How to Clean Formal Gowns
Finding the perfect formal wedding gown is not an easy task. Once you have worn it, you will need to have it cleaned. Most gowns will specifically say how the dress needs to be cleaned, such as dry cleaning. However, if the material of the dress is anything other than leather, acetate, suede, or rayon, you can clean your dress yourself.
- Use a sink with a stopper or a
bucket and use approximately two tablespoons of mild soap and fill
the bucket or the sink with warm water and swish it around so that
the water becomes sudsy. Some soaps are very mild and you may need
to add a little more to the water to get the water sudsy. - Gently put your wedding gown into
the soapy water allowing it to become fully wet, then pull it back
up and plunge it back into the water again, pull it out and repeat
this about 10 times. - Rub the collar with suds as well
as the underarms. If there are any beads on the dress, make sure you
are especially careful around these so that you do not tear any off
accidentally. - After cleaning your dress
thoroughly, pour out the bucket or drain the sink. Remove all the
suds and soap and fill it with cold clean water. You will want to
plunge the dress into the clean water in the same fashion you did
with the sudsy water to rinse all the soap out. If the water is very
soapy, empty it and refill with clean water until your dress plunges
in and out of the water with no soap. You do not want any soap
residue left on your formal wedding gown. Pour or empty the water
out. - Squeeze gently to get as much of
the water out of the dress. You will need several bath towels,
preferably thick terrycloth since they will absorb the water faster.
Line the bathtub with the towels and then lay your gown flat on the
towels. Roll the towels with the dress on it from the top down to
squeeze out the excess water. - Use more towels on a flat surface
such as hardwood floor or a table to allow the dress to dry. Turn
fans on in the room. Turn the dress over several times and use dry
towels as needed. Allow to dry completely before storing it in
plastic and hanging it in your closet.