Suggestions for cleaning evening gown

[love2vacation]

We just returned from our cruise and I checked the tag on my evening gown for cleaning instructions. (I don't know why I don't check them when I purchase!!!):rolleyes:

 

Tag reads- "Do not wash, Do not dry clean, spot clean only."

 

Since I have no spots and just want to "freshen" it before I put it away - what suggestions do you have/what has worked for you in the past? It does have some beads and sequins on the bodice for decoration. I will try to post a picture.

[klauer]

Spray the gown with Febreeze and let it air dry before you put it in a garment bag. I've used this on heavily beaded silk gowns with no problem.

[love2vacation]

Spray the gown with Febreeze and let it air dry before you put it in a garment bag. I've used this on heavily beaded silk gowns with no problem.

 

Thanks for the suggestion and since I have Frebreeze I will try it out!

[Cruzfan34]

I brought my beaded gown to the cleaners and they gently cleaned it for me. They told me if the beads were just glued on, they couldn't do it, but the beading was sewn on, so they did clean it and they did a great job.

[iheartbda]

The Febreeze is a good idea, especially if there are no stains.

If the OP feels it needs to be cleaned, the best thing to do it take it to the cleaners and ask them if they'll do it.

 

I had a gown with glued on beads that was cleaned for me but I had to sign a release in case anything bad happened. It wasn't an expensive gown so I signed the release and it came out fine. If it was a gown that was expensive I wouldn't have done it.

[smoothdancer]

From the picture your dress looks satin, so this will work fine.

I fill my bathtub up with cold water and soak my gowns in woolite. You may loose a few stones if they are glued on, which is ok.

 

Let the dress air dry and then you can replace any stones that came off with "GemTac" which is a fabric glue for stones that can be found at any craft store. The glue will dry transparent. The glue will loosen up with heat so as long as you use cold water you may not loose any stones at all.

 

It sounds like a lot of work but I do not trust any of my stoned gowns to a cleaners.

[shaphonie]

Beautiful dress. If it says do not wash, then I wouldn't put it in water.

[JanineM]

Find a very good quality cleaners in your town/city and take it to them. There is probably a cleaner that specialises in bridal gowns and other "fine" items. You'll pay more (I have paid $60 or more for a cocktail dress that needs specialised cleaning), but it also means the dress will live to be worn again.

 

If the tag said not to wash I absolutely wouldn't put it in water. And if there are any stains (they may not be visible today), Febreeze won't help.

[karen sharpe]

I would discuss with a professional cleaner.

[Happy ks]

If you do go ahead with the febreeze, try it on an inconspicuous place first.

 

If it were me, I think I would take to a reputable cleaner instead of experimenting.

[love2vacation]

It is actually polyester (I wouldn't have guessed it from the feel of the fabric..............) the beads and sequins are sewn on. The most interesting feature of the dress is the part you don't see as it flairs out and has a small train. It was a fun dress and the train was fine on the ship. My DH only stepped on it twice!

 

Since I shop Dillards sales for most of my evening gowns I usually pay more to dry cleaning than I pay for the dress.:rolleyes: I think I will bite the bullet and just take it to my dry cleaner.

I thought about Dryell but I don't want to chance the heat. I would never try to wash my cocktail dresses.

 

I think I will Febreeze my beaded dress though.