How To Store A Wedding Dress To Keep It Heirloom-Quality
You've spent a lot of time and money picking the perfect wedding dress for your special day, so don't neglect it after you say "I do." There are several ways that you can properly care and preserve the frock to keep it looking beautiful for many years to come.
If you dream of your future daughter wearing your dress on her wedding day, it's important to store it in a way that prevents discoloration, mildew and even damage from pests such as moths. The good news is that you don't need to spend a lot of cash or put a lot of effort into preserving the dress.
Although it may sound like the easiest and most convenient thing to do, avoid wrapping your wedding dress in plastic wrap, which can trap moisture and even cause the delicate white fabric to take on a yellow tone. It's best to use items, such as bags or boxes, that are especially designed for protecting garments.
Here are some ways that you can keep your wedding dressing looking fresh for generations to come:
1. Dry Clean the Dress
Before storing the meaningful frock, have it professionally dry-cleaned to remove both obvious and not-so-obvious stains and odors. If you don't wash the dress soon after wearing it, stains can set in and become impossible to remove. Spots containing sugar, such as from cake frosting, are especially damaging as they can turn white fabric brown.
Other items that can cause unsightly stains on your dress include flower pollen, wine, champagne, perfume, sweat and deodorant.
2. Store the Dress in Bag
After getting the cleaned, pressed and steamed dress back from the dry cleaners, carefully place it into a garment bag that is long enough to allow the frock to lie flat to avoid wrinkling. Look for a garment bag made of a breathable fabric, such as cotton muslin, to prevent moisture build-up.
As a personalized touch, you can have the bag printed with your name and wedding date for a keepsake. Hang the dress in a cool, dark and dry location, such as in a bedroom closet. Avoid keeping the dress in your basement, which may be too humid.
3. Store the Dress in a Box
If you don't have hanging closet space to spare, carefully fold the wedding dress to prevent creases and wrinkles, and then wrap it in acid-free paper to prevent discoloration. Next, place the wrapped dress into an acid-free preservation box before storing it on a shelf.
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