I'm about to put my £1200 wedding dress in the washing machine!!! EEK Am I mad!!

[PeckaRolloverAgain]

It has been shoved on top of my wardrobe since the wedding 2 years ago.

I have decided to flog it as I have the memories/photos dont need to keep dress.

Its a maggie sottero dress and they seem to sell well.....

I dont want to pay £100 to clean it just in case it doesnt sell so it is now soaking in my sink and about go in washer on delicate cycle.

Will it fall apart? Will all the beads fall off?!!

Delicate washing uses half the water usually

If it doesn't work, take out the duvet cover and wash it on a normal 30 degree wash

Feck it

I put mine in washing machine on hand wash cycle (shop refused to dry clean it)
took 3 washes to get it clean but came out fine!
No beading though
Mine was D'Zage

my label said do not dry clean
asked what i was meant to do
"Dab it with a sponge"
it was filthy!!

yeah, gentlest spin (or skip the spin)
then hang it over the bath for about a week

Katy44 - did yours take ages to dry? Just realised I dont have anywhere tall enough to hang it either because of the train!

If it isnt clean the first time shall I wash it straight away again ? or dry it then wash it again?

I would be cautious about using the machine unless you have a nice modern one that is v. gentle...also good idea re duvet case.

My mum washed my 100% silk wedding dress for me...did it my hand in the bath...it was fine after.

Just let it have a good soak then gently rinse a few times...to dry roll dress inside a large towel then if you can drape it outside somewhere to dry rather than hang...eg patio table with a towel on it.

Dry cleaning does use v. harsh chemicals so can see why this might be worse.

I await your reporting post with bated breath, Pecka!!

I put up my clother airer in the bath and draped it over there - I did let it dry a bit before rewashing, mainly because I didn't notice the muck before it had dried a bit, don't think there'a any good reason to dry it first though
From what I remember it was fully dry in 3 or 4 days, might have been less

Can I just repeat I had a really plain, simple dress!

lol @ "Dab with sponge"

You need somewhere HIGH and WARM to hang it

Have you got a friend with a conservatory?!

Ive got a conservatory but its roof is quite low and dont have any convenient "hang your wrecklessly washed wedding dress here" type hooks!

I also had a plain simple dress (cheapskate me!) but the beads should be fine as long as you are gentle...the hem of my dress was filthy as id worn it for two days and walked through town and all around the races in it. It came up as good as new.

I think you are very very brave, but slightly mad for attempting this when the weather is so damp (unless you live in a mansion with a 'laundry/drying room' of course

I have my fingers crossed for you

OK how did mine get so mucky then? The (small) train was grey from being dragged across floors, there was a big red stain down one side (I think it was from DH's buttonhole in the photos) and I think I splattered red wine on it near the end of the night
And I'd broken the heel on my shoe before the reception (my first dance was barefoot). They were only £25 from next but I really liked them and they don't do them any more

"Ive got a conservatory but its roof is quite low and dont have any convenient "hang your wrecklessly washed wedding dress here" type hooks! "

Fit one - you never know when it'll come in handy!

Well, have you done it yet?

Ok.............. the first wash is complete!

All beads intact and the dress overall has come up beautifully clean but there are still some black marks on the underneath.

What do you think should be my next step?

Im going to wash it again

Duvet cover on or off?

Delicates cycle or normal 40 degrees?

help!

Bung it back in at 40

in for a penny

inside out, no duvet cover

dleicates, less spinning action or rotating action, the beads will/could come off with alot of tumbling action

no no same as before
Just needs another wash at the same temp

Have you hung that hook yet?

what about a 40 degree wash with a low spin?