Dress Cleaning

Written by Karen Bates (last updated January 16, 2023)

On the day of a big event such as a wedding or formal dance, cleaning your dress is probably the last thing on your mind. But once the event is over, you will need to take care of the dress to ensure that it stays in great condition in the future. In many cases, this requires the dress to be cleaned professionally, and even preserved correctly in a special box.

Wedding dresses in particular can cost a lot of money, and many brides dream of holding on to that special gown for many years to come. Some wedding dresses stay in the family for generations to be enjoyed by many brides over the years. If you hope to keep your dress in the best possible condition after wearing it, the first thing you need to consider is getting the gown professionally cleaned.

Cleaning a formal dress requires certain experience that you can find with a professional dry cleaner or specialty cleaner. Although you may need to pay a bit of money for the service, it will be well worth the cost when years from now your precious gown is still in optimal condition. Begin by searching for a cleaner that you can trust you garment with. This may mean asking friends or calling various cleaners to find out their methods and policies regarding dress cleaning. You can also ask the store where you bought your dress from for suggestions for good dry cleaners.

The best time to get your dress cleaned is shortly after the event. Don't hang the dress in the back of a closet and let it sit for a long time. Instead, plan on getting it cleaned within 6 months of wearing it. This is the best way for you to be sure that it will be preserved in great condition.

When you get your dress cleaned and preserved, the cleaners will treat any stains that may be on the fabric before cleaning. After the dress goes through the cleaning process, you may wish to have it packed away in a box to preserve it. Many dry cleaners offer this service for an extra charge, and there are other companies that also specialize in preserving gowns. Once the dress is packed away in an acid-free, safe environment, you can put it away without worrying about how well it will stand the test of time. Just be sure to place the packed gown in an area without extreme temperatures or humidity.

Author Bio

Karen Bates

An English student who enjoys writing and art, Karen has had her poetry published in her university's literary journal and has several novels in the works. ...

MORE FROM KAREN

Applying Fake Eyelashes

Giving your eyes a dramatic look can be a great way to make an impression at a big event or just for fun. Applying fake ...

Discover More

Room Design

What look and feel do you want a certain room to have? This depends on the room design, and you can create the perfect ...

Discover More

Filing Information

Bills, important documents, and other information has a tendency to pile up. Conquer this paper clutter by implementing a ...

Discover More

Remove Stubborn Stains Quickly Get everything looking clean again: Walls, floors, baseboards, counters, blinds, appliances, and more. Micro-scrubbers easily reach into surface grooves, lifting dirt away. This low-cost 8-pack is great for stubborn stains and touble areas. Check out Mr. Clean Magic Eraser 8-Pack today!

More Cleaning Tips

Cleaning Acrylics

While acrylic blends will retain their "new" appearance longer than pure acrylic fabric, pure acrylic garments can last a ...

Discover More

Bleachless Whites

Tired of putting bleach on your clothes trying to get them cleaner? Then the bleach splashes all over and on to your new ...

Discover More

Removing Lint from a Black Sweater

There are few things that are as annoying as getting ready to go on a date or to an important meeting and noticing that ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is one less than 9?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.