Selling a silk wedding dress that's dirty

[Changeofplan]

I'm getting divorced. And I'm thinking about selling my beautiful heavy silk wedding dress. I wore it 7.5 years ago and it wasn't cleaned afterwards. It's been in its bag ever since and I'm wondering whether anyone would buy it with marks at the bottom around the train? I've enquired about specialist cleaning but have been quoted around £150!! The day was hot and dry so it didn't get wet, just a bit dirty from walking down the street and dancing.

Has anyone ever sold a wedding dress which is obviously not clean? And any ideas where I'd go? Thanks in advance!

Is it just dirt marks? Have you tried to wash them out?

Is there anywhere you can test some cleaning options?

I.e. brushing with a soft clothes brush, I have had success with white spirit before on silk but you'd need to check if they marked it before you risk a wedding dress!

I don't think anyone would risk buying it in case the dirt didn't come out. Therefore i think you need to take the hit and get it cleaned first.

Why would anyone buy a dirty wedding dress? You can buy second hand dresses for under £150. I'm sorry you can either pay to clean it and risk losing money on the sale or give it a sponge down and see if that works

@SheepAndSword I haven't tried any water on the silk as its says specialist dry clean only. I wouldn't want to risk it!
@Papillon23 I could find some other silk - a ribbon or something - and try white spirit on that? The silk is pale ivory and the dirts at the bottom so I will have another look and think. Thanks all.

@MiltonNorthern because it cost £1500 and I'd probably only ask a couple of hundred pounds for it. It's beautiful and vintage.

I guess I mean the lining of the dress or somewhere where the test wouldn't be visible - I don't think you can predict how your dress would react based on a different fabric.

I'd post it along with the quote for cleaning it.

If it’s beautiful and vintage heavy silk I would try to sell as that fabric is not available anymore anywhere and someone who knows what that are looking for will buy it. DO NOT use solvents or white spirit. You could try lukewarm water with a wool/silk (Woolmark) wash liquid, very dilute, no rubbing, just on the area.

Was it vintage when you bought it because 7 years old is not vintage.
Have you looked on line to see what similar things are being sold for?
It might be worth a go but you’d definitely need to make it very clear that it needs cleaning and how much it might cost.

What vintage is it? If it’s a desirable period then a dealer might be willing to buy it but you are unlikely to get much for it tbh. Sorry.

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. I'll try them all. And yes, it was vintage when I bought it.

Just be very honest in your description & don't bother about washing. Someone may buy it to have it re-fashioned.