Wedding dresses, christening gowns, and other heirloom garments can mean a lot to us as they represent important occasions in our lives. It may be a family tradition to pass down wedding dresses, quilts, bedspreads, and other types of textiles. Proper care of these items can extend their longevity and help prevent fabric deterioration, fading, and irreversible damage.
clean quickly
If something is worn or even slept in, it should be cleaned within a few days of use. Even if there are no visible odors or stains, the fabrics should be cleaned. This is mainly because our body oils have come into contact with the fabric. Over time, these oils break down fabrics, causing them to oxidize and turn yellow, or even deteriorate. These oils are also what attract harmful insects. Proper cleaning of garments is essential before putting them away.
Dry cleaning
Dry cleaning is a great way to remove body oils, makeup, and food stains from clothing. However, dry cleaning is not intended to remove sugar-based stains, such as stains from alcoholic beverages or soft drinks. Point out areas that could be affected by spilled beverages to your dry cleaner so they can treat these stains separately. Don’t bother with unnecessary, expensive and potentially dangerous treatments intended to kill bacteria or fungi. However, ask for a “no dryer” clean for delicates. If your dry cleaner doesn’t do this, ask before you pay to have it shipped somewhere.
Inheritance Seal
You may have heard that your wedding dress or family quilt needs to be “sealed as a family heirloom” by a special dry cleaner. This process involves the garment being cleaned and sealed in an acid-free box with acid-free tissue paper. Sometimes the garment is vacuum sealed. The Fabricare International Institute says that this process is not necessary. Clothes need to breathe. Using acid-free cardboard and tissue paper is a good idea, but you can also use clean white sheets. You can even use regular white tissue paper if you replace it yearly. Wash sheets every one to two years because natural acids can build up in the fabric.
To hang up or not to hang up?
If you want to hang a special dress, be sure to use sturdy hangers designed to support the weight of a heavy garment. Cedar hangers are great because they absorb moisture from the area around the garment and repel pests that could damage the garment. For long-term storage, you may consider storing the garment flat to minimize stress on an especially heavy garment.
