A suit is a serious investment. Like any investment, you have to respect it, understand it and learn how to properly manage and care for it. A suit that’s been cared for properly can outlive the man who bought it, making proper suit care not just a matter of style, but economy as well. Here are a few tips on how to take care of your suit:
- Cleaning Your Suit
Some guys believe that if your suit gets dirty or wrinkled, you need to have it cleaned. It’s absolutely unnecessary. Dry-cleaning should only happen when your suit gets irrecoverably dirty or odor has built up , and some purists have their suits cleaned as little as once a season.
The chemicals involved in dry cleaning can weaken the wool, and if your suit is just a bit wrinkly, and not dirty or smelly, they should simply be pressed rather than dry-cleaned. The suit will come back from the cleaners just as crisp, but without having been subjected to the same chemicals.
Some suit enthusiasts also invest in a trouser press, a machine that gently and automatically presses suit pants. The trouser press is a time tested method of clothing care that’s stood up to fifty years of scrutiny and use.
As for the rest, there’s nothing that says you need a dry cleaner. Small stains can be steamed out with a hand-steamer, or brushed out with a good, stiff suit brush. Also, consistently hang your suit up using wood or plastic hangers with rounded edges with some room between it and the next item in your closet (likely another suit) so it can properly air out in between wears.
2. Brushing Your Suit
Dust, loose hair and dandruff can accumulate in your hair over time. You keep it clean and neat with shampoo, hair oils and brushing. Your suits deserve the same care. Wool is a natural fiber that can hold dust, dirt and lint from the environment which if left untouched, can cause damage to the fabric over time. A brush after each wear along with the occasional application of a lint roller (as needed) will significantly extend its life. Just hang up your jacket and brush downwards (never perpendicular to the fibers) gently and slowly. Start at the shoulders and work your way down.
3. Avoiding Insects
Insects are a real danger, and often times, once you’ve spotted them, it’s too late. Insects like moths lay around one hundred eggs, and once they hatch, the little grubs are going to be hungry. Needless to say this is an impeding death sentence on a suit.
some advocate mothballs as a prevention method but the best thing to do is clean your closet and vacuum the space regularly.
4. Wearing Your Suit
Even when you wear your suits, there are things you can constantly do to keep them from wearing out. Don’t wear the same suit two days in a row, as clothing typically needs at least a day of rest to breathe, just like shoes. Hang them up as soon as you’re done wearing them, and don’t be afraid to lay a napkin across your lap to keep yourself safe from stains at meals, especially meals like stews and soups. These common sense clothing rules can extend the life of a suit by years: clean dirt or stains; avoid moisture and undue stress on the material, especially at the pockets or buttons.
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