How to Bleach Vintage Wedding Gowns
The details on most vintage wedding gowns are absolutely gorgeous. Many of them may have developed stains over time, but there is a way to remove the stains by using bleach. It is something that should be carefully done to protect the integrity of the gown.
How to Bleach Vintage Wedding Gowns
- Carefully remove any metal fixtures on the gown such as hooks, buttons and pins that are attached to the gown.
- Lay a sheet on the bottom of your bathtub and fill the tub with lukewarm water. As you are filling the tub with water pour in a capful of gentle detergent under the running water.
- Lay the dress in the tub and allow it to soak in the water. You can leave it in for up to 24 hours if needed. This is done to remove any discoloration of the gown.
- Remove the gown from the water by lifting it out on the sheet.
- Put the gown, still on a sheet, on a clotheshorse and allow it to dry.
- Begin the bleaching process after the gown has completely dried. Use 6% hydrogen peroxide if the dress is not made of synthetic material or use buttermilk if it is.
- Pour whichever bleaching agent you have chosen into a spray bottle.
- Spray the bleach on the gown evenly to prevent leaving marks on the gown.
- Lay the gown flat on the sheet and place out in the sun to help speed up the bleaching process if you used buttermilk. The dress should be turned over to make sure all sides get the same amount of processing.
- Put the sheet and the gown in a tub full of cold water after the bleaching process is complete and let it soak for an hour.
- Remove the gown and lay it flat to dry.