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Original poster

Would you dare to wash a wedding dress?

57 replies

CalmDownPacino · 03/02/2019 08:48

So I bought mine. Secondhand from eBay. It's beautiful and originally cost £1300. I paid £50! It's immaculate except the train and longer underskirts are dirty from dragging on the floor. I absolutely cannot afford dry cleaning so I'm debating putting it in the machine on a handwash cycle. Would you dare?!

OP posts:
Original poster
CalmDownPacino · 03/02/2019 09:08

Aw thanks sparklingbrook. I really like it. Still a bit of Christmas blubber to get off before I'll be satisfied though!

OP posts:
GertrudeWilloughby · 03/02/2019 09:08

It's your wedding dress. Get it professionally cleaned. It could be an expensive "frugal" idea if it goes horribly wrong before you've even worn it!

Original poster
CalmDownPacino · 03/02/2019 09:08

Yes that's me in it. In my daughter's tip of a room I might add 😂

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banivani · 03/02/2019 09:09

Ha have cross posted with loads of people I see. Great dress! I’d say it’s be ok. But don’t hold me to it 😬

TheMarbleFaun · 03/02/2019 09:09

Woolite & delicate wash in the washing machine
Hang when wet
I've washed a lot of first communion dresses (very similar) and they turned out great!

Original poster
CalmDownPacino · 03/02/2019 09:10

I honestly would if I could afford it Gertrude but I haven't got the money to spare.

Thing is, the marks aren't noticeable when I'm walking. It'll just be when I'm stood saying vows that people will notice it at the back.

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MaybeDoctor · 03/02/2019 09:13

I am going to go against the Tide here (😁) and say that I think it will be fine on a delicate cycle, especially if it is synthetic.

Mine got stained by removal men and I put it in the machine - it came up beautifully.

Original poster
CalmDownPacino · 03/02/2019 09:15

I really want to go and look at the label now but it's in my bedroom and the lucky future Mr Pacino is still snoring away up there!

OP posts:
wishingforalotterywin · 03/02/2019 09:15

Are there beads on the bodice that might catch on the tulle in the washing machine and snag?

Poppins2016 · 03/02/2019 09:16

Do NOT put it in the washing machine!

However I can say that I successfully washed a dress very much like that in the bath (before my wedding day). A seamstress recommended it. Simply use detergent for delicates, warm water, then drip dry (do not scrunch, roll or spin!). A dehumidifier is useful for drying at this time of year. Don't put too close to radiators!

adagio · 03/02/2019 09:17

Mine was from Berkertex, £1000 ish I think - delicate beads etc. It was polyester satin with chiffon overlay and beaded all over the bodice - I put it in a single duvet cover and washed it in the machine with delicate detergent on delicate wool cycle but temp turned down to 30 and it came out immaculate. Then I sold it for £600 😁
I also wash man made fabric ‘dry clean only’ clothes so I was fairly comfortable my machine wouldn’t wreck it.... have you got any other items you could sacrifice to see if you trust your machine?

Poppins2016 · 03/02/2019 09:18

That should say don't put the dress too close to radiators!

Frouby · 03/02/2019 09:22

I washed mine 2 weeks before we got married.

I was going to have it professionally cleaned but the label said it couldn't be dry cleaned. I used delicate detergent and used a stain remover on a couple of tiny spots. I washed it in a fabric dress cover bag to protect the 1000s of little beads. Did 2 handwash cycles and it came out immaculate.

I then hung it in my sunny bedroom window over a couple of towels to dry.

I did lots of research first though, and would have just handwashed the train if I could have got away with it.

I also rewashed it in the machine before I sold it.

One thing I would try and find the budget for is to have it professionally pressed. It made a massive difference to the finish of the dress and a small local wedding shop only charged £50. They did do a few alterations as well for me and it massively improved the fit of the dress. I was on a budget too and it was so worth going slightly over it just to feel finished on the day.

Original poster
CalmDownPacino · 03/02/2019 09:49

She Who Knows All About Cleaning, i.e. my mum, has promised she can get the marks out with hot water and vanish 😂 We are going to have a go at it today.

The bodice is covered in beads and sequins so I'm not risking the washing machine. It's an old clunky thing and I'll probably ruin the dress and wreck the washer so a bath, hot water and vanish here we come!

Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
Horsemad · 03/02/2019 09:57

Beautiful dress 🙂 Let us know how it goes with the washing.

IJustLostTheGame · 03/02/2019 09:59

What is the dress made from?
Handwashing rule isn't bad but if you only handwash the dirty bits of satin or silk you're going to permanently watermark it.

Jacksback · 03/02/2019 10:00

If it is only marked on the hem , then a would wash only the skirt of the dress and keep the beaded area out of the water
Do it in the bath with wash liquid for delicate fabrics
Do not scrunch it in any way and hang to dry
Good luck

3in4years · 03/02/2019 10:02

Yes I did. I took it to the dry cleaners and they said they would just put it in a machine, so I put it in a big machine at the launderette. Came out fine.

JustanotherCHRISTMASuser01 · 03/02/2019 10:04

I would have to just find the money from somewhere- eat beans on toast between now and the wedding or something you can't afford dry cleaning so I can't imagine a replacement dress couldbe achieved if it goes wrong

Tryingtogetitright · 03/02/2019 10:07

Good luck with the washing! It's a stunning dress, looks beautiful on you.

Caribbeanescape · 03/02/2019 10:11

I work for a wedding dress manufacturer and our seamstress always washes polyester wedding dresses in the washing machine.

I would put it in a duvet cover though, in case some beads come off and wreck the machine.

Original poster
CalmDownPacino · 03/02/2019 10:12

Justanotherchristmas I know what you mean, but honestly it's not as though I'm choosing to spend the money on something else and sod the dress! We just haven't got it. It's a second wedding for both of us, we don't either of us earn big money and I've relied on credit cards as it is. I'd rather have a bit of money to enjoy our three day "honeymoon", than spend £140 cleaning a dress I'm wearing for 7 hours max, particularly when it's only the floor bits that are dirty and then going to get dirtied by me swishing about on the day! Smile

OP posts:
Walkingthedog46 · 03/02/2019 10:21

I washed my daughter’s lace-covered and pearl-decorated wedding dress in the washing machine. (It was synthetic material though, not silk!) . It came out beautifully clean and undamaged.

supergrains · 03/02/2019 10:22

Does the bodice separate from the skirt?
If so just hand wash the skirt (if not silk, which it doesn't look like it is)
If you can get away with just spot cleaning the areas that need it, then do that, because I think the biggest danger is that it will dry funny if you can't iron it.

Don't waste your money on a professional dry clean.
If it all goes wrong come back on MN and appeal for a wedding dress from one of us! Grin (we are different sizes otherwise you could have had mine!)

teachergirl2011 · 03/02/2019 11:07

I have it'll be fine! But some delicates washing liquid turn it inside out and don't use fabric conditioner.
My dress was pre lived and looked like new on the day.

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