Without seeing the garment it’s hard to know the problem, but there are typically two issues. Many times sequins are sewn onto a garment in a string, with the same thread. Check the sewing with a magnifying glass, under good light, and stitch up any loose areas. If the sequins are glued onto the top, then be very careful about washing or drycleaning. Read the care label or consult your drycleaner for advice.

Considering that all the other clothing was white and washable, you have a pretty good chance of restoring them. You will need to "dye-strip" the pieces. Usually, you can use a Rit product or some similar product that states that it's a dye-stripper. Sometimes white cottons turn a little yellow from the acidity, but that can sometimes be remedied with a little diluted ammonia.

If the garments are valuable, then consult your dry cleaner. They have lots of experience with this dilemma!

These are 55% silk and 45% cotton. He only wore them once. I washed them in Woolite and hung them outside to dry, but the odor remains. What can we do?

It is "curing" during the manufacturing process that causes that problem. It is something you need to be aware of when you begin to shop.

A fact about Silk Knits: If the fabric and mixture is not processed properly—not boiled properly—then the fabric holds sericin (from the silk cocoon, sericulture), and this is what causes the bad odors. Neither dry cleaning nor washing will remove the odor. Apparently only boiling will help, but the garment would be ruined.

The best thing to do is to return the garment to the retailer. They need to know about the problem so they can send them back.

A "spot clean only" label means that you can only clean this item by hand. It is important when wearing that you are particularly careful not to get the dress heavily soiled or spotted. One possible problem with a full service laundry or dry cleaning is that such processing may cause the embellishments to lose their finish.

Spot cleaning (what we refer to as hand cleaning) involves removing each spot or stain one at a time with the proper cleaning agents to assure that no damage is caused to the beaded finish. Then the underarms and lining is wiped down. Finally, the dress is hand pressed.

A dry cleaner that regularly handles high end garments should not have a problem servicing this garment for you. Be sure to point out the label when dropping it off. We are confident in our ability to clean the dress for you if you wish, and would be happy to do it, especially if it is a particularly high end piece or one of your favorites! Margaret's has the experience needed to handle such challenges. If necessary, you may use our CleanByMail service, as we handle these type of items regularly.