So, you're wedding day has come and gone and you are faced with the daunting task of writing the many "thank you" cards for the piles of gifts received, and with getting your wedding dressed prepared for storage. It is significant to note that, for most women, a wedding gown is likely to be the most expensive garment they will own, and it might also be one of the trickiest to launder and store.
While many people believe that they can just zip it up back in the garment storage bag in which it arrived, if there are any kinds of body oils or stains on the fabric they could cause permanent damage. This means that preparing a wedding dress for storage requires several significant steps.
The first is to go over the gown with the proverbial "fine tooth comb" to find any stains or marks. This should be done as soon as possible, particularly if delicate fabrics like silk are used to make the dress. This is because such fabrics allow a stain to set in permanently even after a matter of a few day's time.
Any stains found can be treated in one of two ways – either using the wet or the dry cleaners. Wet cleaning is something to be done only after finding out if the fabric can be exposed to water and gentle cleaners. If it can, the owner should actually submerge the entire garment in a specially prepared bath and use cleaners that will eliminate even unseen stains – such as those left by champagne or sugar. If using the dry cleaning method, it will require finding a dry cleaning establishment that offers wedding dress services. They will usually go over the garment with the owner and identify the stains that require pre-treating, and then the garment is placed into a special dry cleaning machine where solvents are used to cleanse the delicate fabrics.
It is important to note that many wedding gown materials actually develop a beautiful sheen or finish after exposure to dry cleaning techniques, and this method can also remove the stains undetectable to the eye as well. Even a few drops of champagne on a silk skirt will eventually begin to stiffen and yellow over time, and can utterly ruin the garment if left untreated.
A good dry cleaning establishment will also discuss the proper storage materials for the gown too. While you might think a traditional plastic garment bag is ideally suited for your dress these can actually retain moisture and allow the garment to mildew. Instead, a knowledgeable dry cleaner will usually offer their customers acid-free tissue paper wrappings or unbleached muslin bags as ideal containers. They will then place the garment in a pH-neutral box that will allow air and moisture to be properly managed. If the box has a window it is best to be sure that it is stored away from any exposure to light as the small amount of fabric seen through such a window could easily yellow over a short period of time.
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