Your wedding dress is more than an article of clothing; it is a memento of one of the most significant days of your life. Because of the profound significance of this garment in your life, it is only natural that you would like to have it safely stored away for the rest of your life.
However, if you don’t take the appropriate precautions to protect your wedding dress, it could suffer permanent damage and have a much shorter lifespan than it otherwise would.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of preserving your wedding dress and the different ways in which it can be damaged if proper care is not taken. We will discuss the effects of improper storage on your wedding dress, from premature fading and discolouration to the development of mould and mildew.
Read on to find out more about how to keep your wedding dress in excellent shape for years to come, whether you intend to pass it down to future generations or simply want to keep it as a cherished remembrance.
What Happens To Wedding Dress If Not Preserved?
Without the right care, a wedding dress can be damaged in several ways that drastically diminish its longevity and alter its beauty. Some of the most frequent outcomes of not preserving a wedding dress are listed below.
Yellowing And Discolouration
The most common results of improper preservation of a wedding dress are yellowing and discolouration. The fabric of the dress can deteriorate and change colour if it is exposed to light, air, and moisture. This might cause the garment to discolour and become difficult to clean over time, taking on a yellow or brownish hue.
A wedding dress can become yellow or lose its lustre for several different reasons. Light is a major contributing factor. Dresses can fade and discolour when exposed to UV radiation from the sun or artificial light. That’s why it’s so crucial that you keep your wedding gown out of the sun and in a cool, dark area after the big day.
Exposure to air and moisture is another reason why things turn yellow. A dress’s fabric can deteriorate and alter colour if it is kept in a damp or poorly ventilated space for an extended period. This is why you need to keep your wedding dress in a bag or box that allows air circulation.
Finally, the fabric’s natural ageing process can cause it to yellow over time. Even with careful storage, the fibres of the clothing could eventually break down and change colour.
Taking good care of your wedding dress from the minute you buy it will ensure that it retains its colour and doesn’t fade. Avoiding light, storing it in a dry, cool place, and performing regular cleaning and preservation maintenance are all essential. You may keep your wedding dress in exquisite shape for many years if you follow these tips.
Stains And Spots
Not properly keeping a wedding dress can also cause stains and patches. Accidental spills, cosmetics, and perspiration are just some of the causes. Stains and spots can be very difficult to remove and may even cause irreversible harm to the garment if they are not dealt with quickly and properly.
Don’t risk making a bad situation worse by trying to remove a stain or spot from your garment on your own. Instead, you should have your dress cleaned by a specialist that focuses on wedding gowns. They may help get rid of the stain without harming the cloth further by utilising the proper cleaning products and methods.
Mould And Mildew Growth
Another common result of improper preservation of a wedding dress is the development of mould and mildew. Because they flourish in warm, moist situations, mould and mildew can do serious damage to the dress.
Moisture and humidity can promote the formation of mould and mildew on your wedding garment. Discolouration, a musty smell, and deterioration of the fabric might result from this. Your wedding dress needs to be kept in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated place to stop the formation of mould and mildew. Don’t put your dress in a moist closet, basement, or attic.
Before putting your clothing in storage, give it a thorough cleaning and dry it completely to eliminate any possibility of mould or mildew growth. Get your dress cleaned as soon as possible by a professional wedding dress cleaner if it got wet or sweaty on the big day. This will aid in eradicating the dirt and germs that can foster the development of mould and mildew.
Fabric Shrinkage
Not properly keeping a wedding dress might also cause the fabric to shrink. This can happen if the dress is exposed to excessive heat, sunlight, or humidity.
Natural fibres like silk, cotton, and wool might shrink more than synthetic materials, so keep that in mind if you’re shopping for a wedding dress. The fibres in a dress can contract when it’s subjected to dampness or heat. The garment may become excessively small and tight as a result, rendering it unwearable.
Your wedding dress should be kept in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated place to avoid fabric shrinking. Don’t put your dress in a moist closet, basement, or attic. You should also keep your dress out of the sun and away from any radiators or other sources of intense heat.
Take it to a wedding dress cleaner who specialises in resizing and restoration if your dress has already shrunk. They’ll know how to restore the fabric’s original size without damaging it, and they’ll have the tools to do it.
Insect Damage
Not keeping a wedding dress might also lead to insect damage. Natural fibres of the fabric can be eaten by insects like moths, beetles, and silverfish, resulting in holes, discolouration, and weakened fabric.
The best way to protect your wedding dress from insects is to keep it in a sealed, clean, dry bag or container. Do not use plastic bags because they can retain moisture and foster the growth of insects. To avoid this, store your items in a bag or container that is not acidic.
It’s also a good idea to keep your garment away from places where insects can be lurking, such as the basement or attic. Insects can ruin your evening attire, so use cedar balls or lavender sachets to ward them off.
Your wedding dress should be professionally cleaned as soon as you discover any evidence of bug damage, such as holes or discolouration. They will be equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to safely and effectively remove the insects and their larvae from the cloth.
Conclusion
If you want your wedding dress to look beautiful for years to come, proper care is a must. If the dress is not properly preserved, it may become discoloured, stained, or damaged by insects, mould, or mildew. If you want your wedding dress to last forever, it needs to be cleaned by a specialist as soon as possible after the big day.
The dress should be kept in a pH-neutral container or bag made from acid-free materials, in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated environment. If you want to keep insects at bay while preserving the dress, you can do so by placing cedar balls or lavender sachets in the container.
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