I have a beautiful white dress that I want to wear for my bday dinner party next weekend. Except that the last time I wore it, some of my lovely self-tanner got on it. That's what I get for trying to cram everything in last minute. Note to self: you CANNOT rush self-tanner.
Anyway, any thoughts on solutions to this problem? If I bleached the dress, do you think the tanner would come out? I haven't washed it yet since I wore it last so I'm not sure if plain old washing will remove the stain or not - I'm thinking not.
If I can't get the stain out, what about dying the dress black with a RIT dye or some such thing? Any ideas/suggestions on this avenue?
I'd really like to salvage this dress since I've only worn it once. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it.
FWIW, the best stain remover that I have ever found is the little bottle of stuff that comes in the Dryel kits. I'd try that. I completely ruined a white swimsuit with self tanner but this stuff lightened it significantly (took it almost all out...and there was a LOT...it's not perfect now, but it's wearable)
It usually washes out for me, although I try to get it early Once the stain has a time to set things are more iffy, sorry. I don't know about dying, but I bet it will come out with a little shout. Good luck!
First off, what kind of fabric is it? Rit works better on some fabrics vs. others. I actually wouldn't suggest dying the dress though.
Next, have you tried washing or taking it to the dry cleaners? I have gotten self tanner on white clothes before and it has always come out in the wash or after the cleaners. If you have and it hasn't come out and it is just one little spot (or even a few) I would suggest the Clorox bleach pen and use it only on those spots. DO NOT, bleach the entire dress. Bleach eats the top layer of the fabrics (hence the stain going away) and it compromises the integrity of the fabric in a major way. You have expressed you love for this dress so I know you want to be able to wear it a bit more. I worked in the University Costume Shop for 3 years in college so I have a lot of experience in getting out tough stains in nice garments.
Here is what I would do: Apply a very liberal amount of the cleaner Zout to the stain(s) and let it sit for at least an hour. Wash the garment in cold water. When the cycle is done check the stain, if it is still there, do the exact same thing until it is out. DO NOT dry the dress until the stain is completely gone even if it is dryable. The heat will set in the stain and it will never come out. This is a pretty fool proof way to get out a stain and I have been successful every time I've tried. The Zout is the key though. HTH!! If you want anymore advice feel free to PM me.
__________________
"Whatever you are, be a good one." --Abraham Lincoln
My mom gave me a Tide stain remover pen that is great. Its not like a prewash thing, you use it any time. Maybe that would work. You could try that before you try washing it.
First off, what kind of fabric is it? Rit works better on some fabrics vs. others. I actually wouldn't suggest dying the dress though.
Next, have you tried washing or taking it to the dry cleaners? I have gotten self tanner on white clothes before and it has always come out in the wash or after the cleaners. If you have and it hasn't come out and it is just one little spot (or even a few) I would suggest the Clorox bleach pen and use it only on those spots. DO NOT, bleach the entire dress. Bleach eats the top layer of the fabrics (hence the stain going away) and it compromises the integrity of the fabric in a major way. You have expressed you love for this dress so I know you want to be able to wear it a bit more. I worked in the University Costume Shop for 3 years in college so I have a lot of experience in getting out tough stains in nice garments.
Here is what I would do: Apply a very liberal amount of the cleaner Zout to the stain(s) and let it sit for at least an hour. Wash the garment in cold water. When the cycle is done check the stain, if it is still there, do the exact same thing until it is out. DO NOT dry the dress until the stain is completely gone even if it is dryable. The heat will set in the stain and it will never come out. This is a pretty fool proof way to get out a stain and I have been successful every time I've tried. The Zout is the key though. HTH!! If you want anymore advice feel free to PM me.
Where can you get Zout?
I'm going to try some of my stain removers I have at home tonight and see how that goes...
I know Rit Dye isn't the best but it's the only thing I've ever used before. Is there a type of cleaners or seamstress that will dye clothing using professional chemicals?
I've never had luck dying things, except to revive faded black clothes, etc. If you've done it before and liked the results, then go for it. I've been able to radically change the color of anything. Even just going from grey to black, I've never taken anything out of a dye bath that didn't look washed out - even when I left it in there twice as long as it said.
__________________
Fashion is art you live your life in. - Devil Wears Prada | formerly ttara123