How to Keep Wedding Dresses From Turning Yellow

Make sure your dress stays white forever.

Now that the special day is over, you want to do all you can to preserve the wedding dress that signified a monumental turning point in your life. You might want to pull it out from time to time and reminisce or you might be saving it for your daughter when she grows up. Whatever the case, taking proper care of a wedding dress is a relatively stress-free process.

Things You'll Need

• Garment box

Instructions

1. Take your dress to the cleaners no more than a week after the wedding. You might have checked it for stains but over time colorless stains age and cause discoloration. Perspiration stains and body oils oxidize, turn yellow and permanently damage your dress.

2. Ask the cleaners for a package to clean and box wedding gowns. Most cleaners offer acid-free cardboard boxes with special paper in which the gown can be packed and stored. Make sure there are slits in the box to encourage air circulation.

3. Find a cool and dry place to store your protected garment. Areas that are highly temperamental, like attics and basements, cause oxidation of stains and encourage mold and mildew.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to take your dress out on a yearly basis and inspect it for stains or deterioration. Early detection increases the chances of stain removal or successful garment treatment.

References

• YouTube: How to Preserve Wedding Gown in Box