What Does The Wedding Dress Cleaning Process Consist Of?

If you are wondering what goes into the wedding dress cleaning process, read on. Professional wedding dress cleaning is indeed a process that requires careful inspection to ensure preservation.

Checking For Stains

First, a wedding dress is checked for obvious stains, such as those from mud, wine, food, and perspiration. Once such stains are noted, the dress is checked for "invisible" stains with a black light. Examples of invisible stains include clear beverages such as Sprite, and white cake icing. Invisible stains might not seem like a big deal, but they can cause the dress to yellow if left on for an extensive period of time.

Checking For Damage

The second stage of wedding dress cleaning is checking for dress damage, such as loose hems and torn fabric. You have the option to leave dress damage as is, in which case the specialist will place a stitch or three in the dress to keep the damage from getting worse.

Cleaning The Dress

Wedding dress cleaning generally involves soaking the hemline, applying spot treatment as needed, and dry or wet-cleaning the gown depending on the dress fabric and care instructions. Silk dresses are usually dry-cleaned, while polyester dresses are generally wet-cleaned. Some dresses feature a combination of fabrics, making working with a specialist crucial.

Post-Cleaning Inspection

Once the dress is thoroughly cleaned, it is inspected once again for any issues. If none are found, the bride inspects the dress before the gown is placed in an acid-free preservation box with acid-free paper.

The Bottom Line

Working with a specialist is highly, highly recommended if preserving your dress is a big honkin' deal to you. Specialists understand how to deal with wedding dress fabric of all types and won't make the mistakes a dryer cleaner might. Go pro if you want to preserve your dress--it is well worth the effort!