Caring for your Prom Dress

Caring for your Prom Dress
Prom dresses do not have to be worn only once in your lifetime. If properly stored and cared for, your dress can be worn a lot of times—maybe your kids can even wear it! Here are some tips to make your dress life longer.

Before storing, make sure that you have it cleaned and ironed. This prevents permanent staining of spilled beverages, body oils, or food stains. Pay attention to the washing instructions that the dress manufacturer stitched, most probably under the signature tag. If possible (unless the instructions go against it), send the dress to a laundry company that specializes in gowns and dresses. Make sure that you tell your concerns to the attendant to avoid tearing, shrinking or fading of your dress.

If your dress is vintage and you want to clean it yourself using the washing machine, wash your dress on a delicate speed, at a warm to cold temperature. Rinse your dress several times and hang on a drying rack. Never dry your vintage dress using the dryer.

Again, professional service is the most recommended method of ironing your dress. If you again decide to do this on your own, remember to follow the washing/ironing instructions for your dress. If it has none, try placing a towel over the dress while ironing it. This protects the cloth from too much heat. Do not ever iron velvet; steam it from the inside and brush as you go. Steam rayon on the inside while pulling the fabric slightly will avoid ruining the dress.

Wrap the dress in muslin fabric or in a white sheet to keep it safe from sharp creases. Do not use plastic as it is a petroleum-based product that might decay and leave chemical residues.
Store your dress in a box or on a hanger. The box should be archival-safe and acid-free, while hangers should be rust-free. If the dress will be cleaned by professionals, give your box or hanger to them so they can pack it right. However, if you plan to clean and hang the dress by yourself, make sure that you hang it by the waistline to avoid damaging the shoulders and neckline. Never use metal clips that might rust and leave stains on the dress.

But, if your dress is vintage, do not hang it. It might lose form. Fold it instead and put inside a box.
Store the dress in a cool, dry place. Remember to check your dress regularly to ensure against overlooked damage in storing. Of course, you’d also want to care for your shoes. Shoes protect your feet and make them look good, so you also have to make sure that you treat your shoes well.

Check your heels. Also, look out for scuff marks. Have them fixed by a professional in a shoe repair shop before storing it.
Shoetrees are a must if you keep your shoes in their shoe-bags or box for long periods of time. A shoetree will keep your shoes’ shape.
Keep your shoes away from direct sunlight.