Your wedding dress after the wedding: cleaning, storing, selling
When the dress should go to the cleaner’s, what to do (and not do) about stains until then, and how to store it properly.
Why you shouldn’t wait to have it cleaned
After the celebration, the dress often doesn’t look that bad: a grey hem, a grass stain, maybe a splash of red wine. The real problem is the one you can’t see. Champagne, sweet drinks, sweat and deodorant leave invisible residues that oxidise over months and appear as yellow or brown stains – often only when the dress comes out of its box again a year later.
The fresher a stain, the better it can be removed. The first two to four weeks after the wedding are ideal. If you are going on honeymoon, ask your maid of honour or your mother to bring the dress in.
How much does wedding dress cleaning cost?
| Item | Our price |
|---|---|
| Wedding dress | from CHF 90.– |
| Wedding dress with train | from CHF 160.– |
| Veil | from CHF 27.– |
| Cocktail dress / long evening dress | CHF 45.– / from CHF 65.– |
The price depends on the amount of fabric, the train, lace, beads and sequins – and on the stains. We look at the dress together when you drop it off and tell you the price beforehand. More: Wedding dress cleaning in Lucerne.
Stains on the wedding day: what to do – and what not to do
On the day itself, less is more. Many wedding dresses are made of silk, satin, tulle or lace, and home remedies quickly turn a small stain into a large ring.
- Red wine, coffee, sauce: dab carefully with a clean white cloth, don’t rub. No salt, no sparkling water, no white wine on top.
- Make-up and lipstick: don’t wipe – that spreads the grease into the fabric. Leave it and point it out when you bring the dress in.
- Grass and soil on the hem: let it dry, then gently shake out loose dirt.
- Candle wax: don’t scrape it off and don’t iron it – just leave it.
Make a note of where each stain came from and tell us when you drop the dress off. That helps us choose the right treatment.
Storing your wedding dress properly
- Only store it once it has been cleaned. Invisible stains keep developing inside the box.
- No plastic. Plastic covers trap moisture; the fabric can yellow or develop mildew. Better: a cotton garment bag or a box with acid-free tissue paper.
- Store heavy dresses lying flat. On a hanger, the skirt and train pull on the shoulders over the years. Light dresses can hang – by the inner hanging loops on the hanger.
- Dark, dry and at an even temperature. A wardrobe in your living space is better than the attic or the cellar.
- Check it every one to two years and refold it so that no permanent creases form.
Wear it again, alter it, sell it
More and more brides wear their dress a second time – shortened into a cocktail dress for a party or their anniversary, or without the train as an evening dress. A cleaned dress is also much easier to sell. We are happy to discuss what can be altered: Wedding dress alterations in Lucerne and Evening dress alterations & cleaning.
Still before the wedding? Then our timeline will help: Planning a wedding in Lucerne.
Frequently asked questions
Contact →How much does wedding dress cleaning cost in Switzerland?
At Zekos Express in Lucerne, from CHF 90.–, with a train from CHF 160.–. A veil costs from CHF 27.–. The exact price depends on the fabric, embellishments and stains.
When should you have your wedding dress cleaned?
Ideally within the first two to four weeks after the wedding. Invisible stains from champagne, sugar and sweat turn yellow over time and are then harder to remove.
Can I wash my wedding dress myself?
We advise against it. Silk, satin, lace and sewn-on beads cannot cope with a washing machine or home remedies; rings, distortion or loose embellishments easily result.
What is the best way to store a wedding dress?
Cleaned, in a cotton bag or a box with acid-free tissue paper, somewhere dark and dry. No plastic, and store heavy dresses lying flat.
What should I do about red wine on a wedding dress?
Dab it with a clean white cloth, don’t rub, and don’t use home remedies such as salt or sparkling water. Then bring the dress to the cleaner’s as soon as possible and show us the stain.
