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.

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. 

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!