How to Restore Vintage Bridal Veil Nettings

Bring a vintage veil back to its original beauty through restoration.

It is a tradition in some families for the bride to wear a veil that has been passed down from previous generations. Though great care is taken to preserve the veils, they usually end up yellowing over time. Small tears also appear and embellishments fall off. Luckily, the veil can be restored to its original beauty so the bride can continue her family's tradition on her wedding day.

Things You'll Need

• Bleach
• 4 white towels
• Transparent dress tape
• Tulle
• Lingerie thread
• Beads, rhinestones or pearls

Instructions

1. Place the veil on a clean white towel, then cover the veil with a second white towel. Lay the veil flat between the two towels. The towels protect the veil from tearing and being bleached too much.

2. Fill a bathtub with warm water. Add bleach to the water, mixing the bleach with hot water per the instructions on the bottle. Pour the bleach mixture into the tub.

3. Place the towels with the veil in between them in the water. Let the towels and veil go into the water until they are completely covered. Let the veil soak for 20 minutes to 2 hours, checking it every 20 minutes to see if it is white yet.

4. Remove the towels and veil from the bleach water, and rinse them with cold water. Gently wring out any excess water. Lay the veil flat on a dry white towel, and pat it dry with another towel.

5. Check the freshly cleaned veil for tears. Cover the tear using transparent dress tape and a small piece of tulle. Sew the tear together using lingerie thread. Add embellishments such as rhinestones, pearls or beads to cover up the mended part and give the veil an updated look.

Tips & Warnings

• Test the bleach on a small area of the veil to see if the material can handle the process.

• If the tear in the veil is very small, just place some adhesive tape on the back and leave it alone.

• If there is any doubt that the veil cannot withstand a hand cleaning, take the veil to a professional to avoid ruining an heirloom.

References

• Martha Stewart Weddings: How do I Clean a Vintage Veil?
• Beach Bride to Be: Wedding Dress Emergencies and How to Fix it Fasr!