How To Dry Clean A Wedding Dress At Home

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Your wedding day is the biggest day of your life and of course, every bride wants to feel special in a beautiful dress. Throughout the day mishaps do happen as emotions are running high and it's easy to spill food and drink onto your gown. Or maybe you're celebrating outside and get a bit of mud on the hem. Either way, it's important to know about washing a wedding dress.

Although many should be dry-cleaned, and it can be tricky to dry clean a wedding dress at home, some may be appropriate for home-washing depending on the fabric and construction. Washing wedding dresses at home requires attention to detail (and, ideally, a large wash bag), but it can be done if the fabric and any embellishments are safe to machine-wash or wash by hand. Here's our DIY guide to wedding dress stain removal and the best ways of cleaning a wedding dress at home.

How to clean a wedding dress: wedding dress stain removal

If you get a mark or stain on your wedding dress, there are often things you can do right then and there to remove it. For example, rather than putting your wedding dress in the washing machine, food and drink marks can generally be spot-cleaned with an effective stain remover. Always patch-check your cleaning method by trying it out on a small area first – somewhere no one will see. If it works, apply elsewhere.

Apply to the affected area and if your dress has lots of layers, be sure to separate them out so anything you apply to one layer doesn't seep onto the next.
Never rub stain remover into your dress, simply pat gently to protect the fibres.
Rinse off thoroughly and then dry with a hair drier (leaving to dry naturally could leave a watermark).

If you're cleaning a wedding dress at home, use a gentle yet efficient detergent. Don't try to wash a wedding dress in a washing machine unless it's labelled as safe to do so.

You will need:

Bathtub
An old toothbrush
Stain remover
Gentle liquid detergent

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How to clean a wedding dress: washing wedding dresses in full

Rather than dry clean a wedding dress at home, if it's actually the whole dress that needs washing you'll probably want to do so in the bath.

Disinfect and clean the bath

Start by disinfecting and cleaning the bath to prevent any residue transferring onto your dress. Rinse the bath thoroughly, then fill with cool water.
Add stain remover and liquid detergent
Place the dress in the bath and leave to soak

Place your dress in the bath and leave to soak, then rinse thoroughly. Avoid excessive heat throughout this process as it could damage the fabric and/or melt detailing such as beads or sequins.
Use an old toothbrush to remove excess dirt

If there are some particular problem areas, use an old toothbrush to remove excess dirt, but remember not to scrub too hard as this can cause holes.

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How to clean a wedding dress: wash the bodice

Another good way of cleaning a wedding dress at home is to tackle dirt and stains on the bodice. Sweat stains are particularly likely to build up in this area so it may benefit from some extra attention. Turn your dress inside out and check for signs of staining or damage. If marks are present, use a spray bottle and spray the stain with a mix of detergent and water, then gently rub away the dirt with a soft-bristled brush.

Can you wash a wedding dress in the washing machine?

When it comes to the question of whether you can wash a wedding dress in the washing machine, it is possible but on two conditions: that the fabric is washing machine-friendly (ideally cotton or polyester) and that there aren't any embellishments that might get stuck and rip in the washing machine. Some embellishments can be removed and let you wash the dress in a plainer state. If you want to wash a wedding dress in the washing machine, it is always good to use a wash bag even if it's suitable for a machine wash to ensure it doesn't get stuck or rip.

Your wedding dress is probably the most precious item of clothing you will ever own, so of course, you're going to want to make sure it's always in great condition. By using a combination of wedding dress stain removal and full washing methods you can get some great results. Be sure to read the label and follow any instructions, but you might also be surprised how effective these home cleaning tips will be.

Wedding dress dry cleaning cost

The average spend for a wedding dress in the UK can be very high. The figure isn't small so it's easy to imagine why someone would want it professionally cleaned. The wedding dress dry cleaning cost in the UK can vary, so you should compare prices across your local stores. The cost will normally depend on a number of factors, including style, embellishment, fabric, the degree of any stains, and whether the dress needs to be boxed.

Originally published 20 October 2020