Weddingbee boards

I would like to start off saying how amazed I am with the resources that I've found on the internet--especially this message board! I decided to take a gamble and clean a wedding dress that I bought 2nd hand off Craigslist for $125 for my upcoming wedding in May 2012. Money is definitely tight so I am looking for ways to cut costs any way I can.

All I did was used some Tide (the one without the dye and frangrance); an old white baby's t-shirt and the bathtub.

I took me about an hour to clean the whole thing. I soaked the dress (100% polyester with some beading throughout the dress) in a tub of cold water with some of the tide (about 1/3 of a cup) for about 10-15 minutes then "I went to town" scrubbing the dress. As dirty as it was, the dirt came off relatively easy. If you soak it just a little longer, it will probably be that much easier to clean. 

@j_me33:

I had actually took the photos a little too late to show exactly how filthy the bottom of the dress was, but never the less, I am so proud and happy that I was able to do it myself and save a bundle just by using a little "elbow grease". 

I am one happy bride to be.

Thanks Wedding Bee!!!

Wow, that's impressive!  You are one brave bride-to-be!  I am considering getting a used dress also, and the previous owner tells me there is a lipstick stain on the front which is scaring me a little.  Did you have anything like that to remove? 

@dianaloma: Wow, that's impressive!  You are one brave bride-to-be!  I am considering getting a used dress also, and the previous owner tells me there is a lipstick stain on the front which is scaring me a little.  Did you have anything like that to remove?

It seemed to only be dirt at the bottom of the dress, so Tide free did the trick. I read somewhere that you can treat other stains like that with Shout or even carpet cleaner. 

I am so glad I bought my dress used, it was not worth it to me to buy it for $400 and still have to pay to get it cleaned for $85 through my local wedding boutique.

The dress is in perfect condition just a little dirt on the bottom and on the bodice, it has some perspiration stain that will come out with the Tide too. The bride seemed to be a very careful girl. LOL. 

Hope this helps!!!

@Showers: I was concerned about the detail too Showers, but I did not even have to bother the detailing because the dirt was at the bottom around the hem and train. It was all done by hand and not with a scrub brush or anything that was abrasive. I basically used my hands to do it all. 

It took me about an hour altogether but it is perfect and sparkling clean. 

Trust me, I was a nervous wreck about it but it all worked out. I only really did it because it was polyester which you have to be very careful about doing this yourself if it is any other type of material such as silk. 

@Showers: I know, right!