There is nothing worse than putting on a white blouse and then immediately spilling coffee or tea or whatever directly down the front. Actually, there is…. spilling or staining your wedding gown! Although traumatic, there are some very simple fixes.

First, take a deep breath and identify the fabric. What is the main component?  There should be a tag in the gown somewhere. Many times it is in the back by the zipper but, it may be on the inside of the skirt.

Considering the wide array of fabric and stain possibilities, it is best to focus on the main culprits; red wine,  lipstick, blood ( yes) and ink.

Red wine is a bugger. It is tasty, is reported to be good for your heart (in moderate quantities) and is nearly impossible to get out of a white gown. Do not let the stain dry. If red wine is spilled on your gown, moisten the area immediately with water. After that, Hydrogen Peroxide is your best bet. Mix with equal parts water in a spray bottle and spray on the area, blotting with a white cloth (dinner napkin) until the color is gone.  This may take a few minutes, be patient. Club soda will also work but, not as well.

Lipstick is one of those things that can easily be transferred from your lips to your fingers to your dress in an instant.  For this you will need a solvent since it is oil-based. K2R or a Tide stick, whatever you prefer. The key is in the technique. NEVER WIPE….. always blot. Dampen the cloth and blot. Dampen and blot until the stain is gone. It won’t take as long as you think.

Why would you have blood on your wedding gown? Perhaps you got a paper cut or stuck your finger on a pin, just a small drop of blood will dry to a brown stain impossible to remove later. Your best bet is ice!  Grab an ice cube, stick the ice cube on the spot and blot, blot, blot!  Blood breaks down in cold water, not hot.

Ink can easily be removed with two things: patience and hairspray. It doesn’t have to be a fancy spritz pump, either. Simple, aerosol hair spray directly onto the ink, leave for a couple of minutes and blot. The ink should disappear almost immediately.

For your wedding day, the most essential things you need to bring in your emergency kit are: 

 -Small container of stain remover (spray, pen, bottle)

-Package of cotton pads

-Hydrogen peroxide

-Aerosol Hair Spray

With those few items you should be able to tackle almost any stain. But, remember – the sooner you attack the stain, the sooner your chances of removing it completely. He who hesitates is lost…

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago