Expert Tips on Cleaning a Wedding Dress

Few brides consider what will become of their wedding gown after their big day, and their honeymoon has come and gone. As they settle into married life, there are simply other considerations, so that their bridal finery, which likely accrued a few stains or perhaps wear and tear at their reception, has been relegated to an afterlife in a zippered plastic bag, possibly also stored in a disused closet. It is only later, when they take a fond glance at their dress, and see that some of the embellishments are the worse for wear, also that splashes of champagne have settled into the fibers of the bodice, that many brides consider wedding dress cleaning. Is this a task that they can take on themselves? Or is it best to contact dry cleaning professionals, like Cameo by Copeland Cleaners who are renowned for our wedding dress dry cleaning in NYC.

That depends on several factors. To begin, what is the dress made of? Is it plain, or does it have lace, embroidery, and/or embellishments such as sequins or beading? Another consideration- what are your future plans for your bridal gown? Do you plan to wear it again in a few years when you renew your vows? Is it a family heirloom and you, and the current custodian, have an obligation to future generations to preserve and protect it? These are the circumstances under which brides may consider cleaning their wedding dress:

• The dress is plain and made entirely of nylon and/or polyester: If yes, it may be spot treated at home by using an over the counter stain remover product, or vinegar, baking soda, diluted laundry detergent, a toothbrush, and a steamer to remove wrinkles.
• If you opt to do your own wedding dress cleaning at home, be sure to place paper toweling behind the stain so that once it is moistened, the stain does not transfer to other parts of the garment.
• Work in a pristinely clean environment- such as your tub or shower, where the dress can be hung full length. Start at the hemline and train first, and work up. If your entourage took wedding photos outdoors, the hem and train are likely to be grimy and will need to be cleaned first.
• Clean the bodice by turning the dress inside out, this way if you have to employ the toothbrush to rout any stains, the bristles will not disturb the fibers and create pilling.
• Once clean, be sure you have removed all the soap/cleaning product. Hang to dry on a curtain rod, if possible, and when nearly dry, remove any wrinkles with a steamer.

Sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? Well, it is! And once you have cleaned your gown, have you thought about how you are going to store it? By now, you have likely realized that wedding dress cleaning is not a simple task, rather it is more like an art form. Instead, call Cameo by Copeland Cleaners and ask about our wedding dress dry cleaning for the NYC area. We will be glad to dispatch our team to carefully accept your gown and take it to our premises where it will be evaluated, and you will be apprised of what is needed to return your gown to pristine condition. Our bridal experts will ensure that whatever fabric your gown is made from, whatever decoration has been embellished, as well as its age will be taken into consideration. The result will maintain your treasured memento of the best day of your life, anniversary, after anniversary. You will want to speak with Cameo by Copeland Cleaners professionals about our wedding gown maintenance and storage services as well. For almost 90 years, Cameo by Copeland Cleaners has been caring for Manhattan’s brides, one priceless gown at a time! Call today!