|
|
Preserving Your Wedding Dress
and Other Heirloom Items
Most women put a lot of time, love, and energy into either finding
or making the perfect wedding dress. But, what do you do with
that beautiful and symbolic wedding dress when you get home from the
honeymoon? You are most likely planning on saving the wedding dress, but
just hanging it in a closet or stuffing it into a chest is practically
giving it a death sentence.
The following wedding dress preservation guidelines will help you
avoid the dangers associated with long-term textile storage and will make
your wedding dress an heirloom garment that can be enjoyed for generations
to come. These wedding dress preservation tips apply to all fine fabrics
and textiles that have historical significance and require special
attention for long-term storage.
Get a Clean Start
Waiting until after the honeymoon to take protective precautions
for your wedding dress is waiting too long. Stains that you may
not even see, such as from perspiration, will immediately begin
to take their toll on the delicate fabric. Ideally, you should make
arrangements to have your wedding dress professionally dry cleaned as soon
as possible after your wedding day. Have the wedding dress taken to a
reputable wedding dress cleaner who will also inspect zippers and buttons
that may need to be repaired or tightened. You should make a special note
for the wedding dress cleaners about any spots or stains, particularly on
the train, that may need special attention. The wedding dress should also
be inspected for loose stitches. Once you have the wedding dress home and
clean, you are ready to store it for future generations.
Long-Term Storage
Lay, Fold, Roll, or Hang?
Gravity exerts pressure that can stretch or tear the fibers of
hung textiles over time. Storing your wedding dress on a hanger
for a long period of time is not recommended. Laying the wedding dress
flat or storing it in a rolled or folded position is preferable to
hanging it. If you plan to hang your wedding dress for any length of
time, you should pad the hangers with cotton batting covered
with unbleached cotton. These materials are commonly found at
craft and quilting supply stores.
If you decide to store your wedding dress in a folded position, remove it
from storage a couple of times a year and fold it along different lines.
Pieces that have been folded on the same lines for a long period of time
will eventually develop stress tears along the folds.
For items that will be preserved in a folded position for a long period of
time, acid free tissue paper (non colored) or clean piece of cloth should
be placed between the folds. If you plan to hang your linens or any length
of time.
The Dangers of Wood Acid
Do not preserve your wedding dress in a cedar (or any other type of
wood) chest without protective coverings between the wood and
the fabric. All wood contains acid that will, over a period of time,
make an impossible-to-remove brownish stain on any fabric it has
direct contact with. A wedding dress stored in direct contact with wood
will eventually be weakened and destroyed by the acid in the wood.
All wood products, including cardboard and regular paper, also
have acid that causes fiber deterioration. This problem can be
remedied by wrapping your wedding dress in acid-free tissue
paper or storing it in an acid-free box. Typical stationery stores
don't carry acid-free materials. These are most often found in
archival supply stores.
Room to Breathe
Your wedding dress needs air to circulate through the fibers
or it will eventually start to rot. For this reason, you should not
wrap your gown in plastic for a long period of time. Also, the
static in plastic acts as a magnet pulling dust from the air right
into your gown if the plastic covering is unsealed. True, sealed
plastic covers keep out dirt and grime, but they also prevent
needed air from circulating through the fibers. Furthermore,
if the piece is even slightly damp when placed in a plastic bag,
mold will soon start to form. Also, some plastics produce
textile-destroying hydrochloric acid when in contact with
moisture for long periods of time.
Regular Check-Ups
Take your heirloom wedding dress out of storage every few
months to check its condition. Even well-stored items are
subject to air pollution, chemical residue from washing and
handling, and mildew. This will ensure your wedding dress preservation is
more successful.
Temperature Matters
Extreme changes in temperature are harmful to your wedding dress.
Ideal temperatures for long-term storage are between 65 and 75
degrees Fahrenheit. Unheated attics and basements are undesirable
storage places. Small rooms or closets with space heaters should
also be avoided.
Humidity Sensitivity
Too little or too much humidity can also damage your wedding
dress. Humidity levels between 45 and 55 percent are recommended.
Avoid storing textiles in bathroom closets or laundry rooms
where humidity often rises above acceptable levels. During dry winters,
you might consider using a humidifier to maintain acceptable
levels of humidity.
Fight Ultraviolet Light
Frequent or constant exposure to ultraviolet light, such as
sunshine or fluorescent lights, will eventually cause your
wedding dress to disintegrate. Always store the gown in a dark place.
Avoid Ironing and Starching
Your wedding dress should be cleaned, but not ironed, before
storing. Ironing makes fibers tense and brittle which increases
the risk of tears if the piece is stored in a folded position.
Also, starch in fabrics attracts various pests and absorbs
mildew-forming moisture. Starch should be removed from your
wedding dress before putting it into long-term storage.
Wedding dress preservation is not difficult and is problem free if you
follow the above simple guidelines.
Article contributed by,
SpecialtyLace.com
Wedding Dress Resources |
|