Wedding Dress Cleaning: The Complete Guide

Your wedding dress is almost certainly the most precious garment you'll ever own. It deserves specialist care — and that starts with understanding what to do with it after the wedding.

At Bordon Dry Cleaners, we clean all types of bridal gowns, from simple satin dresses to heavily beaded and embellished gowns. Here's everything you need to know.

Why You Must Clean Your Dress Promptly

This is the most important thing we can tell you: don't wait. Many brides put their dress away after the wedding intending to deal with it "later" — and later turns into months or even years.

The problem is that many stains are invisible immediately after the wedding. Champagne, white wine, perspiration and sugary drinks don't show up straight away — but they oxidise over time and turn yellow or brown. Once this happens, they become extremely difficult or impossible to remove, even with professional cleaning.

Bring your dress to us within a few weeks of the wedding for the best possible results.

What Stains Are Common on Wedding Dresses?

In our experience, the most common stains on wedding dresses include:

• Champagne and wine — often invisible at first, turns yellow over time
• Make-up — foundation, lipstick and mascara around the neckline and sleeves
• Grass and mud — particularly on the hem and train from outdoor photos
• Food — from the wedding breakfast
• Perspiration — particularly under the arms and around the bodice
• Candle wax — from church ceremonies

We assess each stain individually and use the most appropriate treatment for the fabric and stain type. We'll always tell you honestly what we expect to achieve before we begin.

What Fabrics Do You Clean?

We clean all types of bridal fabrics, including:

• Silk and silk satin
• Lace (all types)
• Chiffon and organza
• Tulle
• Mikado and duchess satin
• Crepe

We also handle all types of embellishments — beading, sequins, embroidery, appliqué and crystals — with appropriate care.

How Long Does Wedding Dress Cleaning Take?

Wedding dress cleaning takes longer than standard dry cleaning due to the specialist care required. We'll give you an estimated collection date when you bring the dress in. Please allow extra time for heavily embellished or delicate gowns.

Should You Preserve Your Dress After Cleaning?

If you want to keep your dress as a keepsake — whether for sentimental reasons or to pass it on — preservation is worth considering. A properly cleaned and stored dress can last for decades.

The key principles of wedding dress storage are:

• Store in a cool, dry, dark place away from direct sunlight
• Use acid-free tissue paper to stuff the bodice and wrap the dress
• Store in an acid-free box or breathable garment bag — never in plastic
• Check the dress every year or two and re-fold it to prevent permanent crease lines

Ready to Clean Your Wedding Dress?

Visit us at Bordon Dry Cleaners for a free assessment. We'll examine your dress, advise on the best cleaning approach, and give you an honest quote. Our specialist wedding dress cleaning service is trusted by brides across Hampshire.