How to steam a wedding dress at home

A wedding dress can easily become wrinkled and lose its presentable appearance. This occurs due to improper transportation or improper storage after trying on and wearing. Products become especially wrinkled and dirty after busy wedding days.

It is important to ensure proper care of your clothes, because thin and delicate fabrics can be damaged by the iron or steamer and the high temperature of ironing. Let's look at how to properly steam a wedding dress at home. Let's learn how to iron an outfit before a wedding or iron a product after an important event.

Mechanical steaming methods

There are several ways to steam clothes. The simplest is to use an iron with a vertical steamer function, a handheld steamer or a steam generator. By the way, the last two devices most effectively smooth the fabric, completely removing folds and wrinkled areas.

To steam, fill the device with water and heat to minimum temperature. Hang the dress on a hanger and steam the items at some distance from the surface until the fabric is completely smooth. Straighten the material with your hands as you go. Therefore, it is better to perform this procedure together. While one person straightens the fabric, the other will steam.

Steamers and steam generators straighten the material quickly and efficiently. The procedure takes no more than 20 minutes. They can easily cope with even the most difficult folds and dents, the smallest creases.

Make the surface perfectly smooth. The devices are suitable for delicate and thin fabrics, items with frills, beads, embroidery and other decorations, which is extremely important for a wedding dress.

In addition, steamers and steam generators clean clothes and eliminate germs, viruses and dust mites from the surface of materials. However, not everyone can afford this pleasure. In this case, you can use the traditional method of steaming using steam and boiling water.

Using a steamer

Steamers come in several types: vertical and manual. In salons they often use the first option, and for home they buy the second type.

Steamers are very easy to use. They are bought for shirts, suits and wedding dresses.

This process causes genuine fear and many questions for many. But there is nothing to be afraid of. Even a product with an expensive finish can be steamed yourself without any problems.

Steaming wedding dresses is easier than ironing. If you have this opportunity, you better take it. It will take less time.

Steaming is more effective. It smooths out all the creases in hard-to-reach places where it is impossible to reach with an iron.

Where can I steam? You can take your wedding dress to the dry cleaner, give it to the salon where you bought it, or do it yourself. It will take a little time, but save money.

The steaming process is carried out as follows:

A little water is poured into the device.
The dress is hung on hangers. It is advisable to find a place for him in the room so that he can walk around freely.
The process starts with petticoats. Process each skirt separately. Then move on to the top, flounces, train and rebounds.
The bodice is steamed last.

The treated dress is not hung in the closet. It is left on hangers in an upright position until the event.

Steaming and boiling water

Pour boiling water into the bath and hang the dress on a hanger above the water. It is important that the hem hangs at a height of 20-30 centimeters from the water. Due to the steam, the fabric is gradually smoothed and straightened. Make sure that the outfit does not fall into boiling water!

In addition, prolonged exposure to steam may cause rhinestones, beads and other decorative elements to fall off. Therefore, it is not recommended to leave products in the bathroom for a long time.

Instead of a bath, you can use a saucepan or other similar container. Fill the container with boiling water and hang the dress over it. Smooth out the material with your hands, straighten out folds and creases. This method is most suitable for smoothing a veil.

However, here you need to be careful and not overdo it. Products should not touch water or be exposed to steam for too long, otherwise the delicate fabric will become deformed and deteriorate.

In addition, you can order a steaming service from a professional dry cleaner or directly from a wedding salon. Large stores provide this service when purchasing an outfit for little money.

Final Recommendations

As you can see, steaming a wedding dress yourself is a very difficult and sometimes dangerous task, so I would recommend leaving it to professionals.

And in order to save money, you can ask to leave the dress in the salon until the eve of the wedding (many salons provide this service free of charge). This will allow you to solve two problems at once: firstly, you won’t have to figure out where and how to store the dress, and secondly, you will receive it in perfect condition the day before the wedding and all you have to do is hang it carefully until tomorrow.

Is it possible to iron a wedding dress?

You can iron a wedding dress if the label on the garment allows it. If you have washed the product, do not wring out the fabric under any circumstances! Wait until the dress is dry and then proceed with the procedure. You can iron a wedding dress only with a clean soleplate without soot, scale, stains or burnt areas. The product is ironed from the wrong side!

The temperature and ironing process depend on the type of fabric. As a rule, for delicate and synthetic materials, the heating of the iron should not exceed a minimum temperature of 100-110 degrees. If the dress consists of different fabrics, the appropriate temperature is selected for each material.

Silk and veil, lace dress and lace elements are ironed exclusively through gauze or natural fabric only from the wrong side at a minimum heating temperature without the use of steam. Satin is also ironed from the inside out at a minimum temperature, but with a steamer. Polyester can be ironed at an average temperature of up to 150 degrees without a steamer.

It is not advisable to iron organza, tulle and chiffon. After washing and after the water has drained, the items are hung on a hanger. The material is carefully straightened and left to dry in public conditions. Do not dry a wedding dress near or on a radiator or heating appliances, or under direct exposure to sunlight!

When drying vertically, thin organza, chiffon and lush tulle straighten on their own without an iron. If wrinkles or bruises have formed, straighten the areas by weight.

As a last resort, items made of chiffon and organza are ironed through silk or tissue paper at a minimum temperature without steam. And how to restore the fullness of a tulle skirt, read the link.

Using an iron

Ironing a wedding dress is an economical option and very labor-intensive. Ironing is difficult to do on your own; you will have to ask your mother or friend for help.

Do not iron parts decorated with beads, rhinestones and sequins.

Everything will go smoothly if you follow simple instructions.

Remember that you won't be able to reach every place with an iron to make your outfit look perfect. That's why wedding dresses are steamed in salons. Such devices remove all creases and folds, taking a minimum of time and effort.

In addition, if you use a steamer, you will not need the help of others.

How to iron a dress correctly:

If stains are found, it needs to be washed.
Ironing begins with the bodice. This part of the outfit is usually decorated with various decorations, so the process is carried out from the wrong side. If there are laces at the back, remove them. If the bodice has a zipper, unzip it. The bodice without decoration can be ironed from the outside.
Creases and crumpled places need to be moistened. This will make it easier to smooth them out. Fill a spray bottle with distilled water and spray the material if necessary.
Ironing is done through gauze. The soleplate of the iron should not be applied to delicate fabric, as it may burn a hole.
After ironing the bodice, move on to the petticoat. If there are several of them, process them one by one. Lastly, the top layer is smoothed out.
If there is a train, iron it on both sides. Use gauze lightly moistened with water from a spray bottle.
The work is completed by treating the outfit with an antistatic agent. Read the instructions for its use and spray at a distance of 20–30 cm from the dress.

Consider the material from which the dress is made. It may be made from several fabrics, which means that the temperature on the iron will have to be constantly adjusted so as not to ruin the outfit.

After finishing ironing, do not put it on the bed. Hang it on your hanger. You can't go into the closet. The dress will wrinkle again. It’s good if it is possible to hang it in such a way that there is nothing within a few centimeters around it and no one walks there.

Chiffon

Chiffon wedding dresses are ironed at a temperature of 60–120 degrees. Modern technology has programs that are already adapted to the required material. Just choose the “delicate” or “chiffon/silk” mode and calmly iron the desired areas.

Dresses made from this material look great if ironed correctly.

This fabric also easily deteriorates if you turn on the wrong ironing mode.

It is not recommended to use steamers for wedding dresses made of this material. Typically, the manufacturer indicates this information on the label.

It is much easier to iron clothes when wet. Use a spray bottle, just don't overdo it. If you wet it too much, you will have to iron it longer, and the hot temperature with prolonged exposure harms the material.

Before ironing, turn the product inside out and place it on the ironing board. The iron should slide smoothly from the central part to the edges, this way you can avoid the formation of creases in the material.

Atlas

Satin fabric does not require special care. Perhaps dresses made from this material are the easiest to iron and steam.

How to iron a wedding dress made from this fabric:

Satin cannot be ironed at temperatures above 150 degrees. It should be processed exclusively from the reverse side to preserve the shine and unsurpassed appearance of the material.
It is recommended to use cotton cloth for ironing. You cannot apply the iron sole of the iron directly to the fabric unless you want to damage it on purpose. In addition, cotton fabric will protect the satin from glossing.
Do not iron dry satin. Before the procedure, it is well moisturized.

If for some reason there is an iron mark on your outfit, soak a cotton cloth in a vinegar solution and apply it to the problem area. Then steam the area with the iron, but do not iron.

Lace

Lace inserts need to be starched with a weak solution of potato starch. Mix 2 tbsp in a container. l. products and 5 liters of water.

The product is starched with this mixture, then dried a little, after which you can begin ironing. The procedure is carried out only with the tip of the iron, carefully moving it over the fabric.

The lace should be ironed very carefully so as not to create creases or wrinkles at the edges. Watch your movements carefully; the tip of the technique can tear the material.

Ironed and starched fabric looks better than steamed fabric.

How to iron a wedding dress correctly

First, place a white or light terry sheet or other similar fabric on the ironing board;
The dress is turned inside out and laid out on an ironing board;
The material is straightened and covered with gauze or natural fabric on top. Gauze and thin fabric are folded in several layers;
First of all, iron the bodice and corset, and then move on to the sleeves (if any), to the skirt and decorative details;
Sleeves are ironed on a special stand, which is provided by each ironing board. To prevent them from becoming wrinkled after ironing, you can put rolled sheets of white paper in the sleeves;
Voluminous and multi-layered skirts need to be ironed gradually, starting from the bottom layer. In each case, be sure to use gauze;
Each decorative element is ironed and processed separately, taking into account the fabrics. Adjust the iron setting for each type of material;
To iron the product without harming the fabric and accessories, you need to iron it carefully and carefully using smooth movements;
Do not press the sole too hard into the material or linger in one area.

After steaming or ironing, leave the product on soft hangers at room temperature for two hours. Only then put it in the closet. It is important to choose a storage place where the hem does not rest against the bottom, but hangs freely.

The skirt should be straightened, and the outfit itself should hang vertically. In addition, there should be a dark place as wedding fabrics do not like exposure to light and sunlight.

Three ways to smooth out a bride's dress

1 Take it to a dry cleaner or workshop, where professionals will “work” with it, using special equipment, using proven products and materials. This procedure costs from 100 to 500 UAH, depending on the complexity of the implementation. But it's not just about the extra costs! The problem is that after the atelier the dress still needs to be brought back home. By taxi or by your own car, you run the same risk of encountering new wrinkled areas at home. Unless you have a truck in the garage!

2 Invite a specialist to your home - private laundries provide this service, and it is inexpensive (from 300 UAH or more). You can ask the salon where you bought your wedding dress if they can help you - they definitely have the equipment for this and the necessary experience! This is more convenient than in the first case, because the dress will be at home all the time.

3 Prepare your dress for the big day yourself. In principle, there is nothing super complicated about this. Be careful, careful and take your time - you will succeed! Below we will tell you about everything in more detail.

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Preparation

You need to start cleaning your wedding dress as early as possible. If the outfit remains dirty for a long time, you will have to deal with old stains - and this is more difficult and does not always give results.

Exploring the shortcut

The dress must be handled as recommended by the manufacturers. They indicate on the labels the recommended washing and ironing modes. After studying these instructions, you need to stock up on quality detergent, an iron and a steamer.

Visual inspection

A thorough study of the condition of the wedding dress will help determine the scope of work - the need to remove stains (it’s a good idea to remember where they came from) and general washing of the product. If possible, you should remove decorative elements from the outfit that can be removed if they do not need to be washed.

Typically need cleaning:

hem of the dress (if it is long);
bodice from the inside, especially under the arms, where there are traces of sweat and deodorant.

The spots can be randomly located anywhere. It is necessary to remove them before soaking, so that later the dress does not have to be washed.

Where can I order a wedding dress steaming service?

You need to think in advance about how best to steam a wedding dress if for some reason it is not possible to do this at home. In any wedding salon, steaming a wedding dress is not a problem if it was purchased in this salon. If the dress was made elsewhere, then in any city it is easy to find private advertisements or private laundries that provide a similar service at home. The masters use professional steam generators in their work, so your wedding dress will be impeccable.

How to steam?

There are several options for steaming a dress at home: steam, a steamer, and an ordinary iron with wet gauze.

To rid your wedding outfit of bumps using steam, you first need to fill the bathtub with hot water. The dress is placed on hangers and then placed above the water at a height of twenty-five centimeters. After the wrinkles are smoothed out, you need to hang it out for three to four hours so that it dries completely. How long it will take for the outfit to iron out depends on the density of the fabric. This method has some disadvantages:

When steam penetrates the fibers of the fabric, it becomes heavier, absorbing a large amount of moisture. This may cause the dress to fall into the water. Care must be taken to ensure that this does not happen.
If the outfit has an abundance of different rhinestones, it is better not to use this method, as they may come off.
This method is a bad option for dresses made of heavy material, as well as for dresses with fluffy multi-layered skirts.

Steamer

The most effective and simple method that any housewife can use. A vertical steamer is capable of efficiently smoothing even the most fragile element of a dress. Smoothing occurs as follows.

Liquid is poured into a special container located in the device. Then you need to turn on the steamer.
The outfit is placed on hangers to make it easier to iron.
The steaming process begins from the lower tiers. It is necessary to steam first large areas of the product, and then smaller elements.
After completing the process, you should leave the outfit hanging for three to five hours.

Iron and gauze

This method is used if the housewife does not have a steamer. It is quite risky, because if you are not too careful and inattentive, you can ruin the dress. The correct mode is selected on the iron (which depends on what fabric the outfit is made of). It is best to use the minimum temperature so as not to harm your clothes. Before starting the process, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the soleplate of the iron, as it should be as clean as possible. In order for the dress to be smoothed out well and not spoiled, you need to place several layers of gauze fabric and iron it from the inside out.

Two ways to hand wash

How to wash a wedding dress at home if only the long hem is dirty?

You will need to fill a wide basin with warm water, pour in 2 caps of liquid powder or prepare a soap solution.
Hang the dress over a basin and soak the hem in the liquid. Leave to soak for 2 hours and then wipe with a soft sponge and clean the edge with a toothbrush.
Rinse the bottom part of the furniture thoroughly and wait until the water drains. Dry on hangers in a well-ventilated room.

How to wash a fluffy ball gown with rhinestones that cannot be peeled off before washing?

You need to fill the bathtub with water heated to 30°C, pour in the required amount of detergent and carefully immerse the outfit in it. Soak for 1 hour, rub the accumulated dirt with your hands, carefully clean the fabric with rhinestones and release the soapy water. You need to rinse the item at least 3 times, this is the only way to completely remove the powder.

If there is a girl growing up in the house who attends a dance school, she will have a lot of chic outfits in her wardrobe. After the next performance, mothers begin to put their clothes in order and look for a way to wash their lush children’s ball gown.

To wash a lace, airy wedding or ball gown without heavy accessories, you do not need to soak it in water.
Place it on a hanger above the bathtub and wet it with water from the shower. Treat the fabric with a gentle sponge soaked in soapy water and remove stains using the available methods described above.
Rinse off the detergent with the shower hose from top to bottom. Try not to stretch the outfit so that it does not become deformed.

Regardless of which method of washing the dress is chosen, it is prohibited to twist or wring it out.

Removing various stains from a dress

On a wedding dress after the celebration, you can find a wide variety of stains - champagne, juice, grass after a walk, and even prints of someone's shoes on the hem. Don’t worry right away - such stains are quite easy to remove at home, the main thing is to know what products to use.

Common types of stains and ways to get rid of them:

sweat stains can be removed with a concentrated saline solution;
wine stains are removed with hot soapy water;
Traces of grass are removed with a solution of ammonia - first treat the dirt with the product, then go over the fabric again with laundry soap, and then wash the dress.

Do not forget that it is not advisable to use ordinary bleaches. They contain components that can ruin a formal outfit. Also, do not use any products that contain chlorine - white stains may remain on clothes after using them, and colored fabric may become discolored.

Getting rid of various dirt and stains

Before the main cleaning of wedding decorations, you should get rid of local difficult stains. For each of them there is its own proven remedy. Using regular bleaches and stain removers will not lead to results.

Determine what caused the contamination and use the following tips to remove it.

Problem	Her decision
It helps best in the fight against traces of sweat.	Concentrated saline solution and weak soda solution.
Can handle wine stains.	Hot soapy water
To get rid of greasy stains.	Before washing, wipe damaged areas with nail polish remover or sprinkle with starch for 15 minutes.
Grass pollution	They are treated with ammonia and laundry soap.
A makeup stain on the product.	It is sprayed with mineral water and covered with salt until it is completely absorbed into the fabric.

Dirt is removed by first soaking the damaged area, as shown in the video. Then carefully clean off the dirt with a wet soapy sponge.

A foam of laundry soap will help simply remove dust. When using such irreplaceable products, a girl will not be able to find a previously contaminated area. After working with the ingrained “traces of the holiday,” the entire dress begins to be washed. But first check the composition of the fabric.

What to do with other types of stains?

The ink from the pen is treated with a cotton swab sprinkled with hairspray. Flower pollen is removed with an alcohol solution or hydrogen peroxide only if the fabric is not colored. In this case, peroxide can whiten the color.

An unusual folk remedy – bread crumb – will help get rid of soot. Roll a heated piece of white bread into a ball and wipe the damaged areas. Bread absorbs black marks. Then the fabric is soaked and wiped with laundry soap, and then rinsed. If this method does not remove all the soot, use a solution of baking soda, dishwashing detergent, vinegar and water. All components are taken in equal proportions. The resulting solution foams and hisses. Apply the product immediately and leave for 15 minutes. It is the chemical reaction that allows you to finally get rid of the black spot.

Rice. 3 – Bread crumb for removing stains

Where can you steam a dress for a wedding?

You can remove wrinkles by:

wedding salon;
dry cleaning;
studio;
cleaning company;
at home.

Many wedding and evening fashion salons provide a free ironing service for purchased outfits. Sometimes you have to pay an additional 300-1000 rubles for this. It depends on the interior, the characteristics of the material and the time it will take to work.

At the dry cleaner you will have to pay 200-500 rubles. A similar service in a studio costs about the same. Ironing of used clothes, which are planned to be returned after the celebration, is required. Those who are not sure whether to get rid of an item should find out whether a wedding dress can be sold.

Almost everywhere, steamers are used to smooth out uneven surfaces. Despite this, it is advisable for brides to first read reviews about the company that she plans to entrust with the care of such a delicate and important outfit.