Having a good-quality suit or blazer is a valuable investment in your personal or professional appearance. Suits convey confidence and style in various settings, such as business meetings, formal events, or everyday wear. Suits crafted from delicate materials such as wool, cashmere, or mohair need special attention to preserve their shape, shine, and overall excellence.

Over time, improper care can cause something to become misshapen, lose its color, and wear out prematurely. This may result in spending more on repairs and replacements than necessary. To prevent this expenditure, knowing how to properly care for your suits and blazers is essential.

Preserving the lifespan of your suits requires more than occasional visits to the dry cleaner. Proper clothes maintenance, such as correctly hanging, brushing, and using gentle cleaning techniques, can lengthen their durability.

Learning how to clean a suit, prevent moth damage on a wool blazer, or understand the best way to wash a suit jacket will help maintain your suits' sharpness, fit, and comfort for the long run.

Moreover, various kinds of suits, such as those made of wool, blends, or crochet, need specific cleaning and upkeep methods. Knowing the details of each type of fabric can prevent costly mistakes, such as using the wrong washing technique or excessive dry cleaning. 

This article will advise on caring for suits. These tips will ensure your suits maintain a polished, professional appearance for many years.

Let's dive straight in!

Let Your Suit Breathe

One crucial thing to do after wearing a suit is to let it air out. Wool and other natural materials, frequently found in suit fabrics, possess partial self-cleaning features. The presence of keratin in wool naturally aids in decomposing sweat and dirt. 

Once you have worn your suit, hang it in a well-ventilated space for at least 24 hours to allow it to air out. This easy action eliminates excess moisture and stops the growth of bacteria, which leads to bad odors. 

Proper breathing time of a suit helps it maintain its form. It reduces the need for frequent washing. It's important when considering how to clean a suit without over-relying on professional services.

Brush Your Suit Regularly

Regularly brushing your suit after wearing it removes built-up dust, dirt, and lint from the fabric. Use a gentle suit brush of good quality, preferably with horsehair or boar bristles, to softly brush the suit's surface. Brushing also aids in reviving the suit's original fibers, helping them keep their shine and quality as time passes. This is an important step in decreasing how often you need to dry clean a suit and ensuring it looks new. 

If you're thinking about how to clean a suit jacket effectively, regular brushing can reduce the frequency of more thorough cleaning methods such as dry cleaning.

Less Dry Cleaning is Better

Strong chemicals used in dry cleaning could eventually break down the fibers of suits. The short answer to how often you should dry clean a suit is—not very often. Experts advise against dry washing suits more than twice or thrice a year, depending on how often you wear them. 

Your suit should only be dry cleaned when absolutely necessary, such as in the event of a large spill or stain that is impossible to remove with spot cleaning. Frequent dry cleaning can weaken the fabric's strength and cause it to lose its unique texture and shape. 

The best way to wash a suit jacket is to not wash it frequently. As mentioned, let it air out, give it regular brushings, and only take it to the dry cleaner when necessary. Ensure the jacket and pants are always dry-cleaned together to maintain the same color.

If you're wondering how long does it take to dry clean a suit, it typically takes 24 to 48 hours, depending on the provider. Cleaning up in advance ensures that your suit is ready when needed.

Use Spot Cleaning for Minor Stains

Spot cleaning is useful for treating small stains without using dry cleaning services. Use a fresh, uncolored fabric, gentle soap, or specialized stain remover. Lightly pat the stain, ensuring it doesn’t spread more by rubbing. This technique is especially effective for dealing with food or beverage stains and is successful on fabrics that are lighter in color. 

Spot cleaning is essential for maintaining the look of the suit, particularly for those looking to learn how to wash a suit without proper professional cleaning​.

Steam to Remove Wrinkles

Steaming is a gentler alternative to ironing delicate suit fabrics like wool, preserving the suit's structure while removing wrinkles. Using steam removes wrinkles and freshens the suit, making it a convenient option for wearing. 

Steaming is the solution for those looking for the best way to wash suit jackets without causing harm to the fabric. A clothing steamer or a brief time in a steam-filled bathroom will do the trick. Place the suit in the bathroom during a steamy shower to allow the fabric to unwind.

Rotate Your Suits

If you wear the same suit too often without allowing it to take a break, it may result in a lot of wear and tear on the fabric. 

You should alternate your suits to allow each one at least 24-48 hours to regain its form. This also helps avoid forming long-lasting wrinkles or shine in specific areas such as the elbows or knees. This is particularly crucial for wool suits as they need time to reshape.

To cut the need for repairs or professional pressing, it's important to rotate your suits when cleaning to keep them in good condition.

Use High-Quality Hangers and Breathable Garment Bags

Properly storing your suits is just as crucial as keeping them clean. Always opt for broad-shouldered wooden hangers that help maintain the suit's original form. Plastic and wire hangers can lead to the shoulders losing shape and drooping as time passes. 

Correctly hanging your jacket is essential to maintain its quality and is a key method to prolong the lifespan of your suit. Knowing the proper way to store a suit can help those learning how to prevent washing it.

Using breathable garment bags is the best storage solution for infrequently worn suits. These bags shield the suit from dust, dirt, and moths while allowing airflow. Refrain from using plastic garment bags, as they can trap moisture and result in mildew. 

A suit stays fresh and clean longer with a well-ventilated garment bag, which is crucial in learning how to clean a suit.

Prevent Moth Damage

Moths can cause great damage to wool suits if not dealt with. Prevent moths from damaging your suits by placing cedar blocks or sachets in your closet. Cedar naturally keeps moths away, absorbs extra moisture, and smells nice. 

If you have a pest problem, consider freezing the clothing for a few days to remove any eggs before cleaning it. Vacuuming and brushing can also prevent moths and maintain the cleanliness of your closet.

How to Wash a Crochet Shirt

Crochet fabrics must be treated with care, especially when incorporated into a suit or shirt. In contrast to traditional suit fabrics, it can easily stretch and unravel if not washed properly. 

Hand-washing them in cold water with a gentle detergent is the top method for cleaning crochet shirts. After rinsing, carefully squeeze out the excess water and lay the clothing flat to air dry. 

Refrain from using a dryer since the heat can make the material shrink or distort its form. If you’re unsure, consult the care label for a detailed guide.

Long-Term Storage Tips

When it's time to put away your suits for a long time, make sure to store them correctly. Always clean the suit before storing it to avoid pests being attracted by any remaining dirt. Use garment bags that allow breathability and cedar blocks to maintain the freshness and protection of the suit. 

Make sure there's enough room in the closet for regularly worn suits to hang without getting wrinkled. This helps prevent wrinkles in the suit and ensures it's prepared for the next time it's worn.

Conclusion

Caring for your suits and blazers is important for maintaining their appearance and ensuring they remain in good condition for years. With the right cleaning, brushing, and storage methods, you can preserve the shape, material quality, and appearance of your suits.

Knowing how to clean a suit or wash various fabrics, such as wool, cashmere, or delicate materials, such as crochet, can help reduce damage when caring for a suit. Rotating, steaming, and using high-quality hangers all help prolong the lifespan of your suits. This reduces the necessity for frequent dry cleaning, too.

The tips mentioned are the best way to wash a suit jacket. Your suits will consistently provide both style and comfort whenever you put them on.

If you want to buy top-notch, classic suits, check out H. Stockton's collection. They provide a variety of stylish and durable suits using top-quality materials and excellent skills. Discover it now and fill your closet with items designed to last!