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Original poster

Wedding dress in washing machine?

38 replies

TurnipSurprise · 08/03/2023 14:24

I bought a wedding dress from a sample sale at a bridal store. I am looking at prices to clean it and it is going to be more expensive to clean this dress than it was to buy it in the first place!

Given that it was fairly cheap, would it be silly to just pop it in a duvet cover and wash it on a gentle wash?

I don't want to spend a fortune cleaning a dress when I don't know if it can be altered how I want yet. I also don't want to pay for alterations if I can't get it lovely and clean.

Catch 22!

OP posts:
OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 08/03/2023 14:26

Will you be heartbroken if it completely trashed it? Of not go for it. If you will get it done by the professionals.

Matilda1981 · 08/03/2023 14:26

I washed mine in my washing machine after if worn it - just did it on a 30 degree gentle wash - mine was filthy too as it rained all day and got dragged around in mud!! I got changed half way through the night as the bottom was so wet!!
I don’t think I even put mine in anything but a duvet cover sounds pretty sensible!

cocksstrideintheevening · 08/03/2023 14:28

What's the fabric?

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DelilahBucket · 08/03/2023 14:29

I got mine dry cleaned and boxed for £160 through a local bridal seamstress. It doesn't have to be expensive to get it dry cleaned, just don't go to the big companies.

ChilliBandit · 08/03/2023 14:30

I think hand washing in the bath might be a better option.

Geranium1984 · 08/03/2023 14:30

Does it desperately need washing?
Could you wait to see if it can be altered first then if it"s possible, have it dry cleaned.

Nsky62 · 08/03/2023 14:39

Depends what’s it’s made of, and big underskirts, only you can decide

DobbyTheHouseElk · 08/03/2023 14:41

Personally I’d use the bath. Cool wash and walk up and down on it to agitate the water.

LadyFlumpalot · 08/03/2023 14:42

Depends what the material is and if water will damage/stain it. Mine is mostly polyester and faired fine in the washing machine. I put it on a gentle wash, no spin and hung it over the line to dry. If yours is raw silk, satin, or anything fancy or has particularly delicate areas then I wouldn't.

Original poster
TurnipSurprise · 08/03/2023 14:54

It only cost £100 for the dress so £160 to clean it seems extortionate Blush

I won't be too upset really, I just bought it on a whim because it was a bargain.

Just going to see if I can find out what fabric it is.

OP posts:
Original poster
TurnipSurprise · 08/03/2023 14:56

It has lace, tulle and crepe - no idea what crepe is?

It does have a lot of beading but inside out in a duvet cover on a delicate wash is defo looking appealing!

OP posts:
DuvetDownn · 08/03/2023 15:03

Does it actually need washing? Could you just hand wash the fabric under the arms and hang it outdoors on a nice day?

IClaudine · 08/03/2023 15:05

If it has beading I would hand-wash.

CornedBeef451 · 08/03/2023 15:10

I washed mine and it was fine. It was post wedding though so I didn't care what happened to it.

NomadicSpirit · 08/03/2023 15:12

Why not see if it can be altered how you want first before you do anything.

You can probably get advice on cleaning it properly at the same time.

CMOTDibbler · 08/03/2023 15:15

If it has tulle and beading then I wouldn't put it in the machine as it is likely to snag.
Washing it very gently in the bath as a soak with some spot stain removing would work though.

Daffodilsandtuplips · 08/03/2023 15:57

I wouldn’t because of the beading, the agitation of the machine could cause the beading to damage the lace and tulle. The crepe might be ok but depends on what type it is.
I washed my daughters lace wedding dress in the bath. It was filthy around the hem and train from walking in the rain. Big red wine stain at the front and sweat patches under the arms. I diluted some Milton in a spray bottle, 2 parts Milton and 1 part water, sprayed the wine stain and under arms. Left it it work for an hour then washed it the washer inside out in a Duvet cover on a 30c delicate cycle, really, really slow spin, draped it over an airer in the bath to dry.
It survived, apart from a couple of lace motifs came loose but I can sew so stitched them back into place.
If it had had beading on I wouldn’t have attempted it.

Sennedd · 08/03/2023 17:16

Not a wedding dress but I was told that a good soak in Fairy washing powder would clean a christening robe. Someone who sells antique christening gowns told my friend that. It worked. I’d swish it a bath of Fairy if it was me.

maddy68 · 08/03/2023 17:16

I washed mine and it came out fine. Go for it

DangerNoodles · 08/03/2023 17:20

If it has beading I would hand wash it in the bath. I wouldn't want to risk damage to the washing machine for the sake of a £100 dress.

Buttalapasta · 08/03/2023 17:59

I did exactly this on a delicate wash and it was fine, even the beading.

Callingallbutterflies · 08/03/2023 18:30

A friend of my sisters runs a bridal shop. She does a post wedding dress clean and storage box deal. My sis says she turns the dress inside out and washes it (probably in a duvet cover) in a normal washing machine, dries it, steam presses it and charges a hefty fee!

Original poster
TurnipSurprise · 08/03/2023 19:00

Lots of fab advice thanks everyone! I have found a local seamstress so making an appointment to see if it's alterable first before I try cleaning.

OP posts:
Daffodilsandtuplips · 08/03/2023 23:14

I did a fashion and design course back in the day. One of the subjects was garment care and we had to do some weird and wonderful things with swatches of fabric and various cleaning agents.
Pure silk is best hand washed in liquid Stergene, rinsed in cold water then rolled in a bath towel to get the excess water out, don’t wring it or spin it otherwise it creases badly. Dry it over an airer, then steam it.

lashy · 08/03/2023 23:42

If you do decide to bung it in the washing machine - word of warning, you might want to use a larger drum, like at a launderette... I once put a rather bulky £260 throw in the washer at home and ruined it - I folded it so it would fit in the drum as easily as possible (as opposed to simply stuffing it in) - it came out beautifully clean/ like new, but had frayed along one edge (like friction burn) where it had rubbed the stationary parts of the drum whilst on the spin cycle.