How to Wash And Clean your Formal Evening Gowns

LAUREN WHALLEY

SEP 10, 2021

Finding a formal gown you love is an amazing feeling! One that makes you want to wear your dress again and again, but in order for that to happen, you want to make sure you are taking good care of your dresses. Cleaning and caring for your gowns may seem complicated, but it’s a lot easier than it sounds!

Ahead, we’re going to discuss the different types of fabrics and walk you step-by-step through the cleaning process from washing, drying, storage, and stains! Happy cleaning!

**Please Note: Prior to using any soaps, washes, or cleaning products on your fabrics, please be sure to read the cleaning instructions or notes found on the inside tags of the gown carefully as they may have specific instructions you need to follow or suggest dry cleaning instead.

Common Evening & Formal Wear Fabrics

Chiffon

Chiffon is a lightweight and sheer fabric that is typically made of a combination of silk, rayon, and synthetics (i.e., nylon) It is frequently used in evening wear and bridesmaid dresses due to the whimsical, flowy nature of the dresses it is used on.

Jersey

Jersey is a commonly used knit textile fabric made from materials like cotton, wool, or blends containing polyester, linen, ramie, silk, or rayon. While you may recognize this fabric from your t-shirts or sleepwear, this warm, stretchy, and soft is perfect for evening wear dresses!

Satin

Satin is a luxurious fabric made with a combination of silk, rayon, acetate, nylon, polyester, or even a blend. Its smooth texture drapes beautifully and is often used on evening gowns and bridesmaid dresses for a sophisticated look.

Sequin

Sequin is a sparkly embellishment added to an evening gown to add that extra dose of glam. Sequins are usually made of plastic or metal and are applied on top of the fabric like cotton, silk, wool, or synthetic.

Tulle

Tulle, also referred to as netting, is a sheer, ultra-fine fabric of silk, nylon, polyester, or rayon and hexagonal holes. This fabric is often used on the top layer of dresses to give it extra volume and texture.

How to Wash Delicate Fabrics

For all of the fabrics listed above, handwashing is the best method and can all follow the same step-by-step instructions. You’ll want to:

Prior to washing in water use a high-quality stain solution to remove any wine, coffee, dirt, oil, underarm, or neckline stains.
Add a soap appropriate for delicates to your wash basin or sink and fill with cool water.
Place your dress in the sink or tub. Be sure soap is evenly distributed and soak for about 30 minutes.
Rinse with cool water and gently press or squeeze the water out of the dress (be sure to not wring or twist it out!)
Air dry only! Lay the dress out flat on a drying rack or hang to dry.

If you absolutely must use the washer, turn the dress inside out and place it into a mesh bag before running it through a delicate cycle. You can then remove any wrinkles with a steamer.

Drying & Storage Methods

To keep your dress in its best condition, you want to pay attention to how you store it. we always recommend using a cloth garment bag for your evening gowns. By storing in a garment bag, you will prevent unwanted wear, dust, or unwanted moisture. folded in a garment bag to prevent any stress or distortion from hanging it dry.

Chiffon, tulle, and satin should be carefully hung on a hanger. Jersey and sequin, however, should always be folded. For sequin, the heavy nature of the fabric can weigh it down, and storing it in a garment bag will prevent any stress or distortion. Jersey should be folded because it is a knit item and will help prevent unwanted stretching as well as distortion.

Ready to find a dress that makes you feel confident and beautiful? Visit our shop to find evening dresses & formal wear in a variety of fabrics perfect for your next event or celebration!