Everything you need to know about wedding dress preservation

It is vital to preserving your wedding dress. Wedding dress preservation Chicago is often intricately designed and delicate and cannot be cleaned like other clothes. Preserving your wedding dress is key to ensuring its longevity. You could end up with the following:

• Fabric yellowing
• Brown spots of oxidation
• Mildew and mold growth
• Permanent fabric creasing

Continue reading to learn everything you need about preservation of wedding dresses.

Cost of wedding dress preservation

Wedding gown preservation should be included in your wedding budget. It’s an expensive expense, considering that many wedding preservation kits can cost between $250 and $400.

Standard Dry Cleaning vs. Wedding Dress Preservation

An expert’s evaluation is required for wedding gown preservation. This is not a one-size-fits-all dry-cleaning. A specialist will create a customized treatment plan based on your dress fabric, stitching, and details. They also analyze stains along the hem.

Pay attention to the label on your dress

This is the label you shouldn’t ignore. You should also look for dry cleaning instructions such as “Dry Clean Only With Petroleum Solvent”. No matter what it says, pay attention to it and ensure that the dry cleaner or preservationist you choose uses the right cleaning products for your wedding gown.

Time is the Essence

The first step to preserving your wedding dress is professional cleaning. Get the dress to the dry cleaners or preservationist as soon as possible.

Seal the Preservation Box tightly

Preserved dresses are usually stored in an airtight container where oxygen has been removed and replaced by nitrogen. This prevents oxidation (aging, discoloration etc.). This can happen to clothing that has been stored for a long time. Experts in wedding gown care recommend that you do not break the seal and that you have it sealed again.

Keep the wedding dress in a cool, dark place

After the dress has been cleaned properly, it is time to put it away. Keep your wedding dress out of direct sunlight as it can fade and yellowize. It is important to remove the dress from the hanger. This can cause heavy dresses to be distorted. Keep your dress out of a zip-up bag.

Do not forget your shoes and bouquet

You can protect your bouquet and your shoes by following the right steps. Use a soft cloth and sponge to clean your cloth shoes. Leather shoes can be polished with a polish. You can also take your shoes to a dry cleaner if you have done a lot of work on them. Wrap your shoes in white tissue after they are dry and then place them in a box.

DIY Wedding Dress Preservation

These guidelines will help you preserve your wedding gown on your own.

When handling your wedding dress, always use white cotton gloves

To ensure that the fabric isn’t damaged, you should spot-test the dress before you start to clean it.

You will be able to do the job with soft-bristled brushes. Get some soft toothbrushes to help you get the job done.

Bleach should never be used on your gown. This extremely harsh chemical can cause irreversible damage to delicate fabrics.

Wrap the gown in acid-free tissue paper, or unbleached muslin once it is dry. Colored tissue paper can stain the gown over time so avoid it. To prevent creasing, place layers of tissue paper and muslin between each fold of the dress.

To help keep the dress in its original shape, make sure you stuff the bust and sleeves with tissue paper.

The dress should be stored in an acid-free container. For humidity control, you can add silica desiccant packs to the box.

Alternately, you could use an acid-free plastic bag to hang your dress in a dry, cool closet. Avoid hanging your wedding dress on wire or wooden hangers. Wedding gowns weigh more than regular clothes. This can cause the fabric to pull as it hangs.