Wedding dress cleaning dilemma, will this come out?

[Evenstar]

I am getting married next year and have bought a really beautiful wedding dress from Ebay. It was advertised brand new with tags which it is, but it is soiled with either foundation or fake tan on the back (so actually doesn't meet Ebay's definition of brand new with tags). I want to keep it, but the seller has stated whilst she will give me a full refund if I return it she is only willing to give me £35 back towards the cleaning cost.

It is a gamble, I wondered if anyone had had a wedding dress cleaned and whether make up marks are likely to come out?

I am really desperate to keep it but not willing to wear it if it is soiled. Thanks for any help with this problem.

My wedding dress was washed in the washing machine before and after I wore it and was fine.

Perhaps you could take it to your local dry cleaners and have a chat with them?

Cleaning a wedding dress will set you back about £150, so the £35 is barely going to touch it. I'd return it TBH.

I am going to take a chance on it, it was a tiny fraction of the new cost of a similar dress, I found a suggestion on a wedding website to wash it in the bath with silk wash and I think I will try that. My friend washed hers and her sister's and they came out fine like that. It was really so little compared to a similar one new that I think I might as well give it a go, now I have tried it on it doesn't look as obvious as I feared. It wouldn't fit in my machine as it has a long train. Thanks for advice.

My dress (heavily embellished silk and satin) was covered (COVERED) in fake tan and came out with a soak in the bath!

I hand cleaned remaining stains from my wedding dress after it had been professionally cleaned. If small marks to get out I would do them by hand rather than the bath. The hardest part is rinsing but generally the fabrics are not as delicate as they make out provided you are v careful

Mine is heavily embellished too, what did you spot clean with NotWithout? Did you buy a special product ? I would prefer that option rather than washing such an enormous amount of fabric

Can you read the label for me ? I am a dry cleaner and may be able to help?

It says Fabrics 100% polyester, Netting 100% Nylon Exclusive of trim (the trim appears to be a different textured satin, cut out and embroidered and decorated with pearls and is all round the hem and train, the bodice is covered in pearls)

The cleaning instructions say Professionally dry clean, short cycle, no steam.

Thank you so much

Ok .. Most wedding dresses these days are made of polyester . It's a very strong durable fabric . Mostly we wash wedding dresses and they come out beautifully ( much better than dry cleaning) . We use spray vanish( on stains) and turn them inside out and wash on a 30 degree delicate cycle in an industrial washing machine with a liquid detergent . As soon as the cycle finishes we remove and hang whilst smoothing out all the layers . They dry really quickly and need minimal ironing. I would suggest you find a launderette with a big washer and go and do it there. If you put it in the bath you won't get the agitation and will risk it going brown while it dries as it will really need a spin. Spotting is not a great idea ( although polyester is fairly well behaved) as you can spread the stain or risk leaving another water mark .

Obviously I can't see the dress but I have washed hundreds of polyester dresses and they have all been fine . All dresses say dry clean as it prevents returns from washing. ( crafty buggers) .. If washed in the correct way the beading comes up all sparkly too .

Thank you so much for your advice, I will seek out a launderette with a large washing machine

Thank you so much for your advice, I will seek out a launderette with a large washing machine

Ok .. I'm pretty sure it will be fine but obviously I am advising without seeing it so it's up to you .. I was just worried you were going to put it in the bath and ruin it . I have seen so many bath disasters .