Has anyone any idea how I could freshen a dress without washing it? We were at a wedding last weekend where my daughter wore a new dress. We have another wedding this weekend where she will be wearing the same dress. I thought I'd put it in to be dry cleaned but its handwash only and they won't do it. My ironing skills are not famed and I am scared to wash it if I can't then iron it properly. Its not dirty or sweaty so really only needs refreshed a bit I think. I have a tumble dryer so could use that but has anyone any idiot proof methods I could use?

After this wedding I will wash it and iron it but just don't want her not looking her best on the day due to my ironing!

How about frebreeze? Or is that just for furniture etc?

I have a steam machine that I use for cleaning the house and clothes too! :)

Buy some lavender Ironing water, put it in a spray bottle, lightly mist the dress and put in the tumble dryer for a few mins.. the heat will bring out the lavender aroma.. put the dress onto a hanger while still warm from the dryer,

Do a test patch 1st to make sure it does not leave a watermark

Oh now that's a good idea! Scrap my idea - this one is much more lovely. Will keep it in mind for the future if i ever need it!!

Lavender ironing water sounds good.....
I was going with a tumble dryer sheet in the tumble but that sounds nicer  :)

The only problem with lavender ironing water is that it is supposed to be heated as steam to go through your iron, so it could leave greasy marks.  Also if its hand wash only, I shouldnt think it would like going in the heat of a tumble dryer.

If it was mine then I would very gently hand wash it, carefully lay it out flat and get rid of as many of the creases as possible on a large white towel (or one that is so well washed it wont transfer any colour onto the dress) then roll it up to absorb as much of water as possible.  Hang it up on a wide plastic hanger to dry and then steam it whilst it is still slightly damp.

My dry cleaners does just an ironing service if you have washed the item, maybe see if one near you does the same.

Use steam cleaner here.

Hang it on the washing line!

Lightly mist the dress with a water spray and a good breeze will do the rest for you.  Hang it inside out if it's a very sunny day and leave it on the hanger if you think the pegs will mark it - alternatively put a towel on the line first then use cotton wool pads in between the pegs to protect the fabric.

A tip for ironing in future - use a small travel iron.  They are much easier to use on fiddly trim and tiny dresses.  In this instance, a large iron is like using a sledgehammer when a toffee hammer will do ! :)

Avon do a linen and room spray in various different fragrances which do not stain clothes, as others have said just spray and hang on washing line!

Thanks everyone - will try to find spray tomorrow and weather permitting will hang outside. Its one of those funny fabrics that will crinkle when its washed and I hate ironing them as they never go quite right.

One thing I have done is sray frebreze on my cloths where i thougt they needed it. I only done this because i was i a hurry and did not have the time to wash and dry. It worked really well to remove the smell of smoke.

There are cleaners like Febreze you can use. Sometimes, I rub scented lotion on my clothes too. -_-

Febreeze!

they have dry cleaning kits at the store doesn't cost much you put your clothes in a bag w/ some type of sheet included in the kit and throw it in the dryer not only does it re-freshen your clothes it actually cleans them w/out getting them wet or using your washer

My preferred method is putting the item in the dryer with a dryer sheet or two for a few minutes...works like a charm! If you're in a real hurry though Febreze is okay too.

Febreeze!

I either spritz with water and throw in the dryer with a dryer sheet....Or spray with a febreeze type product and hang outside...gotta be careful tho with some of the clothing ...check the label cuz both the dryer sheet and the fabric refresher can leave spots.

Have them dry cleaned

Mix a little liquid fabric softner with some water in a spray bottle and spray your cloths while they are hanging on a hanger..make sure they are dry before hanging them in the closet....
I use this mixture alot..before I leave the house...Sometimes the fabric softner sceant has not stayed in long and I jsut like to refreash.....Good Luck
YOu can also use this spray mixture around the house the same way you would febreez. It`s really a homemade febreez recipe

Febreeze, or put them in the dryer with a bounce sheet.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser---a life saver in a spray bottle. put the clothing on a hanger, spray on the Downey Wrinkle Releaser, smooths out the wrinkles and smells clean too. dries as fast as febreeze or other fabric freshners. i use it a lot to avoid the iron, and i recommend it highly!!!! sometimes you can find free samples of it being given away on freebie web sites. it doesn't cost anymore than FEBREEZE of similar freshners, but you can totally avoid the dryer and the ironing. don't get me wrong, i love FEBREEZE to i use it around the house and my car. etc... i think you will like the DOWNEY. Oh yeah, pack it in your bag when you go on trips, this is a great companion to travel with and weighs a lot less than carrying an iron.

Either put in the dryer for about 15 minutes or hang on a line outside & spray lightly with water.

use drying sheets and put the clothes in the dryer on low.

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They sell dry cleaning sheets that you use in the tumble dryer I think on a low setting so most fabrics should be ok. Failing that I normally shove things in the sink in cold water and use a handwash fabric detergent. I find most things if you wash them gently don't look too bad after that. It depemds how brave you feel :-D

Do you have a neighbour or relative who is good at ironing? There used to be such things as 'ironing ladies' when I was young, my Dad used to get our clothes done by a nice lady before he re-married (not very modern :s), that would be a good solution.

Be careful with spraying anything silk, as silks, especially very fine ones, can water mark terribly easily.  Find a hard to see place ( the underside of the hem is ideal, as you get the face of the fabric but it shoudl be invisible when worn and do a  tiny patch test.  If it is going to be affected with water spotting and you really can't iron it well then you coudl try haging in a steamy bathroom to help any wrinkles fall out, and then hang (on a hanger, not pegged) on the washing line for a while to give freshen it up some more.  Good luck.

If it isn't dirty or smelly (and not easily washed) I would just hang it up out in the fresh air and give it a gentle iron (inside out) if required. I wrecked a lovely expensive suit once having it dry cleaned (I'd dropped something down it) and then the cleaners wrecked it for me! I second the advice about water marks and silk too!!

Its not silk so no worries there! It doesn't wrinkle either - daughter brought it home in suitcase and it didn't need anything at all done to it which is why I don't want to wash it and iron it! Have had it on hanger all day and it seems ok .

Personally I would stick to the fresh air route - if you use anything smelly then it will clash if she wants to put a bit of perfume on. 

I don't think I would do anything at all, maybe hang it in a steamy bathroom or turn inside out and put on a hanger outside but if it doesn't need a wash or a dry clean don't do it!  I always think once something has been washed or cleaned the newness disappears !

> It doesn't wrinkle either - daughter brought it home in suitcase and it didn't need anything at all done to it

I had a skirt do this.  I bought it from a popular supermarket (back to those dredded abr's).  Whatever antiwrinkle they put on it lasted over a year with continual washing.  Never ironed it for over a year.

I've used the dry clean tumble sheets to clean things with success.  Otherwise in a steamy bathroom and on the line.

Well I hung it on the line and she wore it last Saturday and it looked great - she is back in London now and took it with her so its no longer my problem :-D :-D

thanks for all the tips
M x