Specialty Dry Cleaner for an Old Dress.

[chairmanmeowmom.livejournal.com]

Hello all. I'm looking for a dry cleaner in Somerville or surounding cities that will dry clean an infant's dress that is 42 years old. The dress is fragile and has incredible sentimental value. I'm willing to travel to ensure that the cleaner is top notch.

Thanks everyone! Happy New Year!!

Comments

[ravingwanderer.livejournal.com]

No specific recommendations, but you will probably want someone who does conservation work (of the sort done for museum textiles), and it will probably cost. A museum, or an organization like Historic New England, might be able to point you in the right direction.

(If you do find someone you are happy with, please post.)

[twilighttremolo.livejournal.com]

I agree that a textile conservator may be able to give the dress the best care, however, depending on the condition of the dress, the first step for some textile conservation projects is to send them to a specialty dry cleaner. So, the dry cleaning may be all you need done. If you go the conservation route, I'd recommend asking a lot of questions at the consultation to help you determine what level of cleaning you really want (and want to pay for). I don't personally have any dry cleaners to recommend, but Museum Textile Services (http://www.museumtextiles.com/conservation.html) in Andover does good work if you do want to take it to a conservator, and they do take private clients as well as museums.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

This past October I had a 105-year-old silk garment cleaned at the Ball Square dry cleaner on Broadway (the one attached to the laundromat). It cost $35 but they did a good job on the delicate antique fabric.

[prospecthillsom.livejournal.com]

The designer who made my wedding dress recommends this place in Newton: Holly Cleaners
http://www.hollycleaners.com/

I used them many, many years ago for something delicate and was very happy.