the cleaning process is gentle enough not to damage the fabric, but strong enough to get those pesky spots out.

3.  Sugar Stains

Stains left by sugary substances, like alcohol, cake, frosting, coffee and even baby spit, will require a special process to remove. Ask directly whether the cleaning company can recognize and remove stains caused by sugary items.

4.  Storage Materials Provided

After the cleaning process, most companies will provide a bag or box to store your gown in for years to come. You’ll want to make sure that the bag or box is made of acid-free material and that the company will pack the dress in acid-free tissue paper to prevent discoloration around the seams and folds.

5.  Better Business Bureau

Finally, you can look on the Better Business Bureau’s website for a listing of trusted companies. These companies will have built a great reputation, so your best bet is to go with one of them!

The Down-low on Wedding Gown Preservation

Thinking of having your wedding gown preserved? This is an important step if you want to keep your dress for a long time. There are certain costs you should expect, as well as measures all good preservationists make, and guidelines as to what you can and cannot do with your dress after its preservation. If possible, try to do this as soon as possible to help keep your dress perfectly in-tact for years to come.

Costs and Shipping

You can expect the total cost for dress preservation to range from $200.00 to $900.00. Most reputable companies will include shipping in the overall cost of preservation. Some companies will only preserve a dress and veil, while other will also let you include purses or shoes. Check with them, first. You do not need to buy extra insurance on your dress while having it shipped if you are working with a great preservation company: they include it. Many companies will also include a warranty on their work for a limited time period. Ask the company you want to work with about their offer of a warranty.

What a Preservationist Will Do

Preservationists will carefully clean, then repack your dress and send it to you in a box. Do not trust a company if they want to send it in a garment bag. Usually, they will pack it in an unsealed costume box with tissue paper or a liner, or an archival storage box. This assures that the fabric can breathe, will not be damaged from moisture, mold, mildew, or re-acidification of the boxy. They may also include instructions with the box of how to further upkeep their work. Then, they will ship it back to you, free of charge.

After You Get Your Dress Back

After you get your dress back, feel free to carefully remove it from the box. As a precaution against skin oils, you may want to wear cotton gloves (sometimes included in preservation costs) or carefully wash and dry your hands beforehand. You can inspect it regularly. Just clear an area in which to inspect it, and then carefully repack it in the box in the same way it was shipped to you. Store it flat in a closet in the living area of your home that is regularly cleaned where the temperature is regulated throughout the year. It should stay beautiful for years. 

Facts on Preservation and Cleaning for Wedding Gowns

Preserving your wedding gown is important to keep it just as beautiful as it was the day you walked down the aisle. There are many options for both cleaning and preservation. Here, we will take a look at all of them, as well as what methods are recommended if you want to keep your wedding gown in great condition for years to come. Do not trust what everyone says, as well as what all cleaners may tell you. Our final verdicts might just surprise you!

What Experts Say

Experts in the gown preservation business can help you to preserve your gown properly. Experts who preserve historical gowns (such as those in museums) are able to keep gorgeous and old gowns looking brand new by using preservation methods that some wedding gown preservation companies may offer. By far, most preservationist experts and archivists say that these types of methods are the best because they allow a garment to breathe, be kept free of insects, stains, mold, mildew, and more, and will not cause your garment to yellow, shrink, or get destroyed over time.

What Cleaning and Preservation Methods are Available?

You may send your dress off for cleaning and preservation, or have it done at your local dry cleaners. No matter who you are considering, ask what methods they may use. Some use dry cleaning (which might damage some very fragile beading, appliques, or materials), or wet cleaning (which is the use of very gentle soap and water). If dry cleaning, ask that they use a virgin cleaning solution. After cleaning, most reputable companies will either preserve your dress using the museum method or by boxing it up in an archival box. They may or may not seal this box.

Final Verdict

But which person do you turn to for the best cleaning and preservation? Here are some tips: Do not let the cleaner put your dress in a dry cleaning bag or a plain cardboard box, as this can cause the dress to deteriorate or stain. Do not let them hang it on a regular hanger, or use chemicals that are particularly abrasive on very fragile fabric. Be sure to ask lots of questions before handing your dress over to anyone. Lastly, it is recommended that you research more about whether or not to have your box sealed before you make that decision. 

To Seal or Not to Seal: The Wedding Dress Preservation Question

After your wedding, you want to have your gown preserved for years of enjoyment. There is a debate amongst brides, preservationists, and others about whether or not to seal the preservation box that your dress is placed in. Here, we will look at the argument for sealing the box up, air-tight. We will also look at what great preservationists should do for your dress, as well as questions you should ask your preservationists.

What a Preservationist Does

Most preservationists will tackle caring for your dress with a few steps. They should inspect, clean, and then seal your dress in a preservationist box that is solid or has a clear-plastic window. A preservationist takes great care to thoroughly clean your dress with environmentally safe solvents that are also safe for even the most delicate of fabrics. They try to get rid of even spots that only black lights can see on your dress to prevent future discoloration. Putting your dress in a box packed in tissue paper or on a bust form keeps it from staining or stretching out over the course of time.

Why Seal Your Box?

Sealing your box does make your container air-tight. Those that say that this is a good idea say that is helps to control the entrance of things like spores, mold, mildew, or insects. When you seal a box, you are also protecting your dress from fluctuating moisture levels in your home, any errant chemicals or substances floating in the air, and more. The most typical damage seen to fabulously delicate wedding dresses involves small insects, like silkworms, silverfish, and moths. Placing a seal on your wedding box can keep any and all insects and creatures away from your dress.

Check with Your Preservationist Company of Choice

If you are curious as to what method your preservationist company uses, ask them. Many times, reputable preservationist companies are more than happy to tell you about the process they use on your dress, chemicals involved in the process, and how they will re-package your dress. They can also give you more information about things like where and how to store your dress, what to do if you want to take your dress out of the box (or if you should), their overall cost, as well as if they offer a warranty of guarantee on their work.