subject: Baptism Outfit And Gown Preservation [print this page] Usually a lot of time and effort is put into finding the perfect baptism outfit or gown. Once the ceremony is over you'll want to make sure the outfit is stored and preserved safely. There are basically two ways you can do this. The first is to take the baptism outfit to a dry cleaner and they can clean and seal it for you. The second method is to do it yourself by having the outfit cleaned and then storing it in a preservation bag you can buy yourself. Storing the outfit in the vinyl bag it came in is not recommended for long-term storage. The chemicals in the bag can lead to discoloration of the delicate fabrics over time.
When dry cleaners preserve the baptism outfit, they have two methods. One is to seal it in a cardboard box which doesn't allow you to view the gown. The reason the box is sealed is not to protect the outfit from the air but rather to keep air from reacting with the chemicals in the cardboard box. The main reason outfits can yellow is due to the acids released when moisture reacts with the cardboard. There are acid-free cardboard boxes but even these have small amounts of sulfur which can discolor the fabrics.
The other method dry cleaners use is the museum box method. These have been used for years to protect important photographs and documents. The boxes range from simple acid-free washed boxes to perfectly balanced PH boxes and can be very expensive. These boxes are not sealed and allow you to view the baptism outfit at any time.
The second method is to purchase your own preservation bag that is made of unbleached Muslin. This bag is also not sealed allowing you to view the outfit. There is a wide overlapping closure with buttons (no zippers) and they come with a hanger that is similarly treated. These are more affordable and will protect the baptism outfit from discoloration.
With either method you choose, make sure you follow the cleaning instructions on the baptism outfit. Also do not store the preserved outfits in an attic or basement where temperatures and humidity levels vary greatly.
So please don't forget that once your baby's baptism is over, your special baptism outfits must be properly stored. Either use a dry cleaner which will be more expensive or do it yourself by cleaning the outfit as per care and handling instructions and store in your own preservation bag you can purchase yourself.
