Almost all clothing has some type of embellishment - buttons, zippers, jean studs. But it those that are embellished with sequins, beading, gemstones, metal accents and ribbons that need extra special care.

If the garment has a stain but is otherwise clean, try spot-cleaning first. Using a cotton swab dipped in a mild stain removal product and water can often remove non-oily stains that are between embellishments.

If the stain is oil-based, time for the dry cleaner or home dry cleaning.

Before you launder anything with metal accents, test the metal in an inconspicuous spot to see if the metal will tarnish. Tarnish is not only unsightly, it can bleed onto the fabric and become very difficult to remove. The safest method is to ask a reputable dry cleaner in your area to "foil" the accents so they won't crack or tarnish. Or, ask that the garment be hand-cleaned. Some cleaners will remove the embellishments before cleaning and then reattach them. This is quite expensive so determine first the value of the garment and your attachment to it.

If you decide to launder the garments at home, hand washing is always the best choice over machine washing. If you are going to machine wash, consider putting the garment in a mesh laundry bag before putting it in the machine. Be prepared to check for embellishments that may have fallen off during washing.

To help attached ribbons last longer, brush the ends with clear nail polish so they won't fray.

Then hand wash in cold water to prevent fading and bleeding of colors.

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