How to Wash Formal Dresses by Fabric: Satin, Sequin, and Velvet

You had an amazing time wearing that fabulous satin or sequin dress and you want to make sure it stays looking fresh and new just in case you want to wear it again. The best way to keep that “new store look” is to properly wash and store it after every wear. 

 

Delicate fabrics like satin, sequin, and velvet have different ways to wash and dry them— but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We share step-by-step instructions on how to safely care for these fabrics, plus helpful tips on how to store them for your next formal event. 

Care Tip: With any garment, it’s always best to check out the care instructions and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, especially when it’s dry clean only.

How To Wash a Satin Dress

The trick to ensure your satin styles maintain their luxurious shine, is to wash it right after wearing them. For most satin fabrics, you can wash it by hand or machine wash, however hand washing in cold water is the safest method to treat this delicate fabric.

Handwashing Satin

• Start with a clean sink or container to hold the water. 
• Fill the sink or container with enough cold water to submerge the garment.
• Add a mild detergent to the water (follow the instructions for the appropriate amount of detergent).
• Add your garment, making sure it’s completely covered by the water. 
• Let it soak for up to 30 minutes, and drain the water.
• Rinse the garment with fresh cold water.

Care Tip: The best way to treat stains on satin is to spot clean as soon as possible and before the full garment wash. Using an enzyme-based cleaner can help break down stains naturally. There are several brands that use natural ingredients to remove stains— search online for “enzyme detergents” to find the one that’s right for you. Do not use stain removers like bleach, which have harsh chemicals that can permanently damage the fabric.

How To Dry Satin

After rinsing your satin garment, it’s best not to wring out the water, instead gently push the water out to the hem, or you can use a lint-free cloth and apply pressure to it to help absorb the excess liquid. By twisting in a wringing motion, it could create shrinkage and wrinkles. Lay your dress on a drying rack or hang to air dry.

How To Store Satin

It’s best to store your clean satin styles on a hanger and when possible, use the ribbon loops attached to the inside of the garment to prevent the style from falling off the hanger. If you removed the loops, try hanging the garment with a hanger with clips or folded over the lower bar of a triangular hanger. When it’s time to wear the dress again, use a steamer to smooth out any folds or wrinkles.

How to Wash a Velvet Dress

To safely wash velvet to maintain its lush texture, it’s best to pre-treat any stains with a gentle stain remover with a lint-free cloth and then wash the garment by hand. Some velvet fabrics can be washed by machine, but we’ll start with how to hand wash first.

Handwashing Velvet

 

• Fill a clean sink or container with enough cold water to submerge the garment.
• Add a mild detergent to the water (follow the instructions for the appropriate amount of detergent).
• Add your garment, making sure it’s completely covered by the water. 
• Use your hands to gently move the garment around like an agitator.
• Let it soak for up to 30 minutes, and drain the water.
• Rinse the garment with fresh cold water.
• Gently push out the water to the edge of the garment. Do not ring out the water with a velvet garment, you may risk crushing the texture or causing shrinkage.

Machine Washing Velvet

 

• If the care instructions say it’s OK to machine wash, use a mesh garment bag to help protect the fabric from being crushed and from preventing any lint to stick on the fabric. 
• Turn the garment inside out and place it in the mesh bag. 
• Add a mild detergent to the water (follow the instructions for the appropriate amount of detergent).
• Follow washing temperature instructions.

How To Dry Velvet

   

The best way to dry a velvet garment is to lay it flat on a drying rack or hang dry, using the garment loops around the hanger to avoid slipping off. You can also dry the garment in a dryer on the tumble setting with low heat in a mesh garment bag.

 

If Your Velvet Dress Has Wrinkles

Never iron your velvet dress because it should flatten the natural texture or depending on the mix of the fibers, could melt the fabric. The safest way to smooth out wrinkles in a velvet garment is with a steamer.

How To Wash Sequins

Sequin styles add a fun sparkle and shine to our outfits, but when it comes to washing a sequin dress, it’s always best to turn it inside out to prevent damaging the threads or glue that allow for sequins to stay intact. The safest way to wash sequins is to start with spot cleaning (with the garment inside out) and then handwash.

Handwashing Sequins

 

• Turn your garment inside out and zipped or buttoned up.
• Fill a clean sink or container with enough cold water to submerge the garment.
• Add a mild detergent to the water (follow the instructions for the appropriate amount of detergent).
• Add your garment, making sure it’s completely covered by the water. 
• Let it soak for up to 30 minutes, and drain the water.
• Rinse the garment with fresh cold water, until all the soap is washed out.

 Care Tip: No need to use your hands to agitate or to move around the garment once it’s submerged in the water. The pre-spot cleaning should release any stains.

How Dry a Sequin Dress

After rinsing out the soap from the garment, gently push out the water to the edge of the garment. Do not twist or wring out a sequin garment to release the water, you may risk damaging the sequins.

The best way to dry a sequin garment is to air dry on a hanger while inside out.

How to Store a Sequin Dress

The safest way to store your sequin dress to prevent it from snagging other delicate fabrics in your closet is to place it in a cotton garment bag. This storing method can also help protect the sequins from being pulled off by other garments.