Wedding dress mouldy

[BatCave]

My beautiful red silk wedding dress is covered in mould and there are wet damp patches all over it. I can't believe it.

What can I do? Obviously get it dry cleaned I guess but should I try and mop off the mould or leave it till it gets to the dry cleaner? It's pure silk and brocade

What a shame :(. There are people who specialise in garment restoration so there's still hope if the dry cleaner can't totally fix it. I wouldn't fiddle with it until you've called a reputable dry cleaner for advice.

Oh, and maybe lay it out somewhere warm, light and flat to dry?

I've managed to hang it out and left the healing up full whack this morning and its dried out. Ok good plan, I won't try and touch it but do y think it'd be a good idea to brush of the spores?

I wouldn't do anything until the cleaners have had a look, a day or two won't make any difference - firstly because if you brush it off then you'll be spreading spores around the room and probably breathing some in, and secondly because it can spread staining if you're unlucky. My nan told me once that the best thing you can do with mouldy fabric is to put it in sunlight, would that be possible (even if an open window)? She also recommended a good scrub with a stiff brush but I wouldn't chance that on something as delicate as silk.

Hope you get it sorted, it must be so upsetting :(

Don't brush it or mop it , you could end up with water marks that won't come out . Brushing will damage the material . Mould can come straight out in the dry cleaner depending in the material and how long it's been there. Have you had it stored in a loft or garage ?

Good advice thank you.

No I've had it stored in my wardrobe, we've moved house recently and I've just discovered a damp/mould problem. Gutted isn't the word. And we're stuck with the floods so can't get out to a drycleaners yet either.

Oh gosh, that is a run of bad luck! Just keep it hung up in sunlight until you can get to the cleaners, and try to air out the room it's being stored in each day. Could you buy/rent a dehumidifier to tide you over until you can get the damp sorted? It'll be much better for your health and fragile natural fibres if you can have one running, even if only in one room (think paperwork, silk, wool, cotton etc clothing).