Dress cleaning for cigarette smell (not preservation)

Please don't spray any consumer odor removing product on a wedding gown. You have no idea what it could do to the fabric. I'd call the manufacturer and ask what they'd suggest you do.

I'm curious as to how you didn't smell the cigarettes when you walked into her house. It's an instantly recognizable odor, and it's something I pick up whenever I enter the home of a smoker...and that's the problem with smell -- it lingers for a long time.

Are you sure she isn't the smoker? Most home based businesses have a separate area they use as a workshop or studio. How she could let him and his cigarettes near a space that is filled with fabric is just stupid. There's no other word for it. That's why I'm wondering if she actually smokes and then handles her work.

That's horrible! I'd ask her to pay for the cleaning too. That smell makes me sick. I couldn't imagine smelling like that on my wedding day.

Ugh! I would be livid!! FH is a smoker but somehow manages to never smell like an ashtray. Thank God cuz that smell makes me sick and I would flip if the most expensive piece of clothing I will ever own smelled like that!!!

She should know better. she needs to pay for it to be cleaned as others have said

She is a semi-retired professional seamstress. I think she only takes clients who she already knows, so I guess they are all okay with the smoke. I don't know how no one has ever complained. I came to find her through a friend, who apparently isn't bothered by it either. She already gave me a very discounted price, and even with the cleaning I'll probably still be saving money compared to other seamstresses. I'm too nice.

FYI, I am having my dress professionally dry cleaned before wedding, cuz it's an off the rack dress. Dry cleaning a wedding gown is not cheap. Mine cost $140.

Why would a seamstress fix dresses in a home that someone smokes in? Is this a friend of yours??

I'd have them pay for it. Wow.

This is mind-blowing to me... how awful.

What material is it? If it's 100% polyester and doesn't have a ton of beading, you can just put it in a garment bag and put in the washing machine (but not the dryer).

My cousin did with hers and had no problems.

OMG!!!! Do NOT try washing it in the washing machine!!!!!

That is seriously disrespectful. She is lucky it didn't discolor the dress!!! Take it to be professionally cleaned and ask her to pay the bill.

I would make the seamstress pay to have your dress professionally cleaned!

Have you tried airing it out? Maybe hang it outside or in a well-ventilated room? I would try that for a week. If that doesn't get rid of the smell, then take it to the dry-cleaners.

I'm a smoker but I never smoke in my home because that smell clings to EVERYTHING (plus I have a dog and I'd never subject her to second hand smoke). I would be LIVID if my dress smelled like cigarettes!

Wedding dresses can take a long time to get cleaned so make sure you ask before letting someone do it. My first job was at a dry cleaner and it was family owned but one if the better ones in the area. My aunt uses a cheap dry cleaner then the one she got me a job at. Sometimes it could take a month or more.

I would question your seamstress and ask her to pay for it as well.

After airing it, you could also hang your dress in a small enclosed room and use essential oil diffuser. (Don't spray anything on the dress). Do this for couple days it should help get rid of the smell without having to pay hundreds for dry cleaning. (Sometimes clothes come back from dry cleaners also have awful chemical smell). Worth a try.