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Original poster

I put my wedding dress in the washing machine....

42 replies

NewChoos · 16/10/2011 18:12

because I was sick of 'send dress away to be cleaned' remaining unticked on my to do list.

I can report back that it washed well and looks absolutely fine.

Just popped it on a warm wash inside a duvet cover to protect the beading.
I don't appear to have lost any beading and it's almost spotless.

Just thought I'd share in case any one else tempted.

Disclaimer: If it had shrunk, I wouldn't have been too upset, I doubt DS will want to wear it in the future :)

OP posts:
SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 16/10/2011 18:18

Yes, I did this too (though mine had no beading)
I took it to the dry cleaners, it was utterly filthy, to be told it "wasn't suitable to be dry cleaned". I asked what I should do and they suggested "sponging it". It had crushed flowers, general grime and red wine on it, me dabbing at it with a sponge wasn't likely to cut it. SO I shoved it in the washing machine on a "hand wash" cycle. Took two goes but came out as good as new :o

Jessicaalbastwin · 16/10/2011 18:18

Wow your brave, I wouldn't even attempt to try it. I got mine dry cleaned the day after My wedding, and its stayed wrapped up in My wardrobe eversince.

Trills · 16/10/2011 18:20

Well done!

I generally take the line that "dry clean only" means handwash, and "handwash" means "gentle cycle of machine".

Dry cleaning doesn't actually clean things, does it?

Tinkerisdead · 16/10/2011 18:29

I had mine chopped up and turned into a romper suit with detachable skirt. So it can be worn by a ds as well as my dd who was christened in it. The thing was the skirt is chiffon and beaded, really delicate. My dd threw up milky sick on the collar and dry cleaning didnt shift it.

I took it to another dry cleaner who said normally i'd say stick it in the washing machine but i think the skirts too delicate. It was then i remembered it unbuttoned! Raced home and washed it in the machine and it came out brilliantly. In fact when dc2 arrives i'll wash it again!

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 16/10/2011 18:32

I don't know Trills, I have always wondered that
yuck

Original poster
NewChoos · 16/10/2011 19:30

Great to hear other success stories! I am tempted by your idea The Doctorswife although I have seen a lovely christening gown in JL. Mght keep the dress in case we have another baby and in case we have a girl.
I agree dry cleaned clothes don't seem really clean.
I am not tempted to wash some curtains as well!

OP posts:
Original poster
NewChoos · 16/10/2011 19:30

I mean now tempted of course.

OP posts:
bishboschone · 16/10/2011 20:25

Most wedding dresses around the £1000 and under mark are all polyester nowadays. They call it poly satin but it's 100% polyester and washes beautifully. I am a dry cleaner so I know this and we offer a wash service as many people are too scared to wash them. I must have washed 100's and they come up like new. Most are from china and the label doesn't mean anything anyway. Quite often it is actually safer to wash as the beads are plastic and can melt when they react with the solvent in the dry cleaner. Bung them in ladies..I will add we wash them in a large washing machine inside out and take out and hang immediately to avoid creasing. I would imagine a large dress in a small machine could get very creased. By the way ..I am ashamed to hear a fellow dry cleaner telling someone to sponge something..( I mean come on) !!!!

bishboschone · 16/10/2011 20:27

By the way ..dry cleaning washes in a solvent rather than water but they do get washed ( wet) . I can assure you the solvent gets very dirty when cleaned out weekly ( it goes through a distillation process after each wash ) but it doesn't clean in the same way washing does. Anything you can wash you should.

Original poster
NewChoos · 16/10/2011 20:44

bish Do you think I could wash some voiles that are 63% polyester and 37% polycotton?

OP posts:
bishboschone · 16/10/2011 21:12

I don't see why not but to be honest I am better at seeing something and knowing if it will wash rather than the consistency of it.. I look at the item before I check the instructions.. Polyester and poly cotton wash separately so I can't see it would be a problem... The key to washing safely is gentle cycle gentle detergent and remove and hang immediately. manufacturers put a generic dry clean label on to pre vent returns , they are supposed to test everything before attaching the correct instructions but putting dry clean on puts the onus on us . Honestly many many people are crap at washing and if they put 30 delicate cycle they would get so many returns.

Hopefully · 16/10/2011 22:09

I soaked mine in the bath with half a tub of vanish for a couple of hours. Came up beautifully!

pissedrightoff · 16/10/2011 22:29

Does anyone know if you can dye a wedding dress? I have kept the top part of mine (skirt was layers and layers of tulle and I put my heel through every layer, So it got binned)
I thought if I could dye it black, I could wear it again.

LoopyLoopsPussInBoots · 16/10/2011 22:30

Mine is still caked in mud and wine. Married over 3 years ago...

maxcliffordslovechild · 16/10/2011 22:36

ohhh so glad I'm not the only one, married 2 years and still clinging in to my filthy dress! Tempted to bung it in the machine and see what happens, not as if I'll wear it again anyway so what have I got to lose?

PastGrace · 16/10/2011 23:14

bish thank you! My friend and I took an evening dress of mine in to be dry cleaned and she asked how it worked. The reply we got?

"errr.... we sponge clean it and then put it in the dry cleaning machine"

Hmm we'd worked that much out...

MmeLindor. · 16/10/2011 23:22

Oh, am tempted but mine would never fit in a normal machine.

It is silk organza so quite delicate.

It has been in the cellar since we moved here, I really should take it out and make sure it is not getting too grotty.

What is the best way to store a dress like that then? It is in box at the moment, would hanging it up be better?

AutumnWitch · 17/10/2011 06:39

Pissedrightoff - yes you can have wedding dresses dyed. The result depends on the fabric. My matron of honour wore her own wedding dress dyed a beautiful deep red, the only disappointment was the polyester stitching dyed lighter than the silk.

I think it was done by Giltbrook but their website doesn't mention it (14 years ago now), but there will be others.

BranchingOut · 17/10/2011 06:45

Hooray! I posted a thread on this a while back but had no responses from anyone with actual experience.

I did sucessfully wash a lovely silk evening dress a while back, so am quite encouraged to wash my wedding dress.

Can I ask a question: what about the boned bodice? Will that survive ok?

bishboschone · 17/10/2011 12:34

Please don't wash silk organza ..especially if it's big... Washable ones are 100% polyester.. There is usually a label inside the zip at the back ..or at the bottom.. If you have had it taken in loads maybe not.

bishboschone · 17/10/2011 12:35

Past grace..that's funny..I expect she was just a counter girl..dry cleaning is actually a fine art ..I am surprised they said they sponge them ..bit odd.

bishboschone · 17/10/2011 12:38

Re..storing ..you need an acid free box and tissue but no point unless its clean. The boxes are expensive.. I expect you can get them off eBay

pissedrightoff · 17/10/2011 12:40

Thanks Autumnwitch I will start looking online.

bishboschone · 17/10/2011 12:49

Just looked on eBay..search acid free wedding box and tissue ..loads of choices

CaptainNancy · 17/10/2011 12:56

So it's a no-no for silk then? (not organza, poss dupion? shot-silk type)