Can SATIN be hand washed? PLEASE HELP

Bombshell*Frocks

Bombshell*Frocks

Alumni
I have this gorgeous wedding dress and coat that was designed by the bride in 1953 it is composed of satin and tulle and is badly yellowed from age and has a few age spots. Can I try and clean this myself or do I have to spend the money to have it dry-cleaned? How does a dry-cleaner get out the yellowing?

Anyway....here she is and what a dress she is, I can also see this worn as a prom dress, can you?

TIA ~Tori, sorry for all the pics.<P>

<img src="http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/30030714/Images/100_1424.jpg">
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What a stunning gown, love the stand up collar on the jacket.

I would be reluctant to wash this as it takes out the sheen on the satin and is extremely difficult to press. Also the buttons would most likely rust as they are most likely metal backed

Dry cleaning would be best, if you have one you can trust.
 
GOR-geous! I would definitely go with dry cleaning. I hope it works for you!!
 
Hi Tori
You always find the most gorgeous dresses!

I would be afraid to wash it too, never mind trying to steam the wrinkles out. But then drycleaning a dress like that is usually expensive and you never know if they'll even get the yellowing out.

Do you have a reliable dry cleaner who will at least be honest with you about whether they think they can get those spots out?


Theresa


Blue Velvet Vintage Clothing and More
 
Tori, I have washed satin and it's problematic in that the creases and wrinkles pretty well mar the surface and usually don't come out. But I have had little luck with cleaners on this problem and they charge a fortune if they can call it a wedding dress.

So either take it to a wedding dress cleaners specialist and ask them when they change the fluid. Then take it in right after that so they are cleaning it with the clean fluid.

OR if you wash it, do it with a quick dip in the tub and hang to dry with clips ( not on a wire hanger). No folding or creasing. If you have a table big enough to lay it completely flat to dry with the skirt spread all the way out, that might work as well. You will have to time it so that you can steam it or press from the wrong side while it is just barely damp. This is the best shot you have of getting rid of any creases.

But you will loose some of the body of the satin.

Hollis
 
I don't remember where you are, Tori...but my mom's 1970 silk wedding dress was cleaned by a dry cleaner in Cleveland, and it is absolutely pristine now. No more yellow tinge!

If Cleveland (Ohio) is anywhere near you, let me know and I'll look up the cleaner's name.

Laura
 
Thanks for the advise everyone, I am sure I can find a reliable dry-cleaner for vintage in this town to clean this but it probably won't be cheap. I think it's worth a shot (the dress that is) to bag it up and drive around to some different cleaners for prices.

When I first saw this in an out of town vintage clothing store quite awhile ago they had it priced at $185.00, at that time I was stupid and offered $75, thank god she declined, I went back last weekend and she had it marked down to $65.00 then again to $40.00, I offered $30.00 telling her it was going to cost a lot of money to restore it, she came back at $35.00 and I bought it. I felt it was a fair price thinking I could clean it myself but now knowing I have to have it dry-cleaned is going to up my investment and will probably result in a reserve when I list it.

Hollis, thanks for the advise on when they change the cleaning fluid, I will be sure to ask them about that.

Laura, I am in Fort Myers, Florida and probably should have sought out a good dry-cleaner for vintage a long time ago but just never did, the one I always used near my house changed owners and ruined a 1940's crepe skirt set I had about 2 or 3 years ago and I never went back. I still have that set and refuse to throw it out, I'll have to take pictures to show you what they did.
Thanks again, ~Tori
 
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