Hand Washing Two Dresses: Liquid Satin and Crepe(?)

[BGVintage]

Hi Everyone!

I have two gowns that I am debating about hand washing/ spot cleaning or just letting them be.

First, is a 1950s gold liquid satin -- the satin has some satins that are only noticeable from certain angles or up close. I was curious if these could be removed from a hand washing.



Second, is a 1940s crepe (I believe) dress with sequins. This dress has quite a bit of staining, thought about spot cleaning since I've heard horror stories of crepe shrinking after hand washing. Could you please let me know if this is crepe and if spot cleaning would be the best way to proceed.




Thank you all so much in advance.

Very best,
B

 

[Jonathan]

I don't know about the satin, but the pearls won't like getting wet - the pearl finish will probably peel off. As for the crepe - it's BAD news... especailly the 40s crepe, for mishaping. also, the sequins - if they are gelatin you can't get them near water, and they often were gelatin during the war. I think you have two unwashables...

 

[BGVintage]

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks so much! I thought so- I just wanted to be certain. There's always that inner hope that a garment can be polished a bit more.

Appreciate the help!

 

[dollsntrolls]

I agree with Jonathan. I always love a cleaning question, but I am 100% against trying to do these yourself, or cleaning at all. You could clip a teeny piece of sequin, and then leave it in a cup of water to see what happens. It could be gelatin and melt into a gooey mess. Or, the other earlier sequins are very susceptible to the die bleeding out, and then you are left with a nothing clear sequin attached to the dress. I have, on occasion had 40s sequins that were neither (and, potentially, replacements), in which case I did hand wash. Rayon Crepe will shrink to child size, so I only recommend cold hand wash with no agitation, then mostly drying rolled in a towel, and then steaming back into shape (still damp - this is the key!) while gently pulling the fabric - kind of re-blocking the shape as you work.

That satin could be disastrous. It will depend on the fiber content. But, that staining almost looks as if it goes through - like an oil stain, in which case I don't think it can be rescued. You could always do appliqué or beadwork around it... The danger here is getting it wet might turn those stains into holes.