I need to clean my daughters Irish Dance costume prior to selling it.Dry cleaners won't touch it as it is heavily embroidered and has diamantes sewn on it.The dress isn't really dirty but just 'grubby' around the cuffs and skirt edge.The dress is made from fairly heavyweight dress velvet,will it be ok to sponge the velvet with just warm water and a gentle detergent or soap solution? I don't want to ruin the nap/pile of the velvet.
I have in the past scrubbed suede boots and brought the pile of the suede back by drying it with a hair dryer and was wondering if perhaps this might work on velvet.
Any advice will be gratfully received.
Viv.

Does the UK sell Dryel? If so you need to get a kit and use it. I do a lot of my own dry cleaning that way, and it really works well. Here is a web site about the product.http://www.dryel.com/usa/index.shtml

To clean velvet, raise the nap and/or remove wrinkles, hold the garmet (pile side down) over steaming water with a little ammonia added. To raise the nap - brush and iron lightly on the wrong side. There are also little pads w/wire needles that you can buy for pressing of velvet (but I wouldn't bother unless you have lots of velvet you'd be pressing).

I would stay away from water - as this will make the velvet shiney and likely have water marks.

Thank you both for the advice.
Angela,we a have a similar product to Dryel over here but unfortunately it isn't suitable to use on velvet.
I'll give the ammonia and steam method a try and let you know how I get on.
Once again thanks.
Viv.