Worn for various special occasions and celebrations, Anarkali dresses have proven to be timeless and elegant over and over again. Thanks to the beautifully intricate designs and detailed embroidery over a delicate fabric, this outfit has become a treasured part of any woman’s wardrobe. However, making this graceful dress look as stunning as the day you bought it requires proper maintenance and careful cleaning. This guide shines a light on the best ways to maintain and clean your Anarkali ensuring it looks as good as new even after years of its purchase.
The Fabrics:
Understanding the material and the fabrics used in your Anarkali dress should be your first step to knowing how to maintain it. Made from a variety of materials such as silk, chiffon, georgette, cotton, and velvet, Anarkali dresses also feature intricate embroidery, beadwork, and sequins that require your attention and special care. Throwing them in the washing machine would probably be the worst thing you could do as the harsh motions can damage delicate fabrics as well as the details.
Therefore, it is important that you know the type of material your dress is made of and how to care for the details to clean and maintain your Anarkali dresses appropriately. The easiest way to know the right way to care for your garments is to check the wash label before you begin the cleaning process.
Maintenance Tips:
1. Proper Storage
Carefully storing your Anarkali dresses is essential for the proper maintenance of their shape and quality. To ensure the correct storage of your dress, follow these tips:
- Padded Hangers: To prevent the fabric from stretching or losing its shape, make sure you are using padded or wide-shouldered hangers. Avoid the usage of thin wire hangers at all costs as they can damage the fabric of Anarkali dresses.
- Cover It Up: Ensure you are using a breathable garment bag with a zipper enclosure for your Anarkali dresses. Plastic covers are a huge no-no as they can trap moisture and lead to the growth of mold.
- No Direct Sunlight Exposure: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause fading of colour and also weaken the fabric of your Anarkali dresses. It’s important to store your dress in a cool, dark place.
- Avoid Moth Infestation: Sometimes storing Anarkali dresses for a long time can attract moths or other insects. To avoid this, consider using cedar or naphthalene balls and regularly check on your stored dresses.
2. Handle With Care
Often adorned with delicate yet heavy embellishments, Anarkali dresses can easily be damaged if not handled properly. Here are a few tips on how to carefully handle your dress.
- Prevent Pulling Threads: Be it loose threads, beads, or any other embellishment – avoid pulling at any cost. Instead, you can carefully trim them using a tiny scissor to avert any further damage.
- Jewellery: Sometimes, your necklace might get intertwined with the fabric of your Anarkali, be cautious with trying to detangle this as the sharp edges of your jewellery can snag your delicate fabrics or designs.
- The Ends: For the times when the length of your Anarkali is too long and gets dragged on the floor while you walk, gently lift the lower part of your dress not only to avoid the bottom looking stained.
Cleaning
The delicate fabric and intricate embellishment of Anarkali dresses require special attention while cleaning. To clean your outfit without causing any damage, follow these steps:
1. Hand Washing
Hand washing is probably the safest option to go about washing your Anarkali as you can manually look out for the spots that require your full attention and care.
- The Cleaning Solution: Fill a bucket with cold water and pour in a small amount of mild detergent that specifically is made for delicate fabrics.
- Soaking: Let your anarkali sit and soak in water for about 10-15 minutes and avoid moving it around too much as it might cause damage.
- Rinse: After letting it submerge in water, drain out the soapy water. Then, refill the bucket with clean water and gently rinse your suit until the detergent is all gone.
2. Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning can prove to be your best friend if you want to get your heavily embellished Anarkali dresses cleaned. Here are a few tips to follow before you send your graceful yet sensitive fit into dry cleaning.
- Dry Cleaner With Experience: Always go for a dry cleaner who has enough experience in handling delicate fabrics and inform them beforehand about the care of the material and embellishment on your dress needs.
- Dry cleaning can be a little harsh for a few fabrics so you should always keep in mind that you are not sending your pieces into dry cleaning every month. Restrict it to once or twice a year. Instead, you yourself can steam or brush out your Anarkali and make it feel as good as new.
From small get-togethers to extravagant parties, embroidered Anarkali’s have been a go-to outfit for women to don for several years and for all the right reasons. Being a waist-cinching, flared silhouette that flatters every and any body type, Anarkali is an easy, breezy and chic solution to any event. These garments deserve careful attention and care. By following this guide on maintenance and cleaning tips, you can ensure that your Anarkali remains as good as a new and graceful part of your wardrobe for years to come.
