How to Clean Satin Dresses

Satin is the fabric of choice in formal dresses and gowns for many different occasions. It is a durable, yet luxurious fabric. Satin is an appealing choice for formal wear, not only because it is beautifully smooth and shiny, but because it can also be carefully hand washed in cold water to clean.

Things You'll Need

• Woolite
• Cold water
• Washing machine
• Bath towels
• Iron

Instructions

1. Wash your satin dress by hand in cold water or on the delicate cycle of your washing machine. Use a detergent like Woolite that is designed for delicate fabrics.

2. Fill a sink with cool water and add a small amount of detergent to hand wash your dress. Wash gently and avoid rubbing too roughly while hand washing. Let the satin dress soak in the cool, soapy water for approximately five minutes. Work the detergent through the dress to wash it.

3. Rinse the dress completely with cool water. Never twist a satin dress to remove excess water. Gently squeeze out as much excess water as you can.

4. Spread a bath towel out and place the satin dress on the towel. Roll the towel and the dress up together. Gently push on the towel to remove as much water as possible.

5. Unroll the towel and place the satin dress onto a different dry bath towel. Allow the satin dress to dry completely on the bath towel.

6. Iron your satin dress inside out on a light/no steam setting of the iron. Iron carefully and do not keep the iron on the satin for more than a second or two at a time.

Tips & Warnings

• If you suspect that your satin dress is extremely delicate, consider having it professionally dry cleaned instead.

• Do not wash your satin dress in hot water. Hot water can shrink satin considerably. Do not machine dry your satin dress.

Resources

• Woolite