Caring For and Cleaning Formal Dresses—A Complete Guide

Research shows that the clothes you wear say a lot about your personality. In a nutshell, how we think or feel about ourselves is greatly determined by the way we dress. That’s why people put in so much effort to dress up for an important formal occasion or when meeting a big client.

That’s why it’s so mortifying when your favorite formal dress is subjected to wear and tear due to coarse washing. The dress, once adorned with beads and sequins, is now hanging in your wardrobe, waiting to be discarded. Since such dresses are made with delicate fabrics like silk, nylon, rayon, or polyester, it’s difficult to clean them.

If any of this resonates with you, here’s a complete guide to caring for and cleaning formal dresses.

Washing Dresses Inside-out

Flip your dress inside-out before you sending them in for laundry. Clothing items with sequins, beads or appliqués should always be washed inside-out, as this protects the embellishments. In addition, hot water should be avoided when washing formal dresses, as it causes damage to the fabric.

Say No to Chlorine Bleach

If you want to save both your clothes and the environment, quit using chlorine bleach. One of the most effective alternatives is vinegar, as it naturally brightens your clothes.

Treat Stains Immediately

Addressing a stain right away can save the dress from further damage. There are innumerable ways to get stubborn stains out. The most common practices are either soaking the dress in a bucket of cold water or using a stain remover on the spot before washing.

Avoid Dryer

Heat wears out fabrics over time. To keep your dresses safe and clean, hang them in your shower or dry them outside on a rack. The heat from the dryer can shrink the material and cause the color to fade. Another way to dry a formal shirt is to lay it on a dry towel and squeeze it gently to rid of the excess water.

Read Care Labels

Care labels are on all your garments for a reason. People tend to forget to read the directions on these labels, which leads to the weakening of the fibers on dresses as the wrong process is used.

To be on the safe side, get yourself a gentle detergent for all your delicates before they wear out.

If you’re looking to retain your formal dresses for years to come, give us a call at 718-459-7770 and get special treatments to restore their color and softness.

NY Organic Dry Cleaners offers the best affordable dry cleaning Rego Park, New York with its free pick and drop services.