Best way to clean red cotton velvet?

EndlessAlley

EndlessAlley

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I have an unlined red cotton velvet dress (late 40's to early 50's) with, what appears to be some water marks on the skirt. Would dry cleaning help? Has anyone successfully hand washed cotton velvet? I could sell "as is" since it has a very full skirt and the marks do tend to get lost in the folds, but I would like to remove the stains if possible.
Sorry no pics for now. I'm reworking my studio space. Thank you for posting your opinions.
 
I agree to have it dry cleaned. I had a 1950s' red cotton velvet dress not too long ago that had some minor spotting on it, and it came out beautifully at my cleaner's. I wouldn't try washing it.... (Would love to see pictures, Alice--I'm gaga over red velvet!!!) If your cleaner gets too heavy a hand with the spot lifter, it can fade, too, so I always tell my cleaner not to try "too hard" to get all the spots or staining out. They did another red velvet dress for me a long time ago, and "went after" a stain too enthusiastically and faded the color a wee bit. But I shouldn't think water stains would be a huge problem for a competent cleaner. But better to be left with a bit of a stain that hides in the folds than faded color....
 
Thanks for your input. I'm lucky to have a couple of careful dry cleaners I can take the dress to. Anne I will post pics after it's cleaned. It's a beautiful shade of red.. the perfect Valentine Day dinner dress!
 
Can't wait to see it, Alice!!!! And, Julie, your jacket looks terrific!

Here's the one I sold earlier this year that came out so nicely at my cleaner's (can't tell much by the photos, but even though the dress didn't look "all that bad" before it was cleaned, it was amazing how much nicer it looked when it came back!):

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/74606183
 
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