How to Fluff a Tulle Dress (and Wash It Without Ruining It)

A tulle dress that has been folded in a box usually comes out flatter than it looked in the photos. Tulle is light, though, and a little steam and air bring most of the volume back. This guide shows how to fluff a tulle dress after it arrives, how to wash it once the party is over, and how to store it so it is ready for the next one.

Why a tulle skirt goes flat

Tulle is a fine net, usually made of nylon or polyester. One layer weighs almost nothing, so a full skirt gets its shape from many layers sitting on top of each other with air in between. Folding presses those layers together and leaves creases, and the skirt looks thin until they separate again.

Most full tulle skirts also have a crinoline, a stiffer layer underneath that holds the shape. Our Diana tutu dresses, like the Diana mint tutu dress, have one. When the crinoline is creased, the tulle above it droops as well, so that is the layer to start with.

How to fluff a tulle dress

1. Take the dress out of the box as soon as it arrives and hang it up. If you have a skirt hanger or clips, hang it upside down from the hem for a few hours so gravity pulls the layers apart.
2. Hold the dress by the waist and give it a few firm shakes. Then run your fingers between the layers, from the waist down, to separate any that are stuck together.
3. Steam it on a low setting with a handheld steamer, keeping the nozzle about a hand's width from the fabric. Reach inside the skirt and steam the crinoline and the inner layers first, then the outer tulle. Keep the steamer moving.
4. No steamer? Hang the dress in the bathroom, close the door and run a hot shower for 10 to 15 minutes. The steam relaxes most creases.
5. Once the steam has done its work, point a hair dryer on the cool setting up under the skirt. Cool air lifts the layers without heating them.

Let the dress hang for an hour after steaming before she puts it on. Damp tulle creases again easily.

What to avoid

• Do not press an iron on tulle. It is usually synthetic and can melt or turn shiny. Steam held at a distance is enough.
• Do not use the hot setting on a hair dryer for the same reason.
• Aim the steam at the tulle, not at sequins, rhinestones or other trims on the bodice.
• Do not squash the dress into a drawer or the bottom of a suitcase. Every fold means another round of steaming.

How to wash a tulle dress

Our dresses can be hand washed gently or machine washed on a delicate cycle. For a dress with a big tulle skirt, hand washing is the gentler choice.

1. Spot clean first. Frosting or juice on the bodice often comes off with a damp cloth and a drop of mild detergent, and you may not need to wash the whole dress.
2. To hand wash, fill a sink or tub with cool water and a little mild detergent. Swish the dress gently and let it soak for a few minutes. Do not scrub or wring the tulle.
3. To machine wash, turn the dress inside out, put it in a mesh laundry bag and use the delicate cycle with cold water.
4. Rinse in cool water until the water runs clear. Lay the dress on a towel and press the water out.
5. Hang it to dry, away from direct sun and heaters. Do not put it in the dryer. When it is dry, fluff it again with the steps above.

How to store a tulle dress between parties

Hang it in a breathable cotton garment bag with some space around it in the closet, so the skirt is not pressed against other clothes. Plastic dry cleaning bags trap moisture, so they are best left off.

If you are keeping the dress as a keepsake, wash it first, then fold it loosely with acid-free tissue paper between the layers and store it in a box in a dry place.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a tutu dress fluffy again?

Hang it upside down for a few hours, shake it out, separate the layers with your fingers and steam the crinoline from the inside. A cool hair dryer aimed up under the skirt finishes the job.

Can you put a tulle dress in the washing machine?

Our dresses can go in the machine on a delicate cycle with cold water, inside out and in a mesh laundry bag. Hand washing is gentler on a full tulle skirt.

Can you iron tulle?

It is better not to. Most tulle is synthetic and can melt under an iron. Use a steamer on a low setting, or the steam from a hot shower.

How do you get wrinkles out of a tulle skirt?

Steam is the easiest way. Keep a handheld steamer moving about a hand's width from the fabric, or hang the dress in a steamy bathroom for 10 to 15 minutes, then let it dry on a hanger.

Looking for a tulle dress for her next party? Browse our baby girl party dresses and birthday dresses.