Crystal & Glass Beaded Dresses — Special Care

Crystal & glass Beaded dresses are the hardest to clean.

They are becoming more and more popular and more and more elaborate.

In our core business as a theatrical dry cleaners (we clean 75% of all the shows in London's West End) we know and understand the problems that can arise from trying to clean crystal and glass beaded gowns.

YOU MUST find a dry cleaner who is competent in gowns with these trimmings. There is always a risk in dry cleaning what is essentially lumps of glass. They can break, they can cut threads and they can catch on chiffons, silks and organzas. A dry cleaner competent in glass trimming will have ways of protecting gowns from "self destruct".

Beads, Crystals & dangly bits are becoming more complex as the years go on. Your dry cleaner should have evolved methods of protecting your gown from the effects of open clasps and large shaped crystals.

With the best will in the world they can still "escape" and your dry cleaner may ask you to sign owners risk.

Beads can be lost or threads partially cut through in general wear.

Where we see beads are already missing or loose we will do our best to tie off or sew down loose threads to limit further loss. However, as with thread pulls, weak strands may only be apparent after cleaning and beads may still be lost.

As well as glass beads "pearl" beads can have their own quirks. There are two distinct types that look similar BUT require completely different processes. Use of the wrong solvent can dissolve some beads from the inside leaving a hollow pearlescent shell. Others just dissolve from the outside leaving small pieces of plastic which could mark all areas of the dress.

It is difficult to find out if a dry cleaner knows the methods used to clean beads. However, if you ask what the problems could be during cleaning and their answer is similar to the above then at least you know that they are aware of the dangers. If you are told "no problem" you must ask why. The answer can only be "we clean in green earth" or "we clean in hydrocarbon". Any other answer be very wary of.

Our experience as the World's No. 1 Theatrical Dry Cleaner is based upon seeing thousands of different types of beading used on costumes, many years of practice and not a few complete failures!!

Accessories

Veils — We do not recommend the dry cleaning of veils unless there is a specific mark or stain which needs removing.

Beaded veils should be processed in the same way as beaded dresses.

Hair combs and Alice bands should be removed before cleaning as they are easily broken and can be dissolvable in solvents.

Combs and bands with attached artificial flowers are frequently held together by glues. Dry Cleaning or rinsing with water is not recommended as they may disintegrate.

Shoes — Unfortunately theses should be treated as disposable items. They rarely clean successfully.

"You must find a cleaner who is competent in dry cleaning gowns with glass and crystal trimmings"