How to wash and steam a wedding dress at home, is it possible to use a washing machine, how to smooth a veil

A wedding celebration is a bright event that involves the presence of traditional attributes. One of them is the bride’s outfit, which attracts the attention of all guests. A luxurious wedding dress, exquisitely emphasizing the taste of the newlywed, will remind her of this day for a long time. However, throughout the entire banquet, a luxurious snow-white outfit can suffer greatly from various types of contamination, so advice on how to wash and steam a wedding dress at home will obviously not be superfluous.

Is it possible to wash a wedding dress at home?

A soiled wedding dress can upset a young wife with its appearance, but there is no need to despair. Wanting to solve the problem as quickly and without hassle, some women prefer to take their wedding dresses to dry cleaners, but the results of such companies are not always able to satisfy customers.

A stained wedding dress can be washed at home

Aggressive detergents and powders used to treat clothes in dry cleaning conditions can sometimes cause serious damage to the structure of a particular type of fabric. After such treatment, a luxurious wedding dress can become irreparably damaged, turning into a Cinderella outfit.

After dry cleaning, a wedding dress may lose its original appearance.

Wanting to avoid such a situation, it is advisable to wash the wedding dress yourself, using an individual approach to various types of contamination. This will help achieve maximum effect and will also guarantee the safety of your item. Provided the washing procedure is carried out correctly. On branded products you can easily find a label containing information about the type of fabric used in the manufacture of the outfit, as well as the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding washing and ironing of the product.

Initially, you need to inspect the dress for dirt, paying special attention to the hem, where traces of road dust most often remain, as well as the places under the arms where yellowish sweat stains form. Do not also forget about the inside of the bodice, which will also need to remove dirt. When preparing a wedding dress for washing, the type of material from which it is made is of particular importance. In most cases, in the manufacture of this kind of outfits, synthetic fabrics are used, which require hand washing.

A branded wedding dress must have a label with recommendations for its care.

Since various decorative elements in the form of beads, rhinestones and beads are used as decoration for wedding dresses, you should treat them very carefully during washing. In some cases, glue is used to fasten them, due to which the rhinestones can easily fly off. If this happens during washing, do not despair too much. It will be possible to restore floral patterns manually using threads or specialized adhesives.

Richly decorated bodice of a wedding dress

Tip: to accurately restore the decorative composition located on the wedding dress, take a photo of it before starting washing.

End of the holiday and putting things in order

Thoughts about a washing machine naturally appear after an active pastime, dancing, a long and cheerful feast, drinking alcoholic and colorful non-alcoholic drinks.

The decor of an outfit may need a washing machine due to just one awkward movement of even the most neat and calm bride.

However, before you decide to wash your wedding attire, you should ask a number of questions, the answers to which will help you avoid new problems.

It is easier to tidy up the original decor if only the hem of the dress remains dirty.

But if another type of contamination is found on clothing, in particular, traces of food, festive fatty and juicy dishes, other, more serious measures must be taken.

What do signs say about washing clothes after the wedding?

There is a popular belief that a wedding dress should not be washed after the wedding, as this can lead to quarrels and disagreements in the family. However, according to a similar sign, well known to the residents of Bulgaria, a wedding dress can be safely washed a year after the birth of the first child.

There are a lot of signs and beliefs among people regarding wedding dresses.

According to another popular belief, a wedding dress must be washed no later than 40 days after the wedding day with the words: “What bad things you collected, you put away yourself. Amen” The meaning of such a ritual is to independently remove negative energy and the evil eye. Whether to wash your wedding dress for this reason is up to you to decide.

What detergents should you use?

When creating luxurious wedding dresses, various types of fabrics are used, such as silk, crepe de Chine, taffeta, nylon, organza, and tulle. All of them need delicate washing and require the use of gentle detergents, which should be chosen with great care. It is for this reason that wedding dresses are most often washed by hand, and the optimal means for them to ensure the desired result when washing are:

saline solutions;
soft washing powders;
soap solutions prepared from laundry and baby soap.

Attention! When washing a wedding dress, it is not recommended to use bleach or detergents containing chlorine. The ingredients included in their composition can cause irreparable damage to the structure of tissues that require careful handling, forever ruining the appearance of the product. The result of treating a wedding dress with such means may be the appearance of unsightly stains and discoloration of colored fabrics.

Drying

The product should be dried in the shade, avoiding exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Otherwise the material will turn yellow. For the same reason, you should not hang it near heating devices, radiators, or use a hair dryer to speed up drying.

How to dry a dress

The dress is left in the bathroom and the water is allowed to drain. Then they put it on hangers, straighten it and leave it to dry in a well-ventilated area.

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Getting rid of various contaminants

Wine stain

If a wine stain forms on your dress during a wedding, a hot soapy solution will help get rid of it.

Lightly stretch the area of the wedding dress that has been so contaminated onto any utensil that is convenient for you. A small saucepan or bowl can play its role.
Pour the soap solution directly onto the stain until it disappears completely.
Wash the dress.

Wine stain on a wedding dress

How to remove sweat marks

If traces of sweat are found on the bodice of the wedding dress, you need to do the following:

Wet the bodice area with soapy water.
Treat the dirty areas with a sponge, without creating too much friction, so as not to spoil the texture of the fabric.
If sweat stains remain on the silk material, you can clean it with a saline solution.
To prepare it, take 250 ml of water and 1 tablespoon of salt.
Apply the solution to the cloth and rub it gently.
Rinse off the solution with clean warm water.

What to do with other types of stains

Stains of other types can be removed using a soap solution prepared with laundry soap.

Any stains can appear on a wedding dress

Spray a damp cloth with soapy water.
Rub it gently with a brush.
Rinse off the solution with warm water.

Using a soap solution can remove some dirt from a wedding dress

Baby powder is also suitable for removing stains from a wedding dress.

Apply the powder directly to the stain and leave for 3 hours.
After the specified period, you must carefully clean the powder from the fabric.

Baby powder can be used to remove stains from a variety of materials.

Starch has similar properties, using which you can get rid of greasy stains within ten minutes.

Rub the starch into the stain with light movements and leave it in this state for 10 minutes.
Then remove any remaining starch.

You can deal with stains on a wedding dress using starch

If during a photo shoot traces of grass have formed on your wedding dress, ammonia will help correct the situation:

Treat contaminated areas of fabric with a cotton swab soaked in ammonia.
Then wash these areas with laundry soap.
Wash your wedding dress.

Grass can leave stains on a wedding dress

Sometimes the stains can be too complex and not amenable to soap solutions. In this case, it is advisable to use industrial stain removers. For this purpose, Oxy Clean stain remover is quite suitable, ideal for fabrics that require careful handling.

After carefully reading the instructions, create a solution using this product and immerse the heavily soiled part of the outfit in it.
Wait until the stain disappears completely.
Wash the dress.

Using Oxy Clean stain remover you can get rid of difficult stains

How to get rid of various types of stains?

Each stain needs its own approach and its own remedy. Experts make the following recommendations:

Laundry soap will help eliminate odor and traces of sweat. A mixture of soda, washing powder and hydrogen peroxide will also help in the fight against this pollution. It should be applied to the desired area of clothing, wait a couple of hours, then rinse. An excellent solution would be soaking in a concentrated solution of water, salt and soda (2 tablespoons of mixture per 100 ml of water);
Hot water will remove traces of wine. You should place a piece of clothing under the stream of such water;
the champagne stain must be poured with sparkling water;
Milk will help remove traces of ink and paint. The contaminated area should be placed in hot milk for 30 minutes. Then you need to rinse the product.

How to clean a hem

If you need to clean the hem of your wedding dress, use the following recommendations.

Create a strong soap solution using warm water, or dilute detergent in water.
Immerse the hem of the dress in water and leave it in this state for several hours. Then, using a toothbrush, begin to gently clean the edge.
After completing the procedure, wash the dress.

The hem of a wedding dress can be washed in a saturated soap solution

How to wash a wedding dress by hand

If you want to wash an outfit by hand, you should take into account some nuances, following a certain algorithm:

Fill the bath with water, the temperature of which will not exceed 30 C, by a third.
Add laundry detergent and thoroughly dissolve it in water.
Place the outfit in water with the product and let the fabric get wet. This may take approximately 20 minutes.
Then take a sponge and, having soaked it in the same soap solution, begin to clean the hem and corset of the dress, without resorting to strong rubbing.
Then, after removing stains and other contaminants from the dress, leave the dress in the same water for another 2 hours.
After the specified time has passed, rinse the product in clean water using a shower. This will more effectively rid the fabric of detergent residue.

Hand washing can restore your wedding dress to its original appearance.

Attention! Do not add the product to water that the dress is already in. With this approach, the product may not dissolve completely and the washing result will be minimal.

There is another way to wash a wedding dress by hand.

Take a hanger and put your wedding outfit on it.
Hang a dress hanger above the bathtub.
Wet the dress with water using the shower.
Prepare a soap solution and, after dipping a sponge into it, gently wipe the damp fabric of the dress with it.
Then raise the shower to its maximum height and begin to slowly rinse off the soapy solution from top to bottom.

The wedding dress can be washed by hand effectively

When performing all these manipulations, try not to stretch the fabric too much to avoid deformation.

Attention! If the wedding dress is decorated with embroidery, it is recommended to cover it with thick fabric, and only then begin the washing procedure. If you have small and metal decor, it is advisable to treat it with glycerin. This will protect shiny elements from tarnishing and mechanical damage.

Steaming methods

It is better to use boiling on decorated parts of a wedding dress. Contact with the hot surface of the iron can damage the beads and embroidery.

Boiling water

This is the oldest steaming method. Fill the bath with hot water. Hang the dress above the bathtub. Leave the steam to work.

Iron

Hang the outfit on the trempel, steam with a stream of steam (without touching the fabric). It will take some time, but by steaming slowly, layer by layer, you will achieve the perfect result.

Washing in the machine

According to information provided by manufacturers, some wedding dresses can be machine washed. However, even with this option, dirt and stains should be removed in advance, taking into account their individual characteristics.

The wedding dress can be washed in the washing machine

By washing a wedding dress in an automatic machine, you can achieve the desired result, provided you follow some basic rules:

When washing in a washing machine, the machine must be set to the delicate mode in the shortest possible cycle. It should be noted that washing such products is permissible only at a temperature of 30 C;
When washing such dresses, it is not recommended to use ordinary washing powders. As a replacement, specialized cleaning solutions intended for items made of delicate fabrics, as well as lace, or liquid colorless products can be used;
if there are various metal decorative elements on the outfit, you need to take care of their protection by using glycerin before washing;
for more effective protection, it is also recommended to cover the areas of the product equipped with embroidery and beaded with thick fabric or gauze;
When washing a wedding dress in a washing machine, it is recommended to use a washing bag that can protect the item from damage;
When washing a dress made of tulle and characterized by pomp, you can add a little starch to the washing machine. With its help it will be possible to preserve the structure of the fabric.

Attention! When washing a wedding dress in a machine, you cannot use modes with a high number of revolutions, as well as automatic spinning. This can lead to deformation of the corset and ruin the delicate fabric.

How to dry an outfit

An equally important and responsible procedure is drying and ironing a wedding dress. Under no circumstances should you wring out the dress after washing. Delicate fabric may lose its original appearance, causing the dress to be damaged.

Wedding dress drying outdoors

There are several ways to dry a dress. One of them involves performing this procedure using a hanger. It is believed that the weight of a wet dress will ensure that the folds straighten spontaneously. However, it is worth considering that a heavy, wet wedding dress hanging in this position may become deformed during the drying process.

A safer method is considered to be the method in which such an outfit is laid out on a plane.

To allow most of the water to drain from the wedding dress, place a grate on the bottom of the bathtub, and lay the dress itself on top of it.
Then, after some time, making sure that the water has drained as much as possible, hang the dress on a hanger, not forgetting to smooth out the fabric layers.
After 2 hours, you can hang the wedding dress on the balcony, however, you must make sure that the dress is located in the shade. This will save it from yellowing.

The wedding dress can be dried on a hanger by hanging it on the balcony

It is also not recommended to judge a wedding dress next to heating appliances and radiators.

How to wash the bottom of a skirt?

The bottom of the dress most often contains traces of dirt and grass. You can get rid of them in the following ways:

Laundry soap will help remove dirt. Apply it to the soft side of the sponge and use circular movements to remove dirt from the desired area. Afterwards, you need to rinse this part of the product in cold running water until the foam disappears;
to remove traces of grass, use a mixture of laundry soap shavings and ammonia. Leave the product on for 30 minutes and rinse off.

How to iron a wedding dress

After the dress is dry, you can start ironing it.

Particular attention should be paid to the surface on which the dress will be placed. It must be spotlessly clean. To prevent the appearance of new stains, it is advisable to cover the ironing board with a white and clean sheet. At the same time, the iron you are going to use must also be spotlessly clean.
If the dress is made of satin material, ironing must be done by turning the product inside out. Otherwise, the front side will forever lose its original shine.
If the wedding dress has lace inserts, when ironing it it is necessary to use additional layers of fabric placed between the product and the iron. Muslin or cotton can be used as such material. Before starting the ironing process, set the iron to silk mode and use the additional steam function.
Products made from tulle and chiffon require steaming only, without ironing. This procedure is traditionally performed under a canopy, initially treating the lining.
However, you should know that the lining of a wedding dress, which is a soft mesh, will not become perfectly smooth. However, in this case it is considered absolutely normal.

The wedding dress can be ironed with an iron or steamer

Ironing a wedding dress

After the wedding dress has completely dried, it may need to be ironed, but this should be done carefully and with caution:

make sure that the soleplate of the iron is absolutely clean, without soot, scratches or rust;
check the ironing surface to ensure that it is free of stains from elements that could catch the fabric;
set the temperature no higher than 100 degrees;
start ironing the product from the wrong side;
Silk, satin and lace fabrics should be ironed through gauze.

Note: a mesh petticoat will inevitably bend slightly after washing, but will not lose its functions.

How to steam properly

Sometimes, wanting to put a dress in order after washing, it is necessary to carry out the steaming procedure. With its help, you can smooth out fabric layers, as well as give the original appearance to frills, ruffles and bows. You can cope with this task using various methods:

holding the dress over the steam;
ironing a wedding dress;
using professional steamers.

Using boiling water

To create the required amount of steam at home, you will need a pan of boiling water.

Pour water into a large saucepan and place it on the fire.
As soon as the water boils and steam begins to appear, one person should hold the dress in a canopy, directly above the boiling pan, and the second, meanwhile, monitor the direction of the steam, exposing problematic areas of the outfit under it.

Steam from boiling water will help smooth your wedding dress

The second method is as follows:

Place the dress on a hanger and hang it over the bathtub.
Pour boiling water into the bath, making sure that the hem of the wedding dress is above the hot water at a height of at least 20–25 cm.

Under the influence of humid air, the material will begin to straighten out, but this may damage the decor glued to the dress.

Using an iron

When using an iron to steam your wedding dress, make sure you have gauze or special fabric designed for ironing delicate fabrics. It is quite possible that in order to successfully complete all the actions you will need an assistant who will support the wedding outfit.
Line your ironing board with a clean sheet.
Set the temperature to unity.
Turn on the steam and set it to gentle.
Fold the gauze into 2-3 layers and spread it over the wedding dress.
Lightly go over it with an iron. If these steps do not provide the desired result, increase the temperature to two degrees.

Using an iron you can effectively steam a wedding dress

Attention! If the wedding dress is made of satin, the ironing temperature should be two degrees and in this case the steam function can be used. If the dress has organza inserts, it is best to iron such material at a temperature of one, without steam.

For high-quality ironing of sleeves, it is advisable to use a special stand, which is included in the standard equipment of the ironing board.
When ironing and steaming a skirt, you should start the procedure from the lower layers, gradually moving to the upper ones.
When working with a bodice equipped with decorative elements, place a terry towel on the ironing board.

Tip: to prevent the sleeves from becoming deformed or wrinkled after ironing, twist the white sheets into a tube and place the tube in the middle of the sleeve.

How to treat a wedding dress with a professional steamer

If you have a steamer at your disposal, the procedure for smoothing out wrinkles and wrinkles that have formed on a wedding dress will be resolved as quickly as possible. Thanks to the operation of the steam generator, it will be possible to steam a wedding dress without touching it with the device itself.

Before starting work, pour the required amount of water into the device, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, and then turn it on.
Hang the product on a hanger and begin the steaming procedure, treating the skirt and flounces first, and then move on to the sleeves and bodice.
After completing the work, let the dress hang for several hours, and only then send the outfit to the closet.

A steamer will most quickly and effectively help restore a wedding dress to its original appearance.

Nuances for different fabrics

Satin dress

If your dress is made of satin material, it is better to iron it from the wrong side without using water, which leaves unsightly streaks on such fabric. After ironing a certain part of the dress, let it cool completely and only then proceed to the next part of the outfit.

Atlas requires special treatment

Lace dress

A lace dress should be steamed using the lowest temperature possible. Otherwise, delicate lace may acquire a yellowish tint. When ironing such an outfit with an iron, be sure to use thick gauze to protect the main material of the item from scorching. When working with cuffs and collars, it is advisable to use liquid starch, which can be applied using a spray bottle. This will provide the lace elements with a flawless appearance.

The lace may turn yellow during steaming.

Dress with decor

If the wedding dress is richly decorated with beads, sequins, beads and other decorative elements, it is practically impossible to do without a steamer, and you should keep it at a good distance so as not to damage the elegant decor.

When ironing and steaming a wedding dress, you should pay close attention to the decor.

If you don’t have a professional steamer, you can order a similar service from private laundries that offer home visits. Thanks to the work of professionals, your wedding dress will be able to regain its original appearance without much hassle on your part.

How to iron a veil

One of the traditional elements of a wedding dress is a veil, which also requires some care, including ironing. If the wrinkles are too severe, you can use a professional steamer when ironing the veil.

You can return the veil to its original appearance using ironing and steaming procedures.

Using a steamer

Hang the veil on a hanger and run the steamer over its entire length, starting from top to bottom. You can also use an iron held at a short distance from the material. This method is effective when working with tulle, and is the safest.

A steamer will allow you to gently smooth the veil

Using hot water

You can also steam the veil using hot water. This method is similar to the method of steaming the wedding dress itself. Pour boiling water into the bath, after hanging a veil over it, and hold it over the steam for 20 minutes.

The steam rising from the surface of the boiling water will smooth the veil

Using a hair dryer

An ordinary hair dryer will help you quickly get rid of bruises:

Set the appliance to medium drying temperature.
Using a spray bottle filled with water, treat uneven surfaces of the product.
Dry the wet material with a hairdryer.

You can use a hairdryer to smooth out wrinkled veils.

Using a directed steam jet

If there are a small number of folds on the veil, you can use a directed stream of steam coming from a kettle with boiling water. Bring a crumpled section of material to a steam source, and it will instantly smooth out under the influence of moist air.

A targeted jet of steam will ensure effective smoothing of wrinkled veils

Iron

In some cases, ironing may be necessary, however, some recommendations should be followed.

The veil must be laid out on a clean ironing board.
The iron must be set to the minimum temperature, or “synthetic” mode.
On top of the veil you should place an ironing cloth or gauze folded in 3 layers.
When ironing the product, you must ensure that the base material does not come into contact with the hot sole of the device.
If the veil is decorated with artificial flowers, sequins or beads, these areas must be covered with a terry towel.

The veil can be gently ironed

In some cases, you can smooth out a veil by first soaking it in water with a softener and drying it in a suspended and straightened state.