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Preserve
that gown
Turn
your wedding dress into an heirloom with a reliable cleaner
and proper storage
By
Lisa J. Curtis
The Brooklyn
Bride Editor
In all the excitement of planning a wedding and honeymoon,
bridal gown preservation might not enter a bride’s mind
until it is too late.
Wedding gowns — smudged with grime from the dance floor
and spotted with champagne — can’t be left in a
heap in the corner. If you want to keep your wedding dress
in good condition for years to come, it needs to be treated
differently than other garments that are whisked off to the
dry-cleaners after they’re worn.
“Just dry-cleaning alone may not necessarily prevent
the fabric from yellowing, if it’s not properly packaged,”
said Ken Kinzer, of Bridgestone Cleaners in DUMBO and The
Clean Center in Boerum Hill. There are things in the atmosphere
that can contribute to the deterioration of a dress over time,
said Kinzer, who has been preserving wedding gowns since 1987.
And when it comes to removing stains from a wedding gown,
it’s vital to get it to the cleaners sooner, rather than
later.
“I would bring it in as soon as she’s back from
honeymoon,” said Kinzer. “Most brides put it off,
and put it in a closet in a plastic bag. This time of year,
with the moisture in the air in an apartment, it will build
up inside the bag, drip onto dress, and rust the dress. Heat
and time will set stains.”
That said, Kinzer, who’s on the board of directors of
the National Cleaners Association International, does not
advise attempting any stain removal on your own.
“Something off the shelf could pull the color off a white
garment,” said Kinzer. “It’s dyed white; that’s
not the natural color of the fiber. Putting a bleaching agent
on it could turn the fabric flaxen or yellow.”
Brides should be certain to interview prospective cleaners
before trusting their gown with them.
If you go to a dry-cleaner, ask about their experience working
with wedding gowns or consider going to a gown preservationist
with a noted track record. Kenneth Gluck, of Worldwide Gown
Cleaning and Preservation, in Sheepshead Bay, oversees a plant
that only cleans high-end evening wear and wedding gowns.
“We have employees and technicians, with 20 to 30 years
experience, that only do wedding gown cleaning and restoration
with special equipment,” said Gluck. “The work is
done mostly by hand.”
There are a variety of ways to clean wedding gowns, from wet-cleaning
to milder, petroleum-based solvents, so go to a cleaner who
knows the options so they can pick the one that’s best
for your dress.
Kinzer said he is a certified wet- and dry-cleaner, and his
plant uses eco-friendly, non-hazardous chemicals.
“Certain stains will only come out with dry-cleaning
and others wet-cleaning,” said Kinzer, who personally
inspects each gown along with his spotting manager. He asks
that a bride sign a certificate allowing testing of the garment’s
fabric and beading before commencing with the work.
“Some beads will melt from the inside out if you don’t
test them,” said Kinzer. “A lot of ornament work
is put on after a manufacturer puts on a care label which
says it’s safe to dry-clean. They may not be aware of
the beading applied afterwards. You have to know what you’re
doing and know how to test.” Gluck sad his technicians
conduct a free garment analysis before calling the client
and explaining their course of action and the cost of the
services.
After the dress has been cleaned, the vendor should place
the gown in protective packaging such as acid-free tissue
paper in an acid-free paperboard box. Kinzer’s company
also offers the option of an untreated fabric storage bag.
When the preserved gown is brought home, it is important to
keep it in a location protected from light or moisture.
Kinzer and Gluck guarantee the gowns they process for life
— as long as the bride stores them in the sealed container
and protects them from water damage.
“But if, God forbid, there is a flood, we can restore
it,” said Gluck, adding, “Even antique gowns and
veils that come in as brown as can be.”
Many cleaners recommend putting the gown under your bed —
not an attic or basement — because it’s the most
comfortable room in the apartment, not hot or humid.
“You don’t want to vacuum seal the gown,” said
Gluck. “There’s a big misconception about that.
It will seal in moisture, which is OK for a piece of meat
going in your freezer, but not for a wedding gown that needs
air to circulate properly so it doesn’t stain or oxidize
over time.”
Gluck said he doesn’t encourage handling the dress after
it has been cleaned, either.
“Natural oils from your hands will come off on the dress,”
he explained. “We literally handle them with gloves.”
The pricing on gown preservation can vary wildly, but Kinzer
says beware of a cleaner who offers to do gown preservation
at a very low price.
“You’re paying for quality of service and attention
to detail. It’s not possible to charge a ridiculously
low price,” he said, unless the vendor isn’t doing
a thorough job.
“You may be covered with insurance, but you can’t
replace the feelings,” said Kinzer. “I’m not
into the blame game, but into giving the best possible garment
to the customers.”
Important questions to ask the cleaner:
Do they process the gown on site or do they ship it out?
Do you have to sign a release absolving them of damage to
the gown? (If so, walk away!)
For how many years is the preservation guaranteed?
Will you be reimbursed if the gown is damaged after a certain
number of years? Will they refund the preservation cost or
replacement value?
Is the warranty void if you open the cleaner’s preservation
box? If so, can you inspect the gown before it’s boxed?
If you want to put other mementos in the box with your dress,
such as shoes or an invitation, do they have recommendations
on how to package those items so they don’t damage the
dress? (For example, putting your wedding invitation in an
acid-free envelope.)
Bridgestone
Cleaners, 109 Front St. at Washington Street in DUMBO, (718)
222-9958. Also The Clean Center, 195 Court St. between Bergen
and Dean streets in Boerum Hill, (718) 643-9300. Gown preservation
begins at $350.
Worldwide Gown Cleaning and Preservation, 3480 Nostrand Ave.
between Avenues U and V in Sheepshead Bay, (718) 368-9080,
www.cleangowns.com.
Gown preservation begins at $250.
For more information, contact the Association of Wedding Gown
Specialists, (800) 501-5005, www.weddinggownspecialists.com.
August
13, 2005 edition |. Read
more about Brooklyn Weddings
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