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Ideas for cleaning prom dress

10 replies

ActualAl · 24/06/2026 13:14

My daughter wore this dress for her prom recently and with all the dancing and the heat at the moment, it came home quite wet with sweat!
It's dried now obviously but I think it needs to be washed but I'm not sure how to do it.
I called a local dry cleaners as it says on the label "spot clean by professional dry cleaner only". The person I spoke to said that most dry cleaners won't spot clean and also that dry cleaners wouldn't recommend dry cleaning due to the risk of the beading melting. He recommended trying to wash it myself.
I've attached some pictures to show the dress, it's 100% polyester with chiffon type top layer, silky underlayer and netting underskirt.
Does anyone have any advice, handwash or delicate washing machine?

Thanks

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
EgregiouslyOverdressed · 24/06/2026 15:55

Hi OP - there's no photo.

Swissrailways · 24/06/2026 15:58

Inside out, in a pillowcase or better, a drawstring bag if you have or can make one, delicate wash, line dry. Repeat if marks don't come out.

Bravet · 24/06/2026 16:00

I would handwash in lukewarm water. I tend to ignore instructions! If there is a reason for caution, I hand wash. I reckon polyester, satin and chiffon are pretty tough, and hand washing won’t damage beads too much.

user404927 · 24/06/2026 16:17

I’d just put it in the washing machine on a low temperature.

Mcdhotchoc · 24/06/2026 16:20

If it's unwearable, you have nothing to lose!
I'd bung it in the machine ( ours has a hand-wash setting) on low heat. Then air dry? Ideal conditions for that.

FlorenceBlack · 24/06/2026 16:21

You can spot clean with cotton buds dipped in clear alcohol, Nancy Birtwhistle on Insta is fab for tips if you give her a DM

EgregiouslyOverdressed · 24/06/2026 16:26

Is it physically dirty or did it just get sweaty?

If the latter, I'd air it by hanging in bright sunlight (no more than a few hours if the colours are very vivid).

If it's visibly marked or dirty I would gently handwash in a bathtub with minimal agitation.

Sunshineandrainbow · 24/06/2026 16:28

Dry cleaners wouldnt do my dd's dress so I did it in the machine on hand wash or wool and it was perfect

ActualAl · 24/06/2026 20:03

Thanks for all the ideas, not sure why the pictures didn't post. I'll try again to add them.
I'm thinking I'll try a handwash first in the bath. Then if it still looks a bit grubby then a delicate machine wash. The middle section of the dress is probably ok but the bodice part, especially the top where it was tight against the skin looks a bit discoloured with sweat/perfume/possibly tan etc.
Thanks again

Ideas for cleaning prom dress
Ideas for cleaning prom dress
Ideas for cleaning prom dress
Ideas for cleaning prom dress
Ideas for cleaning prom dress
OP posts:
LassoOfTruth · 24/06/2026 20:08

Handwash in the bath with colourless washing up liquid worked great for my wedding dress, mud stains and all!

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