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Health & Fitness

Wedding Gown Care - the dirty details of getting your dress cleaned and preserved.

Wedding gown cleaning and preservation - what to do before the ceremony and after.

Are wedding bells ringing in the near future for you or someone you know?  Are the memories of those bells still tolling in your head while your dress is hanging in the closet (or hidden away in a bag to forget about how dirty it got?!)?

Lets start with those up-coming brides: Whether its you, a sister, a friend, or a neighbor - one thing you can count on is this - the last thing on their mind is getting their gown cleaned and preserved.

Are you the bride? Day dreaming about how dirty your dress is going to get on your big day, or the possibility of it getting damaged, is the last thing that should be on your mind.  But have no fear, there are a few easy tips to follow which will keep your gown in the best condition possible:

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  • purchase an affordable under slip for when you are walking around for pictures, or on the way to the ceremony.  It will protect the hemline and reduce the number of stains that can get set into the fabric. A great option is the Ultimate Petticoat - which is easy to slip on and off under the gown.
  • Protect your neckline and under the arms with tissues or cloths when applying any last minute make-up or bronzers.  And always let products fully dry and absorb into the skin before putting the gown on. 
  • Never spray on perfume or other clear products - the chemicals can react with the silk and other specialty fabrics and pull dye -  leaving spray patterns of discoloration after the gown has been cleaned. 
  • Keep a stash of double-stick tape, safety pins (multiple sizes), pre-threaded string and bandaids for those "just in case" dress moments.  you can repair a bustle or a pulled hemline in a snap.

Have you just gotten married and you aren't sure what to do with the gown? First thing is first, get the dress into your professional cleaner ASAP - preferably within the first 30 days to keep sugar based stains from oxidizing and carmelizing on the gown.  But don't trust just anyone to do the cleaning - trust only a certified wedding gown specialist to do the work.  Handling speciality fabrics, beading, designs and styles is not something every cleaner can do well, and never trust them to preserve your gown.  The products used are not true archival quality. And if the gown has been in your closet a while, make a point to get it to the cleaners - their expert staff is trained on how to work with difficult, set in stains.

Here are some tips on what to ask your cleaner and preservation specialist before making a decision:

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  • How do they clean the gown?  It is important gowns are cleaned in new fresh solvent specifically designated for wedding gowns and whites. You want them to be able to explain how they will hand clean certain areas, and they should immediately pay attention to the key spots such as hemlines, under the arms, bodice area and zipper areas for standard expected soil. (these areas should not be extra charges unless extremely soiled)
  • Who is cleaning the gown?  Many cleaners outsource the cleaning and pressing of their gown, which means your dress will not be in their possession at all times. You want to trust only those that have been formally trained in gown cleaning and care and perform all of the work themselves. 
  • Who does the preservation?  Again, many outsource this feature and ship gowns to the cheapest preservation vendor, without concern of damage during shipping or the quality of the preservation. This should always be done in-house, and by someone who is qualified to perform textile preservation.
  • What do they use for preservation? This is the tricky part - everyone will tell you their product is archival quality- but trust your instincts:  it should never look like cardboard, it should never be vaccuum sealed or the top taped shut to prevent it from being opened. It should always be a PH balanced product with acid free tissue and in many cases a muslin lining. The products should look and feel different.  There should never be a plastic view panel and the preservation specialist SHOULD be able to explain in a very detailed way exactly what they are doing to preserve it and how it helps the gown. 

For those of you in the Pennisula, or the SF/East Bay area, you are in luck.  You have a local Association of Wedding Gown Specialists Member in your area - GreenStreets Cleaners.  With a full bridal area located in Belmont, brides can view the gown prior to boxing, and even be present during the preservation process.  All preservation processes come with a 100% international Guarantee, and as the Bridal Director, I will personally handle every gown and every bride through the entire process. 

Have a question or want to learn more?  Feel free to call, message or stop by to visit!

Jess Neu

Bridal Gown Director

Jess@greenstreetscleaners.com

650-594-9921

850 Emmett Ave Suite B

Belmont CA 94002

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