Nail varnish removal from viscose/elastane evening gown - help! Specialist dryclean?

starson79

Hi Everyone

I bought a very expensive dress for a Xmas party (which as it turns out was cancelled anyway!!). It's a plain black dress and I hoped to wear it for years to come... 91% viscose, 9% elastane (aargh!)

I spilt nail polish on it (how flaming cross with myself was I?) I panicked and scratched most of it off apart from a few spots. Where I have attempted to remove the polish, there are dents in the fabric.

I took it to the shop where I bought it and they advised to use nail varnish remover (I tried some on an inconspicuous spot but it has made the fabric shiny). I haven't used anything on the dress yet for fear of making it worse.
For the dents they said to boil the kettle and steam it through - the fabric should re-shape itself to some extent. (Or use an iron over a wet tea-towel on the back of the fabric).

Anyway, I've been given the contact details for Lilliman & Cox, and Jeeves of Belgravia - in London.
I live in west Wales. I'm sure they charge a pretty penny (London prices) for their service - which if they can do a good job, ok I will pay it without too much a grudge.

Has anyone else used a specialist dry cleaners - can anyone recommend somewhere. Do you have any advice or words of sympathy?

Thanks.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

suki1964

You could try a non acetone oil free nail varnish remover. However once again do a patch test and rinse the fabric well when done. If theres no change in the fabric proceed with extreme care. Lots of paper towel under the area being treated and lots of colour fast cloths to keep from spreading the stain

starrystarry

I spilt a whole bottle of nail varnish on my carpet on xmas eve (that went down well with OH) but I've managed to get it all out with a combination of nail varnish remover and hairspray. Tiny bit of nail varnish remover, generous spray of hair spray and agitate it a bit with a wet toothbrush. It sort of foams up and lifts the nail varnish out, then blot it and repeat if you need to. Don't know whether this will work with your fabric, I guess you'd have to try a patch first. Worked a treat on my carpet though, not a trace left.