How to Take Care of Your Suit
Investing in a high-quality suit is an exciting experience, and it’s important to ensure that your suit continues to look nice and maintain its value. So, how do you care for it? How often should you clean your suit? How can you extend its life?
Properly cared-for suits will last longer and look better for the duration of their lives. In this guide, we will go over everything you need to know about taking care of your suit, so you can be as confident caring for it as you are wearing it.
How often to wear your suit
Have you ever heard the rule that you shouldn’t wear the same pair of shoes everyday? Well, the same rule can be applied to suits. After you wear your favorite suit, it needs time to rest, so we suggest wearing it in rotation with other suits.
When you wear a suit all day, it may have picked up dirt and moisture from the humidity in the air. The dust can be removed with a brush, but you want to allow the moisture to leave the suit naturally.
You can do this by hanging it for at least 24 hours, or for especially heavy fabrics, hanging it for 48 hours. Airing it out will help it to get back to its natural drape, and you can feel confident you’re looking your best in a suit that looks its best.
Bonus tip- Consider buying in pairs when possible
When purchasing a suit, it may be worth getting an additional pair of pants. Pants will wear more quickly than jackets, especially in cold weather where there are often snowy roads and salt is used.
This can damage the bottom of your pants, even if they are the right length. Since pants are typically less expensive than jackets, it makes sense to purchase an extra pair for your most-worn suit, such as your navy, black, or grey one.
Dry cleaning
You may be thinking you wash most of your clothes after each wear, so how often should you clean your suit? Dry cleaning is usually considered the go-to method to clean delicate fabric or suits.
However, it can be very harsh on natural fibers, so it’s best to dry clean your suits twice per year, or as a last resort for cleaning. If your suit isn’t stained, there is no need to expose it to chemicals. Instead, use the steps below to ensure you can wear your favorite suits for as long as you like.
What to do after you wear your suit
The most important thing to do after you wear your suit is to hang it on a nice hanger. You should avoid using wire hangers, and instead hang your suits on wooden hangers. This will help your suit to keep its natural shape and allow the fibers to relax after wear. To correctly hang your suit jacket, the hanger should lie across the shoulder seam (hanging naturally as you would wear it).
To clean your suit, use a natural bristle brush, like horse, or boar hair to brush your suit after each wear. This will prevent lint and dust from accumulating and restore the fabric’s natural fibers and radiance.
How to store your suit
After you brush your suit, place it in a breathable garment bag (like the one you receive when ordering from Threadwell) for storage and leave it slightly unzipped.
It is also important to leave room both in the garment bag and in your closet. Packing your suits into your closet will increase the chances that moisture is trapped in your garment, potentially harming the fabric. Spacing them out will also prevent the suits from being squeezed out of shape, as well as help to avoid wrinkles.
Steam away wrinkles
When you see wrinkles on your suit, you may think the best way to remove them is to iron them away or send the suit to the dry cleaners. However, steaming your suit is the best way to freshen it up. Steaming your suit will give it a light clean, disinfect the suit, remove wrinkles, and plump up the fibers, so it is ready for your next wear.
It is also better to steam your suit than iron it, very hot irons can scorch the fabric and flatten your garment over time. If your suit is super wrinkly, or out of shape and you have to iron, be sure to use a tea towel in between the iron and the suit fabric. This will protect your suit and ensure that the fabric lasts as long as possible.
Don’t have a steamer? Hang your suit in a steamy bathroom to remove creasing and freshen it up. When you’re done, make sure to let the suit air out before putting it in your closet, so as not to risk mold.
Spot cleaning
Cleaning your suit after every wear is not necessary, and will degrade the delicate fibers quickly. Traditional fabrics such as wool, mohair, and cashmere are great at taking care of themselves, so you rarely have to worry about fully cleaning them. As we mentioned, steaming and brushing are the best ways to clean and refresh your suit.
However, if you have a mishap, such as a stain, don’t worry, a simple spot clean with a damp cloth, or chemical free baby wipe will help you get rid of the stain. Blot the stain with the damp cloth to break it up, and then dab with a dry cloth to pull the moisture and stain out of the fabric. Never scrub the fibers, because this can damage them. If using a mild detergent, test on a small hidden spot of the suit to ensure you don’t damage the fabric.
Are cedar blocks necessary?
Cedar is a lightly scented wood with pest-repellent properties. Cedar blocks or shavings make an excellent alternative to chemical mothballs, keep your suits safe in storage, and can provide a light scent. Cedar blocks can also absorb any leftover moisture that may be left in your suits when you put them in your closet.
The blocks may lose their scent after some time, so you can occasionally use a few drops of cedar essential oil to renew it. It is recommended to hang the cedar blocks separately from your suit to avoid stains due to the oils in the wood.
Conclusion
Learning how to take care of your custom suits can help you make the most of your wardrobe, and help lengthen their lives. Here are 5 important things you can do to ensure you make the most out of your suits.
Air your suits out after use for 24-48 hours
Avoid dry cleaning, and steam/brush your suits instead
Invest in cedar blocks
Use quality hangers and make space in your closet
Act quickly to spot clean with a damp cloth to avoid any set-in stains
Now that you know how to care for your suit like a pro, you’re ready to invest in a custom garment of your own. Contact us to make an appointment with one of our custom clothiers to get started creating your perfect custom suit.