Old evening dress smells very musty

[Diaryfear]

I've been invited to a black tie do.

I'd planned to drag out a beautiful silk dress that I've had forever. There a dry cleaning label dated 2015 on it!

However it smells really musty, maybe even a spot of mildew, although black and textured so it doesn't show too badly, it might not be that.

So will a good airing help or does it need cleaning? Will dry cleaning get rid of the smell and the mildew, if that's what it is?

I would take it to the Dry cleaners. I would be worrying about it all night and probably over do the perfume otherwise.

Yes, but will dry cleaning actually help?

I’d probably just wash it on a delicate cycle with and hang it up to dry. Maybe in a delicates laundry bag

There's no way I'm doing that. I am "flexible" with washing instructions on some things, but this is my perfect, irreplaceable dress.

Sounds weird but vodka works as a good fabric deodoriser. Dilute some with. Water in a spray bottle. Hang garment outside and lightly spray from a distance.

Yes dry cleaning will get rid of the musty smell.

I agree, I'd wash it. You can't wear it if it's musty anyhow. Depends what it is made of.

I bought a tweed jacket in a car boot sale which was dirty and a bit smelly. Washed it in the machine on a really low wool wash and it came out perfectly!

There are mould removers you can buy which are safe to use on fabrics.

Ah, silk. I'd wash it by hand in that case.