Professional care is required to preserve gown

NEW YORK (AP) -- Even though they rarely wear it again, most brides make an attempt at preserving their wedding gown, mostly for posterity's sake.
Proper cleaning and storage is essential, according to Steve Saidman, owner of Imperial Gown Restoration and Preservation in Fairfax, Va. Saidman is profiled in the June-July issue of Modern Bride as one of the top trendsetters in the wedding industry.
His recommended ritual for preserving a gown includes "wet-cleaning" over dry-cleaning, which might not remove all stains and it might damage detailing on the dress. The gown also should be air-dried, he says.
Professional wet-cleaning is usually by hand or by use of a specially built and programmed machine that doesn't agitates the contents. The water temperature is tepid and the cleaning agents are of a very low pH. Fabrics are rinsed repeatedly in a neutralizing agent as well as fresh water, and removal of the water is never done by wringing or by use of high speed extraction.
After it's cleaned, the gown should be folded and wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and then placed in an acid-free box. Paper products that contain acid yellow as they age and the color will transfer to the gown, Saidman explains.
A dress left for years on a hanger likely will get stretched out and lose it shape, he adds.
And, Saidman says, don't use a plastic bag for storage; it can trap moisture or odor near the gown and accelerate deterioration.