When a gown is sent for cleaning, it is put through a 12-point inspection process. This process looks at fabric content, embellishments, damage, staining, age, services requested, items received, as well as other factors. The findings if the inspection determine which departments a gown will go to.  It is then cleaned, steamed and placed in a clear dry cleaning bag and shipped.  It will need a light pressing when it arrives. 

Clean only service usually used for the following reasons:

• A family gown that is being worn
• A gown bought off the rack that need freshening
• A gown that will be worn again for a reception (destination wedding) or to retake photos
• A gown that is being resold

A gown sent for cleaning and preservation will be cleaned, pressed or steamed, and then archived into the preservation chest. The preservation chest is an acid neutral, lignin free chest, bust form and tissue. This chest is the perfect PH for long term storage. The window of this chest is Polyester to protect against light damage. Once in the chest the gown is given a 100 year guarantee against yellowing of the fabric. As long as the gown stays in it’s chest and is stored in a climate controlled area the gown has this guarantee. Removing the gown from the box does void said guarantee as we no longer know what it is exposed to.

For garments that will be worn again or do not require long-term storage, we offer a cleaning-only service that includes:

• Full inspection and cleaning.
• Proper museum-quality cleaning processes to restore freshness.
• Packaging in a dry-cleaning bag and shipping in an outer protective box. 

When to Choose Cleaning-Only Service:

• Family heirlooms being worn for special occasions.
• Off-the-rack gowns needing freshening.
• Gowns for destination weddings or photo retakes.
• Gowns intended for resale.

Please Note: Cleaning-only service does not include a preservation guarantee and is not recommended for long-term storage.

Cleaning-only services focus on restoring the garment’s appearance for short-term use, while preservation involves both cleaning and storage in a specialized preservation chest for long-term protection.

The guarantee ensures that garments stored in our preservation chests remain free from yellowing as long as they are kept in the chest and in a climate-controlled area. Removing the garment from the chest voids the guarantee.

The timeframe depends on the service selected and the garment's specific needs:

• Cleaning-Only Service: Typically completed within 2-3 weeks, including inspection, cleaning, and return shipping.
• Preservation Service: Generally takes 6-12 weeks to complete the full process, including cleaning, archival preparation, and packaging in the preservation chest.