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You finally found it!
The perfect dress, the one you've fantasized about since you were a little girl. And it's everything you envisioned - layers and layers of exquisite fabric in a sophisticated style that flatters your figure. On your wedding day, you'll walk down the aisle looking absolutely radiant. You've invested so much of your heart, time and money in your wedding dress, and you want it to last forever.
Bridal Gown Cleaning and Care Tips:
For Very Special Care of Your Very Special Bridal Gown.
Hang your wedding gown by loops inside the gown that are connected to sturdy side seams, never by fragile shoulder seams that can stretch or sag.
Avoid storing your worn wedding gown for a long period of time in plastic bags or vacuum-sealed, plastic wrapped containers because plastic emits fumes that can yellow your bridal gown and trap moisture that mildews your wedding gown.
Ask what precautions the specialist takes to protect delicate trims and decorations on your wedding gown and how the cleaner guards against latent stains on your wedding gown.
Ask to inspect your wedding gown personally before it is put into the container, which should be a completely acid-free museum quality archival wedding chest lined with fabric or acid-free tissue.
Avoid storing your bridal gown in the attic or basement where there are extreme changes in temperature or humidity.
Caring for Silk
Fabrics made from silk fiber demand special care. Consumers should understand silk's characteristics, use and care recommendations to maintain and extend the life of their silk garments.
First of all, Silk is a protein fiber and similar to human hair. Remembering this will help you when you think about the care and also cleaning it.
To prolong the beauty and life of silk garments, follow these simple guidelines in use and care:
1. Avoid extreme changes in temperature.
2. Since it is a delicate fabric strong detergents will harm the fibers and cause it to lose its silky properties.
3. Do not expose to sunlight as it will discolour the garment if white and fade if it is coloured.
4. Silk has a natural elasticity which does not hold creases well. Therefore, if you hang your garment many of the creases will fall out. Alternatively press with a dry iron on a silk setting, preferably while the garment is still a little damp. Steam can be used on heavier silks but could cause puckering and shrinkage on finer fabrics.
5. Use care in dressing and grooming to avoid staining silk items. Silk fabric is easily damaged by alcohol-based products such as hair spray and perfumes, and chemical products such as nail polish remover. Apply perfume and hair spray before putting on a silk garment as the mist from such products may cause stains.
6. Once dressed, cover the garment with a towel before applying hair spray. Do not polish nails while wearing a silk garment as nail polish can remove color, damaging the fabric permanently.
Spot Cleaning Tips for Silk
Here are some tips for spot cleaning silk. However a word to the wise, always proceed with caution when cleaning silk and use a test method on an inconspicuous area first. If in doubt consult a reputable dry cleaner.
Never use a wet method of cleaning; generally use a moist sponge or cotton ball gently blotting the stained area until cleansed.
Red Wine: Immediately sponge out the area affected with club soda or white wine. Then dab the area with a mixture of cool water and ammonia. Blot dry.
Perspiration Stains: New perspiration stains are acid based while older stains become alkaline. I use a two part stage to remove these stains. 1. Add one tablespoon of vinegar to a half a cup of water. Blot the stained area with a cheese cloth or cotton ball, dry, and then use a mixture of alcohol and baby shampoo (see below) going over the same area. Rinse using a blotting method to remove solution.
Blood: There are a few methods used ranging from one part hydrogen peroxide to 9 parts water, sponging with a lukewarm solution of Oxalic Acid (10%) or a mixture of 3 tbsp. alcohol and 3 drops of baby shampoo. Whichever method you use make sure you remove solutions with warm water blotting afterwards and clean towel to dry. Always have an absorbent towel underneath any spot cleaning with silk so that it does not penetrate into the other fabrics.
Lipstick: A mixture of 3 tbsp. alcohol and 3 drops of baby shampoo works the best to remove makeup. The key is to remove the stain as soon as you find it.
Perfume Stains: Sponge with equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water or a few drops of alcohol to a cheesecloth pad and then sponge fabric lightly.
Recommended Cleaners & Preservationists:
All Brides Beautiful is now accepting dresses for Wedding Gown Preservation Co. to preserve your wedding gown using their miracle kit:
Wedding Gown Preservation Co. 1-(800)-305-3108
www.GownPreservation.com
Riley Cleaners, Main St. Hudson, OH (330) 656-3343
rileysofhudson@hotmail.com
Association of Wedding Gown Specialists 1-800-501-5005
Recommended by Rivini
www.WeddingGownSpecialists.com
J. Scheer & Co. 1-800-448-7291
Recommended by Amy Kuschel
www.jscheer.com
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