A Bride's Guide to Wedding Dress Preservation

A woman’s wedding day is one of the most important events in her life. If you are a soon-to-be bride, you are surely anticipating the big day filled with love and laughter, signifying the beginning of a new chapter of your life. It's only natural, then, that you'd want to preserve important keepsakes, like your wedding dress and veil, from this special day.

The first step to achieving that is by having your wedding dress properly cleaned. With possible dirt on the hem, smudges of makeup, and accidental food stains, cleaning your wedding dress is a must-do, post-wedding.

Cleaning Your Wedding Dress

Taking care of your wedding dress shouldn't be an afterthought. You should start planning how to properly preserve it the moment you find “The Dress”. So, even before making a purchase, do your research about how to properly care for your bridal finery. Search for tips online or ask a salesperson from the boutique you're buying from about the proper cleaning process for your gown.

The care label is also something you need to read carefully. The Federal Trade Commission requires clothes manufacturers to attach care instructions to garments; so, your gown will most likely have a label providing you with the right instructions on how to clean it.

Wedding dresses are typically made from silk, chiffon, or lace. These delicate kinds of fabric should be dry-cleaned by a provider of professional laundry services. While trusted professional cleaners will carefully inspect your gown prior to servicing it, be sure to point out any stains and loose attachments, like buttons and beads, nonetheless.

If your gown is made from a fabric that can be hand-washed, you may still opt to take it to a dry cleaner for better cleaning. However, if you want to clean your wedding dress yourself, be sure to pre-treat the stains and wash the garment in cold water and mild detergent to protect the color and prevent shrinkage.

Proper Wedding Dress Storage

The preservation of your wedding dress doesn't stop with cleaning and washing it, though. Proper storage must also be observed so it won't get damaged over time.

Whether your wedding dress was dry-cleaned at a same-day laundry service or you washed it yourself, it's important to ensure that it is completely dry before packing it away. The absence of moisture from the fabric helps prevent mildew growth, which can damage the garment.

When packing it away, accessories like metal headbands, brooches, and other pieces of jewelry must be stored separately from the dress itself. Items made of metal may corrode over the years and can accidentally tarnish your dress.

Another vital tip for storing your wedding dress is to use a flat, appropriately-sized container. Delicate garments like wedding dresses can become misshapen if left hanging. What's more, leaving your dress hanging for an extended period may put stress on the seams, causing rips and tears.

The best container for the job is a flat storage box. You can opt for an archival storage box made from acid-free paper or a plastic storage box. But, before laying your dress in a storage box, cover it with archival tissue paper to further protect and preserve your dress.

The secret to cleaning and preserving your wedding gown is to have a professional do it. For your wedding dress cleaning needs, turn to Starcrest Cleaners. We'll make sure that your wedding dress remains soft and spotless and we even deliver it to you after cleaning, at your convenience.

Contact Starcrest Cleaners today for more information.