How to Clean a Bridal Gown that is Bought off the Rack

You will learn how to remove almost any stain from a wedding gown and make your wedding gown look like new!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• White hand towel
• Gel Spray and Wash
• Hair Dryer
• Warm Water
• Flat Clean Surface - Ironing board works well.
• Small bowl to hold water.
• Tape for marking spots.

1. Check gown all over especially inside near the neckline, arm pits and at the hemline for dirt and dust. Mark dirty areas with a small piece of tape for easy identification.

2. Get a small bowl of warm water and wet the top half of a white hand towel. Put a small amount of gel spray and wash (about the size of a quarter) and rub together on the wet area of the towel. Don't leave any clumps. You should smell the cleaner but not see it. Wring out the towel, it should be damp and not dripping. Have another dry white towel handy if you use too much water to blot.

3. Locate dirty area and lay flat on an ironing board. Using the damp towel with the cleaner, rub in a circular motion following the grain of the fabric until the spot is removed.

4. Take out the hair dryer and dry on a cool setting making swirling motions starting from the outside of the wet area working in until the wet ring disappears.

5. If the dirt is still there repeat step 3 and 4. Then move to another area and start from step one again. This technique works on dirt, blood, lipstick, grease, makeup and sometimes pen marks.

Tips & Warnings

• Best to use a flat clean surface.
• Try not to wet a large area, stay within the dirty area if possible.
• Do not saturate the fabric or it will take a long time to dry.
• Never leave the area to air dry or it will ring.
• If you get a ring, you can easy re-wet and dry again.
• Matte Satin take longer to dry but works well.
• With a raw silk gown don't rub too hard.
• Shiny Satin gowns are a breeze to clean.
• Chiffon gowns ring easier and pull so use less water and less friction.
• Tulle gowns are easy and they usually don't ring.
• Test a small area before starting to see if you will be able to dry without ringing.
• When working with raw silk try to limit the amount of water to a minimum.
• Don't scrub too hard or you can pill the fabric.
• If a yellow ring appears don't panic just wet and re-dry again. This will happen if you put a damp gown in plastic before it is 100% dry. There is a chemical reaction between the wetness and the plastic.
• Feel free to contact me if you have a questionable stain, I am very familiar with most manufacturers' gowns.

[brooklyn1031]

on 8/14/2009 "Spray and Wash" the brand come in a gel form. It is more concentrated and easier to control the amount than the liquid. It come in a bottle that has a top like a dish liquid bottle. Hope that helps.
Karen

[sierris]

on 8/13/2009 I have 5 chiffon long evening dresses from my daughters and dry clean it's very expensive, so I'll try to clean them by myself. Please clarify what do you mean by "gel spray? what kind of cleaner do you use?
Thanks for your help.