Attention & Care

How to Clean & Preserve Your Dress

Cleaning Tips

The best way to thoroughly clean a wedding dress or evening gown is to take it to a high-quality, professional cleaner that specializes in wedding and evening wear. If the gown is still relatively clean with only a few minor stains, you can treat or spot-clean the dress at home.

  1. Identify the fabric of your dress. For silk, lace, or vintage gowns, it's better to have it professionally cleaned.
  2. Inspect the dress thoroughly to identify stains from perspiration, food, liquids, or makeup. The hem may also have accumulated dirt if the dress is full-length.
  3. Use a white, dry, absorbent cloth to gently blot satin after applying an appropriate cleaning fluid. Test any cleaning agent on a less visible part of the fabric to avoid discoloration.
  4. Use hydrogen peroxide for wine, sweat, or blood stains, but avoid letting it sit for too long on colored fabrics. For ink stains, lightly spray hairspray. For oily stains like makeup or food, apply a dry cleaning solvent or a soap-and-water mixture.
  5. After blotting as much of the stain as possible, apply a few drops of white vinegar and blot again. Then, flush the area with water, blot again, and allow it to dry.
  6. To clean a dirty hem, soak it in warm water mixed with detergent for a few hours, making sure the rest of the dress stays dry. Use a toothbrush to gently scrub the hemline to remove dirt. Rinse thoroughly with water.
  7. Avoid hanging a dress on a hanger to dry after spot cleaning. Wet fabric is heavy and could stretch or rip. Instead, place the dress over a clean drying rack, preferably plastic-coated or vinyl-coated to avoid damage.

Preserving Tips

With proper care, your dress can be a cherished family heirloom for generations.

  1. Keep the bag your dress came in, or bring a plastic bag to protect it when taking it to the cleaner.
  2. Ask your cleaner for a special acid-free box for storage, and pack the dress in acid-free tissue paper. Alternatively, you can hang the dress by the bodice using straps sewn shorter than the bodice, place it on a padded hanger, and wrap it in a clean, white cotton sheet.
  3. Store the dress in a temperate, dry place, away from direct sunlight.
  4. Inspect your dress annually for any discoloration or missed stains and allow it to "breathe."