Christening Gown Wrinkles - How To Get Them Out Safely
When you first unwrap your christening gown or baptism outfit, you may see something you weren't expecting... wrinkles! Maybe because the gown is brand new and was shipped in a tiny box or maybe it's been stored away in the closet for safekeeping. Either way, you'll need to get it looking beautiful for your baby's christening or dedication. Here are some tips to keep in mind before you proceed:
Take the christening gown to a professional dry cleaner. This may not be the cheapest solution, but they have the skills and equipment to get the results you want. If you absolutely want to do it yourself, you'll have to take some precautions. Before proceeding, make sure your hands are clean and free of any oils, lotion, makeup, perfume which could stain or yellow the garment.
The easiest and safest DIY method is the "steamy bathroom" method. Hang the christening gown in a steamy bathroom for 15-20 minutes and smooth out the wrinkles using a clean, white cloth or towel. You'll be surprised how well this works for most fabrics!
If that doesn't work, you'll need to try the iron. Remember that this isn't your average ironing job. A hot iron could burn and ruin the gown so use the iron slowly and on a cooler setting. First, inspect the gown or outfit all over. Be aware of embroidery, appliques, tiny beads, lace and sequins - all of which can snag or melt under an iron. Turn the garment inside out so that if you mess up, it will not be visible. Use a plain fabric or pillowcase to cover the garment - don't iron directly on the garment. Raw silk can be stretched by an iron leaving your garment out of shape or the wrong length. Work carefully when using an iron.
A steamer really should be the last resort. If you are using a garment steamer, be sure to hold the steamer at least 6 inches away to avoid melting delicate items or creating water stains. Steamers should not be used on raw silk because water stains will appear and yellow the fabric. Water will bead up on many other fabrics with shine, so use the steamer sparingly.
So please remember that in order to safely remove wrinkles from your baby's christening gown or outfit, try bathroom steaming first. If that doesn't work, try a low heat setting on your iron turning the gown inside out and using a pillow case for protecting the delicate fibers. A last resort should be steaming. Always check the garment's label and follow the care instructions. And of course, with all of these methods, be careful not to burn yourself with hot steam or a hot iron!
To make sure you won't have to deal with wrinkles when re-using your baby's gown, visit ChristeningWardrobe.com for preservation bags where we also have baptism outfits for boys and christening gowns for girls and other accessories.