Help with cleaning tips for a 1930 wedding dress

S

sara.meira93

Registered Guest
Hello everyone! I am new to the forum and was hoping to get some opinions on a recent purchase. I bought this beautiful 1930 wedding dress (accordingly to the seller) with a matching cape. It’s in amazing condition, apart from a reddish/ pink stain right at the front, which is a bit noticeable since it contrasts with the white dress. I suspect it is dye transfer from the flower attachment, some of the petals are made of a silk(?) velvet.
Do you have any tips for removing the stain?
I have had a lot of luck with washing older silks, but I never dealt with something stained.
Unfortunately dry cleaning isn’t an option for now, I don’t have any that I would trust with a vintage garment and have had bad experiences with a lot of the big chain businesses.
I’m not that capable of identifying fabrics, I believe this resembles silk satin.
It was expensive, so if you think it’s too risky I may just leave it or perhaps had a flower embroidery on top of the stain?
Thank you for helping!
 

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Hi Sara, and welcome to the forums. I would take to a specialist dry cleaner or textile conservator that is experienced in such things: if they can identify the cause of the stain they can apply the right treatment.

I'm sorry to report that it maybe hard or impossible to remove. Other options are to resew the centre front seams to remove the damaged portion or cover it in some way but it's very visible.

Nicole
 
It looks lovely! Sadly, I agree with Nicole that stain removal is a long shot.

sara.meira93 said:
.... perhaps had a flower embroidery on top of the stain?
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If it were mine and I wanted to wear it, I would consider adding a long, curvy, and delicate embroidered "stem" with a small leaf or two, extending from under the flower down to a little below the stain. The stain would be a place to position one of those tiny leaves!
 
That is incredibly beautiful! There is a technique used for silk involving white vinegar, salt, and baking soda that I saw someone use for a massive restoration project here- https://www.instagram.com/ourrestorationnation/reel/CsmuUxoJZBP/, probably overkill for your small spot, but interesting none the less.

I personally have had good success with hydrogen peroxide and water, but always try an inconspicuous area first to see how the fabric reacts. Using a 50/50 mix of water and peroxide dabbing on the stain with a cotton ball and gently blot using a clean white cloth, no not rub. I have gotten blood stains out of 1930's silk with this method. But again, every piece is different so if you do decide to try it always do a test area first!
 
MagsRags said:
The problem is that even if the stain comes out, it's nearly impossible to avoid a water ring. I would expect that if I got the satin out, I would then need to wet the entire dress so it (hopefully) dried evenly.
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Ugh yeah the dreaded water ring! I would say the key is to use the least amount of liquid possible on the smallest area possible, think moist not saturated Q-Tip and dab dry like crazy, it can be tedious, and again testing first just to see what you're working with is key. White vinegar similarly used the same way is also an option, but one-part white vinegar to two parts water. Another good (DRY!) way is baking soda, chalk, or talcum powder, sprinkle a layer of powder over the stain, then dab it in with your finger. Repeat, if necessary, but that is usually only useful on grease-based stains. Part of me thinks that maybe it could be lipstick? if it were dye transfer from the flower, I would expect to see the same staining where the flower itself sits. Just a thought.
 
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