Dry Cleaner can’t clean my dress!

[Wifelife]

I hope someone can help!

I got married in July and got round to taking my gown to be dry cleaned earlier this month (in hindsight this is probably too late) I asked the shop I bought my gown from where they recommend and was told to take it to XXXX as this is where all their samples (including the sample of my gown) is always cleaned and they always do a really good job...

Husband has gone to collect today and been told by the dry cleaner that he attempted to clean it three times but there’s still some marks (including a very unsophisticated ketchup mark on the front) he said he’ll try using a stronger chemical clean and is confident this would work but this sounded very much like a last resort and I’m worried.

So I’m just wondering if anyone else has had this issue and what you did? At the moment I’m thinking it’s better to go ahead with the deeper clean rather than opting not to and the mark stays anyway.

The gown is a silk ball gown by Suzanne Neville and is completely plain so no detail at all which I thought might mean cleaning would be more straightforward - any ideas, advice or previous experiences would be very welcome!

Are you selling it? Or wearing it again?

Really it’s for sentimental reasons and I just want the option to pass it down

I was going to suggest adding a belt or corsage or brooch depending on location of stain.

Th entirely h... the chance of a future daughter wanting to wear it are slim so I wouldn't go spending a lot. the bottom of mine and the train got completely muddy as we took our photos up a hill. My daughter sometimes asks to play dress up in it.

Yeah that’s definitely a possibility actually, a brooch or something - thank you

Yes definitely not very likely and of course wedding gowns are really only worn once, I’ll just be so disappointed if these stains can’t be lifted - we’ll see!

What about washing it in your bath?

Sounds weird, but I knew someone that did this. I think it’s a precaution because of the delicate material, but in s bath gently washed, might work.

I'd leave it for now, hopefully cleaning methods will have progressed by the time any future daughters might want to wear it.
Lovely dress, op.

My dress was totally ruined - mud all over the bottom. The silk was ruined and no chance of it coming out. It still makes me a bit sad even though I know no one else will ever wear it and it’s just going to sit in a garment bag forever!

My 4yo DS ran up to me during our reception and planted his chocolate-covered hands and face right into my dress. It couldn't come fully out. I told DD if she wants to wear the dress when she gets married I'll have some applique put onto the skirt in a pattern that will cover the chocolate up.

Ok, deep breath - I actually put mine in the washing machine. On a delicate cycle.

It had already been slightly re-worked by a dressmaker (I got a second wear out of it) and some of the fabric layers were gone, but had picked up some stains during a house move. It washed without problems - boned bodice and all!

Beautiful dress.
I'd feel bad having that much money just hanging in the dark somewhere though. Could you not turn it into something useful?
Nice summer top or trousers, pillow covers, lamp shades or something?

Thank you for all your replies, I’m really surprised how common this problem is - it’s really awful considering how much these dresses cost! Definitely going to think about some of these suggestions they’re really handy, thanks again!

Strong sunlight is a surprisingly good stain remover, I wonder if it would work on ketchup? It works great on curry stains because the colouring is destroyed by UV light.

While at uni balls were all the rage and I borrowed my cousins many bridesmaids dresses (as in she had been a bridesmaid many times). Because she was less bothered about the dresses I washed them in the bath or washing machine. Worked fine but a delicates soap powder. Have done it with 3 wedding dresses since (as favours to people). With no embellishments it should be ok. Dry cleaners are exactly that. They have strict rules about what they can and can’t do.

Everyone whose dress is stained at the bottom, my friend had hers shortened to tea length and wore it again to a ball, wouldn't work for all styles but looked brilliant on hers (I actually preferred it shorter!).

I had the same problem at a dry cleaners. This company got it completely clean. You have to send your dress off to them. www.ukweddingdresscleaners.co.uk/

My son has a white stretch shirts for his hobby that are dry clean only, one got a stain from him sitting on something (they are like an all in one shirt/pants) dry cleaning didn't work, when he got to big for this one I finally risked putting it in the washing machine on a delicate wash and the stain came out! All his shirts since have gone in there so it's worth a thought!

Yes I put my wedding dress in the wash on a delicate cycle, was fine