To clean my own wedding dress?

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I can't bring myself to pay over £100 to take it to the dry cleaners. Has anyone here successfully cleaned it themselves?

I've seen online about putting into a duvet cover and washing on a delicate spin.

It is not silk and doesn't have any diamante detail that could come away.

Its what I did with mine (inside out, no duvet cover, delicate wash) and then laid out on the line.

Lady at wedding dress shop told me it was what they did with their samples as they get sweated on (yuk!). Came out lovely. Good luck!

My mum did the same to mine. She used a duvet cover and my dress has lace, satin and a few bits of diamante (in my defence it was 1990!) It came out fine. As long as there are no bad stains just use a gentle wash that's not too hot.

I soaked mine in the bath with some oxy white stuff and it came out lovely. Used the shower to get all the soap out then hung it on the line to dry. Came up like new and saved a fortune!

Washed mine on delicate, was absolutely fine.

Thanks!

Time for some dumb questions now, sorry:

1. Those that washed in the machine, did you use your usual detergent etc... Or did you get anything in particular?

1. Those that soaked in the bath, did you use warm water?

Yes we used the usual detergents. My mum wasn't the type to go out and buy anything special. In 1990 it would have been powder that you put in the drawer. I like the idea of laying the dress in the bath though. I would use warm water and maybe one of those gentle liquid detergents they sell for washing woollens.

I used warm water in the bath. Left it to soak for ages - the train but was filthy and stank of booze!

I put mine inside out in a duvet cover and washed on 40 degrees using silk/wool washing llquid. Do not use softener. Came up immaculate!! Highly recommend

Gosh I'm amazed wedding dresses for in washing machines! Mine is enormous. It definitely would never go in one. Its never been cleaned, there isnt a mark on it, the cleaner recommended not to clean it as it would loose its body and as it doesnt have Mark's to keep it hanging as it is. It must depend on the dress style and what it's made of ( and whether it fits in the washing machine!!) I heard some cleaners completely dismantle them to clean them then sew them back together which seems strange.

Yes I cleaned mine in the bath and then hung out on the line

I just didn't bother cleaning it so it's shoved in the loft with 3ft of dirt up the train and a gravy stain down the front all part of the memories for me. Though I'm not sure why I've bothered keeping it to be honest!

Washed in the bath using warm water and a dash of hand/wool wash. Put bandages through the arm holes and then pegged these to the washing line.

Washing machine bride here!! In a single duvet, small amount of detergent and a 30min cycle. Very long train, satin dress with beading. Came out great. Done it with a couple of bridesmaid dresses too then flogged them on.

You can 100% wash them , especially the cheaper non silk ones . I'm an ex dry cleaner and we always washed them ( with owners consent ) as they are mostly made from polyester and wash really well..
you need to vanish the dirt and add vanish white to the wash and turn inside out . Ideally in a large drum machine though .. hang immediately and it won't need much pressing .
Can you post a pic of the label inside .?

Don't do it in the bath as it needs to spin or you risk getting a horrible brown ride mark as they water drips out .

I washed my mother's 50 year old wedding dress yesterday, as she wants to donate if to a charity that makes christening outfits. I put it in a duvet cover and washed it on a 20 cycle. Dried it on the washing line and it came out lovely and clean.

I’m tempted to try this, but it was a big dress with a lot of layers - I’m not sure if it would fit in the machine

I put mine in a pillow case and into the machine with regular washing powder. It came out perfect. I've since donated it to a charity where they make little gowns for babies who are stillborn/die shortly after birth.

I spent loads having it dry cleaned professionally and bought the protective box and tissue paper etc to keep it pristine. In all honesty I have no idea why I bothered, I’m never going to wear it again, there’s no way I will ever be slim enough to fit in it again anyway. It now sits at my parents house as they don’t want me to get rid of it.

So yes, if it fits in your machine, I would put it in there and hope for the best. Like others have said, put it in a duvet cover or similar and low temperature.