Methods for Cleaning and Preserving Your Designer Wedding Dress

Brides have many options for what they can do with their gown after their big day. Some brides desire to resell their wedding dresses: or they donate their wedding dresses to someone in need. Then there are those brides who have their dressed repurposed into evening wear or lingerie. Others might “destroy” their wedding dresses in color bomb photo shoots. Most brides decide to preserve their wedding dresses so they can have a memento to keep forever. If you are a bride who desires to preserve your designer wedding dress, you will want to implement the tips outlined below.

Factor in the Cost for Preserving Your Designer Wedding Dress

When you are planning your wedding budget, you want to factor in the cost for preserving your wedding dress. Most wedding dress preservation kits cost between $250 to $700 depending on the type of kit you purchase. Once you choose your wedding dress preservation kit, consult a wedding dress preservation specialist. They will guide you through the process of preserving your dress from start to finish. The wedding dress preservation specialist will clean, treat and preserve your dress.

Cleaning and Treating the Wedding Dress

When you go to a wedding dress preservation specialist, he or she will carefully analyze your dress. After careful analysis of the stitching, patterns and the type of fabric used to make the dress, the wedding dress preservation specialist can customize a treatment plan especially for your dress. You should clean your dress to remove any stains or marks left over from the big day.

If you want to save some money, you can take your dress to a dry cleaner as some dry cleaners do offer services for cleaning a wedding dress. If you decide to take your dress to a dry cleaner, ask them about their cleaning processes. Make sure the dry cleaner will use a virgin solvent to clean your dress. Recycled solvents contain impurities that will cause your clothing to smell strange.

Before you choose anyone to clean your dress, carefully read the label on your dress to determine the recommended method for cleaning. Some dresses can only be cleaned with specific chemicals, such as petroleum solvents. Cleaning your dress with the wrong chemicals can ruin it. It is critical that you ensure the specialist or dry cleaner has the correct chemicals for cleaning your dress.

No matter if you choose to have a dry cleaner or wedding dress preservation specialist clean your dress, you must know their policies. Make sure the dry cleaner or the wedding dress preservation specialist has a guarantee in place that states that they will not damage your dress. This guarantee must also include complete coverage if damage occurs, such as a full refund of the service as well as coverage for the cost of your dress. You also need to find out how long your dress will remain in good shape after the preservation process.

Have Your Dress Cleaned Immediately

To preserve your wedding dress successfully, you need to have it cleaned right away. Experts recommend that you have your wedding dress cleaned the next day. If you wait too long, stains set in, making them difficult or impossible to be removed. If you plan to go on your honeymoon straight away and will not have any time to drop your dress off to be cleaned, have your mom, a friend or relative drop the dress off for you.

Seal Your Designer Wedding Dress in an Airtight Box

To make sure your dress from your designer wedding lasts, you need to have it sealed in an airtight box. When your dress is sealed in an airtight box, all of the oxygen is sucked out of it and replaced with nitrogen. This prevents aging. Never break the seal on the box because this will interfere with the preservation. If you do accidently break the seal, then your dress will need to go through the preservation process again.

Store Your Wedding Dress in a Dark and Cool Place

If you want your wedding dress to last for many years, experts recommend that you store it in a dark, cool place. It is advisable to keep your dress out of sunlight. Having your dress in the sun can cause it to fade and develop a yellowish appearance. Additionally, do not store your dress in an attic a basement or a garage. The temperatures in these places are quite extreme.

Do Not Leave the Dress on the Hanger

Another thing you must do when you are storing your wedding dress is to make sure you take it off the hanger. If you leave your dress on the hanger, the shape of it will become distorted over time. The best way to store your wedding dress is in an acid-free wedding chest. This way, your dress will lie down neatly and be kept safe. Furthermore, there is no risk of the shape of your wedding dress becoming distorted.

If you really want to save money on preserving your wedding dress, you can clean and preserve it yourself. If you decide to go this route, you will need to ensure you have all the necessary tools and chemicals. Also, you will need to familiarize yourself with the cleaning and preservation process. The downside to cleaning and preserving your dress yourself is that you can accidentally ruin it since you will not have the training of the professionals. Unless you are really feeling confident, it is a good idea to have your dress professionally cleaned and preserved.

If you are not sure where to begin or who to consult, the best wedding dress designers are a good place to start. They can provide advice concerning who you can trust to clean and preserve your designer wedding dress to ensure it lasts for years to come.