Cleaning and preserving my wedding gown

[StaceyMc]

Have you ever heard of machine washing a wedding gown? Apparently, that's what I'm supposed to with mine - on a very gentle cycle with very little detergent in cold water.

I dropped my gown at the cleaners the Monday after the wedding to have it cleaned and preserved. It's been two months and I hadn't heard from her. When I called, she said "We have a problem with your dress...." I almost fell over. She made up some BS line about trying to reach me but never getting an answering machine - funny - everyone gets the machine if we're not home. Anyways, the tag says "Machine Wash Only - Do Not Dry Clean" She needs me to tell her what to do and sign a release.

I called Bridal Online Store and they told me to machine wash it. So, Saturday, I'm going to pick up my dress and take it to my mom's to use her front load machine and we're going to machine wash it. The cleaner was going to send it out to be machine washed and I couldn't trust that they would do it right. I mean...it is my dress. Then, I'll take it back and have them press and preserve it.

Strange eh?

[BriansBride07]

This is strange. Never heard of that before. But anyways, I don't blame you I would wash it myself also. Then take it back to them.

[shawnsgirl]

This is strange. Never heard of that before. But anyways, I don't blame you I would wash it myself also. Then take it back to them.

I agree that is very strange....

[VenusElaine]

What is your fabric content? How "big" is your gown?
Most garments labeled "dry clean only" can be safely hand washed or machine washed on DELICATE.
I have seen very few wedding gowns, however, labeled anything other than "dry clean only".
Most polyester fabrics are extremely forgiving. I normally spot clean all my alterations with a diluted solution of Dawn dish soap and water.
Do not do anything or try anything before consulting a fabric professional (custom clothier, alteration specialist, even your local fabric store, or PM me).
Do not entrust your gown to anyone who does not have the knowledge to do it justice!

VenusElaine

[CHWedding]

I had a friend a few years back, who's mother worked at a dry cleaners and she said, "they put most of the none detailed wedding dresses in the washing machaine". I remember us getting a big joke out of it because people will spend alot of money getting their dresses dry clean not knowing that the cleaners is putting it in the washer not dryer. So, if the dress has very little details go for it. Whenever I put something detailed in washing machine, I alway turn it inside out, under gentle wash. Good luck

[StaceyMc]

I'm going to pick up my gown on Saturday. Mom and I are going to wash it in her front load washer that has a super duper gentle cycle on it. I couldn't trust that the third party the dry cleaner was sending it to would follow directions. After it hangs and dries - I'll take it back to the cleaner to have it pressed and preserved.

VenusElaine - You can see a pic of my gown in my wedding story journal. I did consult with someone, the seller and manufacturer of the gown. They apparently toss gowns in the washer all the time, if there's an emergency.

I'll be anxious to see my dress again. I jokingly told my husband that I might wear it to my nephews birthday on Saturday so I can get another wear out of it...lol.

[NicksBride]

That is kinda odd! I have never heard of that before. Let us know how it goes as I want to do the same thing. Your dress is pretty detailed though huh? I do not blame yuo for taking that puppy and running though.
Good luck!
Oh you should wear it! If I fit into it I want to wear it for our one year anniversary as a joke. hahaha

[Bradsgirl]

If it is satin absolutely you can put it in the washing machine...the fabric is quite durable. At out store the owner takes the smaples home and washes them in her machine. Surprising...I know. We however don't put it through a full cycle, like put it in turn it on and leave it. I think it is more of a soaking and she "stirrs" it often and I also don't know if she uses a detergent, hu, I 'll have to find out. But I do know ours come out beautifully. And yes make sure to hang it high.

[StaceyMc]

I have my beautiful dress back! The whole machine wash vs. dry clean thing had me really frustrated on Saturday. When I went to pick it up to wash it from the dry cleaner, she stood there and tried to tell me to dry clean it. I finally asked her what it said on the tag. She dug the tag out of the bag, and low and behold it says: DO NOT WASH, DO NOT DRYCLEAN. SPOT CLEAN ONLY WITH MILD DETERGENT.

She told me that there were spots all over my dress, so she'd let me do that. I took my dress to my parents house and spread it all out on the floor. There were two dirty buttons at the bottom where people stepped on me, and some sloppy stuff underneath on the bottom of the burgundy that was dragging. Hardly spots alllll over. Two, at the bottom, ittttyyyyy bitttttyyyy tteeeennnyy tiiiinnnnyyyy. I knew there weren't spots all over my dress - I was so careful on my wedding day.

Her hours are so convenient too - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Joe is going to drop it back off to be pressed and preserved sometime on his way home. If she wasn't so reasonable price wise, I wouldn't bother - I was do darned irritated on Saturday.

So, hopefully at some point before we're married for a year, I'll have my preserved dress back.