Reasons to Care for Your Suit
Whether it is your first tailored suit or your fourth and fifth, a good suit is not just a piece of clothing, it is an investment that should last you for a long time if cared for properly. Suits are mostly made with delicate fabrics and detailed craftsmanship, which is why maintaining your suit and ensuring it to stay in mint condition, you need to put in the work from day 1.
This ultimate guide to suit care will provide you with everything you need to know about how to care for your suit at home.
1. Hanging and Storing Your Suit
Now that you’ve gotten your suit, it is time to maintain it so that it will look sharp every time you wear them.
Some tailors may have provided you with proper suit hangers, but if it comes without hanger, be sure to invest in a good quality wooden hanger to properly hang your suit and avoid wrinkles and creases. In fact, hanging your suit after use on a sturdy hanger will help to smooth out any wrinkles and maintain the shape of the suit jacket.
Wooden suit hangers are ideal for maintaining the structure of your suit because they are wide enough to support the shoulders of the jacket and have a bar to hang the trousers. If possible, look for hangers that are made of high-quality wood, such as cedar or mahogany, as these materials are strong and can help absorb moisture and odors. Avoid using wire or plastic hangers, as they may not provide enough support for the weight of the suit, which can cause stretching and misshaping of the shoulders. When hanging your suit on the hanger, make sure to button up the jacket and properly align the shoulders on the hanger.
Consider storing your suit in a garment bag to protect it from dust and moths. It’s also a good idea to include a cedar block in your garment bag to keep moths at bay.
Moreover, you should give your suits adequate space to breathe so they can be stored properly. If you cram them in too tightly, they’ll end up looking like a crumpled mess and if they’re squished together, they won’t get enough air circulation which will ruin the fabric. Just be sure not to hang your suit in the bathroom – the steam can actually cause more crease to form and the possibility of mold sticking to your suit.
2. Cleaning and Maintenance of Your Suit
Suit Rotation
You found your own immaculately fitting suit and you probably feel like wearing it all the time. However, constantly wearing them can also have negative consequences. Wearing the same suit every day can lead to wear and tear on the fabric, causing it to lose its shape and develop wrinkles. It can also lead to the formation of odors and stains that are difficult to remove. Hence, it’s important to rotate your wardrobe and give your suits a break in between wears to maintain their quality and appearance. Your suit needs time to recover. After each use, allow your suit to rest for 1 or 2 days before wearing it again.
Brushing
The fine fabric of your suit requires gentle suit maintenance to prolong the life of your suit. Most suits are made of wool fibers and this wool suit has the ability to trap particles from the environment that can cause damage to your suit over time. To gently remove unwanted particles from your clothing, brushing your suit with a genuine boar hair brush is the top choice. The soft bristles are firm enough yet soft that it won’t harm your garments to eliminate lint and dust. This suit brush can surely prolong the suit lifespan and rejuvenate the fabric’s natural shine and fibers. Additionally, you can use a lint roller to roll off any lint sticking on your suit.
Steaming
When it comes to taking care of your suit, it’s crucial to keep in mind that different fabrics of your suit as each has their own different care requirements. Delicate fabrics like wool or silk should not be ironed unless it is explicitly stated as safe. Instead, opt for using a steamer to keep your suit fresh and wrinkle-free between wears. A good steamer can also help in deodorizing and lightly cleaning the suit as regular steaming can easily eliminate odor-causing bacteria.
Washing
These days, we are more careful with whatever we touch. Unfortunately, there are instances where it can become quite excessive. Brushing, hanging, and steaming your suit after every wear is necessary. However, excessively dry cleaning your suits is not recommended.
You may think that having your suits dry cleaned would be an ideal way to clean them. Regrettably, it is not the case. The dry cleaning solution is actually quite harsh for your suits. Dry cleaning uses chemicals that can break down the fabric over time and cause it to lose its shape and color. It can also strip the natural oils from the fibers, making the material feel rough and dry.
Do keep in mind that dry cleaning is necessary for tough stains. However, it is not recommended to dry clean a suit more than twice annually. Overdoing it can actually lead to the deterioration of your suits due to the damaging chemicals used in the process. If your suit does need a full cleaning, consider taking it to a professional cleaner who specializes in caring for suits and other delicate garments. They will use gentle methods that won’t damage the fabric or alter the shape of the suit.
Spot Cleaning
It is crucial to only wash a suit jacket when it is absolutely necessary. You don’t have to rush to the dry cleaner for every small stain or mark. Instead, use a clean, slightly damp cloth and a gentle stain remover or mild detergent for spot treatment. Avoid scrubbing, as this could harm the fabric. Gently dab this mixture at the stain to let it lift and disappear naturally. However, it may be a good idea to test your cleaning solution on a hidden area of the suit to prevent any damage or staining. If you are unsure about the potential spread of the stain or the risk of damaging your suit during spot cleaning, it is probably best to send it to a professional.
3. Traveling with Your Suit
On some special occasions, you may want to wear a suit while traveling. When this occurs, it is important to take the necessary precautions to keep it looking fresh and wrinkle-free. One of the best ways to transport your suit is in a garment bag. This will help protect it from getting crushed or wrinkled in your luggage. Additionally, if you find that your suit has developed some wrinkles during travel, a short steam session can quickly freshen up your suit. This can easily be done in your hotel room by hanging your suit in the bathroom while you take a steamy shower. The steam will help relax the fabric and release any wrinkles that may have formed.