How to Restore Old Dresses
Restoring a vintage dress intimidates many people, especially when the dress has sentimental value like an heirloom wedding or christening gown. Though certain vintage garments may have collectible value and require the expertise of a textile conservationist, other pieces gain new life with a careful washing.
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Things You'll Need
- Large tub or sink (depending on the size of the dress/gown)
- Distilled water (optional)
- Gentle laundry detergent
- Sponge
- Clean bucket or container to hold wet garment
- Blow dryer (optional)
Instructions
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Examine the dress carefully before taking any action. With the fabric between the thumb and forefinger, pinch the fabric. If the fabric appears to separate, avoid any restoration yourself because the degraded material may fall apart when handled. Perform this pinch test on both a stained area and unstained area. If the dress passes without tears, continue to the next step.
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Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water. Heat distilled water if you have hard tap water. Use a very gentle laundry detergent for starters. Mix the correct amount of detergent, according to the manufacturer's instructions for a small load, into the water before adding the garment. Lay the dress into the tub and try to make the garment as flat as possible.
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3
Push the fabric gently underwater in order to allow the soapy water movement through the weave. Agitating the dress like a washing machine may destroy the material. If areas of the garment look stained, try pressing a sponge (soaked in the soapy water) onto the area. Soak the material in the tub for 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the condition of the fabric.
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Transfer the wet dress to a clean bucket or sink where the garment may rest until the tub has drained completely. Fill the bath tub with cold water and lay the dress in the water. Spread the dress flat. Rinsing the dress with a shower head is another option. Take the time to rinse the dress thoroughly or the residue from the detergent may damage the fabric.
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Gently squeeze the water from the garment with your hands in 6 to 10 inch sections until the dress feels damp as opposed to soggy. Lay a few clean bath towels on a large table. Double up the towels if the dress feels very saturated. Avoid putting a vintage dress in the dryer. Instead, place the piece on the towels and spread the fabric to minimize any wrinkles.
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Dry the dress with a hair dryer set on a low heat setting. Fragile materials may suffer with a high heat and/or power level. Allowing the dress to dry flat (or drip dry) is another possibility if the fabric seems to frail for a blow dryer. A blow dryer also makes a good de-wrinkling alternative to the harsh heat of an iron.
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Look over the dress, once dry, for any stains. Severely stained or moldy pieces may stand a repeat of the above steps. Use a more powerful laundry detergent when the fabric seems sturdy enough to handle a stronger soap. Hang the dress on a padded hanger for storing.
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