Clothes like everything are prone to damage. When you wash often, they lose their lustre by fading. When worn every time, they wear and tear easily. Suits are not any different. Since it is a fashion staple for the fashionable man, suits need utmost care. Even if the suit is of the best quality, it needs proper maintenance so that it can continuously serve its purpose. Here is how to take care of your suit and make it last:
1.Brush it down after use
Even if you are just sitting in an office all day, your suit collects dirt and dust. If you don’t do anything about it, that grime will settle into the fibres of your suit, and the fabric will pill and lose its integrity over time. A suit brush with soft bristles made with natural animal hair would be advisable to use.
2. Spot clean with a damp cloth
No matter how careful you are, stains are inevitable. When you spill food or wine on your suit, spring into action with a spot clean. Gently dab the spot with a damp cloth or unscented baby wipes. If you can’t shift the stain after a few tries, hand it over to the professionals.
3. Dry clean your suit sparingly
Your suit is thrown into a huge washing drum at high heat and pumped with chemicals. After that (harrowing) experience, it’s air-dried and patted down with a pressing machine or heavy iron, which can damage the canvas. As you can imagine, all of this does more harm than good. There are only so many dry cleaning sessions your suit can stand before it falls apart. Only dry clean your suit once or twice a year, before you retire it for the season.
4. Hang your suit on wooden hangs
Have you ever thought about why we use wooden shoe hangers? The wood helps to absorb any moisture that built up in the canvas and lining of your suit. Moisture can wear down the delicate fibres of your suit, which is one reason to ditch the wire hangers you get from the dry cleaners! Wire hangers can damage your suit. A wide, wooden hanger with round edges will support the shoulder pads, smooth out any wrinkles, and help your suit to retain its shape.
5. Let your suit breathe
Store your suit in a breathable cupboard – not one that’s so packed you can barely squeeze it in. For extra protection, pop it in a lightweight cloth garment bag. It will keep your suit clean and dust-free, and stop moths from doing their dirty work. Plastic and canvas trap moisture and gases, while cloth bags promote airflow and allow any creases to fall out naturally. Wool flannel is a breathable fabric, but these simple tricks will cut down on your trips to the dry cleaners.
6. Steam your suit
Put down the iron, gentlemen. Suits look best when pressed, but the heat of the iron can scorch the fibres of your suit. A handheld steamer works just as well. It’ll relax any wrinkles and freshen up the odour without burning the fibres. You can also steam the shoulders and chest of your suit, and it won’t change their shape.
7. Pack your suits smartly
If you’re a carry-on guy and a garment bag is out of the question, don’t stress. To protect your suit en route, we swear by this strategy. Flip the jacket inside out, and press the shoulders together, making sure the seams and lapels line up. Then, loosely roll from the bottom up. Doing so will minimise wrinkles and prevent any dust that may be in your luggage from sticking to your suit. When you arrive at your destination, hang up the suit and do the shower steam.
8. Rotate your suits
Your suit will last longer if you don’t wear it every day. Wear each suit twice a week (max), and then give the fibres time to rest and relax. Just like your muscles after a tough workout, your suit needs a little R&R. The rule of thumb is: 24 hours for lighter suits, and 48 hours for heavier suits. Before stashing your suit in the wardrobe, follow the tips above: brush it, dab it, hang it, and bag it.