Prom may not as impactful as your wedding day, but it is still a very important milestone in your life! We know that you love your prom dress, and you want it to last an entire lifetime as a memory of your special occasion, so how do you ensure that it does? Caring for your dress is extremely important and we’re here to help you with our tips on preserving your prom dress for as long as your heart desires.
Wrinkles
When you bring your dress home, make sure that you allow it to breathe. Be sure that there is nothing rubbing on the dress so that it doesn’t wrinkle. If your dress does wrinkle, you need to make sure to get the wrinkles out before the day of prom. Most prom shops will give you a final steaming the day before and if not, call your local dry cleaner and see how much it would cost to get your dress pressed. Another great trick that will save you some money will be to put your dress on a hanger and hang it on the back of your bathroom door. Turn on your shower on the hottest temperature, close the bathroom door, and let it steam for about 15 minutes. The wrinkles will vanish.
Storage
After wearing your dress, it should be dry cleaned before you store it. Stains can occur (even if seemingly invisible) and will ultimately ruin your dress. The longer that you wait to fix the stain, the more time that it has to soak in and ruin your dress. Look for a cleaner that specializes in dresses and gowns!
Tip: If you decided to get a spray tan, do it a day or two before so you can wash it off the residue before you step into your gown as this will ensure it stains less. Also, pack a Tide stick in your prom clutch as they truly do work wonders and you can tackle the stain on the spot.
After dry cleaning, store your dress in a cool and dry place and do not store it anywhere damp or hot (as this may deteriorate or discolor your dress). Also, try to not store your dress in areas that have a lot of natural sunlight, as that can severely discolor your dress over time. Make sure to bring your gown out of storage every once in a while to air it out and to make sure it isn’t damaged. An excellent storage place is the top shelf of your closet. Lay your dress flat in a sealed box or garment bag. Places to avoid are attics, basements and storage units.
Stains
Stains are the worst! Treat your stain ASAP.
First, identify your stain and fabric!
- Makeup → Dampen your stain using a warm towel and then lightly press a color safe bleach or liquid detergent into the stain. Wash the garment in warm water, and hang to dry.
- Grass/Outdoor → Use alcohol to wipe off the fabric, then apply a chlorine bleach to your remaining stain (make sure it is color safe).
- Grease → Wash the garment in warm water, place the stain down on paper towels and rub dry with liquid pretreatment spray. After this is complete, wash in warm water and hang to dry.
- Sweat → Use a damp bar of soap on the stained area, then apply a liquid detergent to the stain and wash it.
At the end of the day, if your stain is really bad, we recommend bringing your dress to a professional. Just ask for a spot cleaning, it won’t hurt the pocket as much and it will ensure the life of your dress.
Make sure to check back for more awesome prom tips. Be sure to send us pictures of your favorite prom styles and colors! Let us know what you think by tagging us on Instagram @Faviana and Twitter @FavianaNY. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube channel for more fun @FavianaNYC!
With love,
Ojal
