Dry Cleaning and Laundry Tips

Your suit is one of the most important and expensive clothing items you’ll ever own. This is especially true if you got it tailored exactly to your proportions. An average bespoke suit can cost around $3000. 

Even if it’s made of the finest materials, however, it’s bound to get creased, dirty, and even smelly after a long day of work or festivities. After all, it’s exposed consistently to dust, food, and your sweat. Here are ways to give your suit the TLC it deserves to make it last longer. 

Store it Properly

One of the ways to ruin a tailored suit is improper storage. You should never fold your jacket and store it in an enclosed space like a drawer. You shouldn’t keep it on a coat rack, either. It should always be hung and aired out. Use a butler stand if you have one. If you don’t, a plastic or wooden hanger with rounded edges should do the trick. Hang it up in a well-ventilated part of your home to let it dry out and go back to its old shape naturally. 

If you plan on storing your suit long-term, you need to protect it from possible mold and critters that may lurk in your home and feed on your shirt’s fabric. After you let it dry completely, keep it in a garment bag and hang it inside your closet. If you want extra protection against moths and silverfish, toss in a few cedar or naphthalene balls in your closet. 

Clean it Thoroughly

Suits, especially well-made ones, are quite resistant to odors and stains. If it doesn’t smell bad, it’s still good to go. Just do some spot cleaning on any soiled parts with a spritz of water and a small towel. Get rid of food and dirt with a natural bristle brush. If your suit smells ripe, it’s time to take it to the dry cleaners. Don’t even try to put it in the washing machine or hand wash it. You’ll risk ruining its shape and color. You don’t want to go overboard on dry cleaning, too. It may wear out the natural fibers of the suit. 

Get Rid of Wrinkles the Right Way

Even if you do let your suit rest for a couple of days, it may still end up with a few wrinkles. However, you don’t want to use an iron to straighten them out. You’ll risk burning your suit’s natural material, leaving it with undesirable marks, or worse: holes. Invest in a garment steamer from a trusted brand. Make sure your jacket is completely clean of any stains before steaming, as the process may set them on the fabric. Use distilled water as well to avoid buildup inside the machine. 

Turn on the steamer and let it warm up. Once it’s ready, slowly steam the jacket up and down, letting out steam every few seconds or so. Concentrate the steamer on the more wrinkled parts of the jacket. These are often found on the elbows and lower back. 

A suit is a staple piece in any man’s wardrobe. As such, it’s important to not only invest in a high-quality, tailored jacket, but it’s also vital to know how to take care of it. Keep your suit properly maintained with these tips, and you’ll be looking and smelling dapper every time you go to work or a regularly-scheduled dinner party.