Getting to wear white on your big day can be a blessing and a curse. While you stand out and glow an angelic and radiant glow, you may find yourself regretting your choice of catered lasagna. May the one mishap of the day be a tomato sauce or wine stain on your wedding dress because, ultimately, this may be the easiest fix of the whole night.
Wearing white on your big day can be a blessing and a curse. While you stand out and glow an angelic and radiant glow, you may find yourself regretting your choice of catered lasagna. May the one mishap of the day be a tomato sauce or wine stain on your wedding dress because, ultimately, this may be the easiest fix of the whole night.
We’ve all heard the wives’ tales of tomato sauce and wine being the ruin of white garments, but your experts are here to tell you that this is false. Cleaning a wedding dress is not only easy but can often be done at home.
How to Clean a Wedding Dress at Home
While you spend the night dancing, socializing, sweating, eating and taking beautiful pictures, your dress will inevitably pick up some dirt, dust, sweat and maybe even a few stains. But not to fear, though it can be alarming to see a stain on your prized possession, our wedding dress cleaning guide is sure to return your dress to the pristine condition in which you bought it.
Before we begin, it is important to remember that due to the intricate laces, embellishments, and beading found on many dresses, the cleaning process will be more difficult than with other garments. Read your care instructions carefully so as not to ruin your dress. View our garment care guide to learn more about material-specific care.
Caring for the Dress Throughout the Night
Notoriously, your wedding day is the quickest day of your life. Save your time soaking in the moment, not soaking your dress in the sink. Spend your night having fun rather than worrying about your dress, stains are temporary, and memories are forever! After the night is over, you can get to work on repairing all the damages in the next few days.
Treating Small Stains
Small stains are often hard to spot. Take some time looking over your dress, a stain, no matter how small, can set to be a permanent mar on your gorgeous dress. Spot clean tains with a stain remover. When you apply the stain remover, be careful not to soak through other layers of the dress as to not transfer the stain elsewhere.
Cleaning the Hemline
Most dresses brush the ground throughout the night, picking up dust and dirt. To clean your dress’s hemline, fill a bathtub with warm water and a small amount of gentle detergent. Submerge the hemline and train and let them soak for a few hours. If the bottom of your dress is still dirty, take a soft-bristled brush or toothbrush and scrub the hemline of your dress to loosen up stubborn dirt and dust from the garment’s fibers.
Rinsing and Finishing
Drain your tub and fill it again with clean, warm water to remove the remaining detergent from your dress. Make sure all the soap is out of your dress then hang dry on a sturdy rod. Once your dress is fully dry, steam it and store it in a cool, dark, breathable place.
When to Get Your Dress Dry Cleaned
If your gown has delicate elements like embroidering, lace, beading or buttons, you may want to consider getting your dress professionally cleaned. Experienced wedding gown care professionals have spent years perfecting their techniques so that your dress is returned in even better condition than when you bought it. Contact us at Charleston Prestige Cleaners for expert wedding dress cleaning and preservation in and around Charleston, South Carolina!
