Don't Mistreat Your Wedding Gown

So I mentioned a bit ago that I had a lovely wedding, but I didn't say anything about my wedding dress. That's pretty unusual - don't you think? After all, that's the first thing a woman looks for when planning the big day. I didn't mention it because I treated it so poorly after the wedding. I am ashamed to say, but I let it hang in my closet in a plastic bag without cleaning it for 11 years. Packing to move forced me to treat it properly.

Learn from my mistakes - here are a few tips to ensure your gown is cared for properly:

• Hang it by the loops inside the gown - not by the fragile shoulder seams.
• Don't store it in a plastic bag because plastic emits fumes that can yellow the gown. Plastic also traps in moisture, which could cause your gown to mildew.
• When having it cleaned and preserved, use a local specialist who will personally do the work for you - not one that will send it off.
• Inspect your gown before having the specialist place it in the storage container.
• Store your gown in a completely acid-free, museum-quality, archival wedding chest lined with fabric or acid-free tissue.
• Don't store it in a place that experiences extreme temperature changes.

Have a wedding gown crisis? Call Alan Peatross at A Cleaner World 336-841-4188. He's our in-house expert.