Removing Grease From Satin Wedding Dress?

For starters, place fabric over a towel on ironing board for some solid support. Use a piece of scotch tape, press down and lift. Repeat with new scotch tape each time so you aren't putting grease back down again. See if that helps. You can run your fingernail across top of tape firmly to get embedded grease. When you've got as much as you think you can, it may be gone. If not, use a clean white washcloth (so you can see stain clearly) or scrap from white tee shirt and dip in white vinegar so cloth is damp, not dripping. Then press down on fabric and lift...repeat if it seems to be helping. You can rub gently also.

I was amazed to see a saleswoman wet a cloth with simple green cleaner and gently rub a black spot off the shoulder of a white satin gown and it easily disappeared. It looked like grease from a car. No shadow stain remained. Water will leave that shadow mark. Good luck.

I don't have any suggestions about the grease but you CAN wash your wedding gown. My mother did mine 26 yrs. ago...and she and I have did my own two daughters wedding gowns as well. Its a myth that only a dry cleaner can do it at a very high price. Ours were all very fancy dresses with beadwork and trains...just use a gentle cycle and turn inside out.

jkwilliamsart

January 11, 20180 found this helpful

As an artist, I would not recommend using blue "dollar store" tissue paper to store any precious fabric or paper item. This paper would not be acid-free! You need to get an acid-free tissue from an art supply store, or from a company that deals in conservation materials for books and garments.

 

Dear Lesley from Essex,
I had the same stain on my gown which my soon-to-be-(as in 1 hr.!) SIL removed with a clean wetted dish cloth & a bit of dishwashing soap (the name of the product was Dawn). The stain came off like magic & I was able to wear an unstained gown to the alter.

Well as some people suggested - dish washing liquid is good because it is mild and wont harm the fabric. My wedding dress is quite a thick satin so ''good old fashion scrubbing' like the olden days seem to get all the grease black marks off. Good workout for the arms.

jkwilliamsart

January 11, 20180 found this helpful

I have a white satin dress that was stained pink in areas by being stored in contact with purple velvet. So far, I have soaked it (all day) in a solution of laundry detergent in water, then I soaked it (all day) two times in a solution of water and Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Gel. It isn't all gone yet, but the stains are much lighter, and there are no water spots on the satin (probably the fabric is a synthetic satin....).

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I'm going to try it again. It was in storage for quite a few years, so the stain is probably "set"a lot worse than if it had been stored for less time with the purple velvet next to it.

 

Jess
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 267 Posts

January 11, 20180 found this helpful

I hate pulling things out of storage with damage. I would try some isopropyl alcohol if you don't get all the pink out with the second washing. That or hydrogen peroxide are my go-to for stains. But check anything on a hidden spot first, especially if you think it is synthetic. I ruined a rayon outfit with nail polish remover once. :)

 

This was SO helpful! Dish soap did take it out,
but yes, it takes a little scrubbing.

Thanks for the tips, I saved my new coat!