Considered to be one of the most important purchases for one’s big day, a wedding dress speaks of not only a person’s commitment to a future of love and happiness with her partner. It also tells a story of the months — and even years — of time and resources expended toward planning and preparing for the wedding day. Most brides, if not all, spend a lot of time looking for the perfect gown — one that can truly express who they are and make them shine while walking down the aisle.
A delicate, intricately-designed wedding dress can cost even up to two thousand dollars and it is a waste if this particular piece of clothing ends up being trashed because it wasn’t handled with care, especially after it has been taken off. But here’s the reality: you wear your gown for a few hours during the ceremony and reception, take it off, and stash it somewhere, only to remember doing anything with it weeks after you’ve had your honeymoon. The longer it sits in a box or the closet unclean, the more likely it will permanently retain any stain it incurred during your festivities.
Why is there a need to clean and preserve wedding gown
After spending a huge chunk of their budget on their dress, it is only fair that it is given the attention it deserves by entertaining the idea of wedding dress cleaning and preservation, a process that involves maintaining the fabric, color, shape, and overall integrity of a gown.
Usually undertaken by those who wish to treat their dress as a keepsake, it offers brides the chance to have physical proof and symbol of one of the most momentous events in their lives. Additionally, making sure that one’s gown is clean before storing it helps in preserving its top-notch quality, making it usable for the next generation.
Just like any other article of clothing, there is a set guideline to cleaning a wedding dress to remove any stain from substances, food particles, and dirt that may have gotten on the fabric. There are also a variety of ways that one can choose from, such as handwashing it and laundry cleaning. The most prevalent method, however, is dry cleaning a wedding dress.
The basics of dry cleaning
Dry cleaning involves the use of a chemical called tetrachloroethylene, as well as that of a dry cleaning machine to remove dirt and stains. Instead of banking on water, these substances are capitalized on to achieve the desired results.
Along with its ability to remove all stains and dust, dry cleaning can also guarantee that there is no wear and tear in the fabric. Another advantage of this widely-favored method is the extent to which it can strengthen the fabric of a wedding dress. Lastly, dry cleaning does not lead to any bleeding in color or shrinking since it doesn’t make use of any water.
Before Dry Cleaning
Whether you are preparing your dress for a thorough wedding gown preservation or just getting it looking pristine, here are a couple of reminders that you need to keep in mind before dry cleaning.
- Upon getting a hold of your gown, secure the label and check it before cleaning. This is a way of double-checking the appropriate way of cleaning it as well as getting acquainted with the chemicals — if there are any — that are not suitable with any of your dress’s fabric.
- Conduct a visual check of the dress. Look for any areas that were stained and dirtied. Inspect, as well, the decorations and embellishments of the gown as some of them may dissolve when mixed with intensely strong solvents.
- Do not take too long before dry cleaning your wedding gown. Avoid the risk of ruining the dress because of a permanent stain
