Boutique | Bridal | Delivery | Restoration

Bridal Services
Tripp’s Fine Cleaners, South Carolina’s Premiere Wedding Gown Specialist.

Your gown is something you want to hold onto for generations to come. Tripp's Fine Cleaners' bridal gown cleaning/restoration and preservation service was designed with that in mind. Bridal gowns require additional handling and care procedures that differ from that of regular drycleaning. Our cleaners and technicians understand this; they have undergone training through the International Fabricare Institute to learn the various methods best-suited for bridal gowns and similar delicate items. At Tripp's Fine Cleaners, our experience and our commitment to superior quality sets our Bridal Gown Service apart from that of other drycleaners.

Out of town, out of state? No problem!
Can't get to our stores but want us to clean your gown?  No problem! Simply download this form, send it to us, and a Tripp's Fine Cleaners' representative will contact you and take care of all the necessary arrangements. We will even arrange shipping via UPS for you. We have cleaned gowns from all over South Carolina, as well as many from other states. We're proud that our reputation is as impeccable as the gowns we return to our brides, with out-of-state customers as far away as California and Bermuda!

The Tripp’s Fine Cleaners’ Process!
Once we receive your gown, we will carefully inspect the gown. During this process we will mark and identify (if possible) each stain and its location on the gown. Once we have marked and labeled each stain, we will then send the gown to our production facility for cleaning. The cleaning process consists of several processes.

Pre-treatment/Spotting
Once our production department receives your gown, they will then begin the treatment of stains. While no one can guarantee the removal of every stain, you can be confident that we will do everything possible to ensure your gown is returned to you in pristine condition.

Cleaning
We use several methods when cleaning bridal gowns. These methods are drycleaning, wetcleaning, handwashing or spot-cleaning. Our technicians will test the fabric as well as consult the care label to determine which method is best-suited for your gown. In the drycleaning process, your gown is cleaned in our state-of-the-art completely computerized drycleaning machine using virgin solvent, gentle soaps and conditioners, exceptionally gentle agitation, and low heat, low moisture throughout the process. The wetcleaning process is similar except that this process involves water rather than a solvent. Our handwashing process is exactly that: your gown is handwashed using a three-bath system. This is generally used in addition to another process for extremely soiled gowns or for gowns that are too fragile to undergo mechanical agitation. Spot cleaning is generally used for gowns that have become soiled prior to the wedding during photography sessions or alterations. Generally, this process focuses on one exact area of a gown rather than the entire gown.

Restoration
This process is used for older gowns that have yellowed over time, newer gowns that are extremely soiled or gowns which require extra hand-care procedures. This process is similar to the regular bridal gown cleaning process except that it is for gowns that require much greater care and handling. Usually, only antique gowns or gowns that have been stored incorrectly require this process. If our technician determines your gown needs this level of care, you will be contacted.

Post-cleaning Inspection
In this process, we carefully inspect your gown to ensure that the stains have been removed to the fullest extent possible and that any invisible sugar stains have been taken care of. Often stains such as cake icing, white wine and champagne are not visible under normal lighting conditions. To solve this, we use a special UV light that makes these stains visible. After inspection, your gown is held back for further cleaning as needed or moved ahead to our finishing department for finishing.

Finishing
Our finishers will hand-finish your gown, using extreme care to follow the designer's drape and lines for your gown. Once this process is completed, we will either return the gown to your preferred location for pick-up or, if you have chosen to have your gown preserved, we will then begin the preservation process.

Preservation
At Tripp's Fine Cleaners, we use archival quality storage chests for your gown. These chests are 100% acid and lignin free - this is extremely important as acid and lignin will cause yellowing of textile material over time.

Your gown is carefully folded and placed inside the storage chest. Each fold is carefully cushioned by tissue to help prevent creases from developing on the gown. Your gown is then wrapped in ultra-porous acid-free tissue followed by an outer layer of 100% cotton, desized, unbleached, and clean muslin. This outer layer acts as a barrier which prevents 99% of the incoming dust and dirt particles from reaching the delicate fabric of your gown. The liner also acts as a blotter to keep moisture away from your gown, which is especially important here in South Carolina. We do not seal the gown. We want you to be able to view your gown; in fact, we recommend that you open your gown and refold it inside the chest occasionally to prevent creasing.

All-cotton inspection gloves are provided inside your chest for your use when handling the gown in the future. We often get asked if we "seal" the chest. Emphatically, no. We have a few reasons for this; first, as stated earlier, if you do not periodically refold your gown, permanent creases will develop, preventing someone in the future from being able to use your gown. Second, the only way to "seal" a gown is to use plastic, and plastic can increase the chances of a gown yellowing over time, and will certainly cause mold and mildew if it cracks or develops a hole. Third, who wants a sealed box? Wouldn't you prefer to be able to show your children or grandchildren what your gown looks like? They will never know if your gown is inside a sealed box.