A GUIDE TO PROPER SUIT CARE AND DRY CLEANING
Suit fabrics are usually made from components such as T/R (synthetic fibers), linen, wool, silk or various other fibers, but mostly natural and expensive ones. For that reason, these garments must not be machine-washed, which would damage them.
For a light stain, you can use a toothbrush and wash gently by hand.
Otherwise, use a dry-cleaning service at a reputable cleaner near where you live, or at one of Mon Amie's locations.
What is the right way to wash a suit?
- Limit how often you wash a suit jacket in water. For small stains, blot dry or dry-clean, and steam-press when necessary.
- Hand-wash only, rubbing gently. A man's suit jacket must be hand-washed the right way so that it does not fade or lose its shape.
- Never wash a suit jacket in a washing machine, as it will very likely crumple it and ruin its shape: the spinning drum crumples the jacket and damages the structure inside that holds its shape (canvas, interfacing, shoulder pad foam...), which spoils the silhouette.
Never machine-wash a suit jacket
- When scrubbing stains, choose a soft-bristled brush rather than a stiff one, because stiff bristles scratch the fabric, cause pilling and fade the color of the suit, making it fade sooner.
- Do not wash or soak a suit in water hotter than 70°C. This will shrink the inner layers of the jacket and make the suit wrinkle.
- Do not wring (twist) a suit forcefully while washing and drying it.
- Do not press an ordinary iron “directly” onto the fabric surface of a suit, as it will make the fabric shiny (scorch it).
Cleaning a suit or fine dress trousers before washing
Suits are like any other clothes. Stubborn stains cling to the sleeves of the jacket and the legs of the trousers. To avoid having to machine-wash at top speed just to remove those stains, give the garment a light clean before washing. Washing by machine means your suit is already close to serious damage.Remove dust and debris caught in the crevices by using a lint roller or a soft brush to clean them. This is an excellent way to extend the life of a suit jacket. For fine suits made from high-quality wool or cotton in particular, it is a natural and ideal way to protect the natural fibers fully.
Professional steam cleaning (hiring a laundry service)
With this method, whenever your suit gets dirty, you can take it to a laundry that steam-presses garments. Because this technique does not apply much force, the jacket keeps its shape, durable and handsome. Note: choose a reputable laundry service.5 steps for washing by hand
Washing anything calls for a few basic steps to do it properly. The same goes for a suit. Here is a step-by-step guide:- Step 1: Mix a moderate amount of soap with water in a large basin. Take care to add only enough, not too much: soap with strong cleaning power will quickly fade your suit.
Cleaning before washing
- Step 2: Soak the dirty suit in the basin of soapy water for about 10–15 minutes.
- Step 3: Use a “really soft” bristle brush, a piece of cloth, a washcloth, or even the sleeve itself, to rub gently over the dirty areas (usually the collar and cuffs) until clean.
- Step 4: Rinse with water until the soap suds are gone. Take care to hold only the waistband (for trousers) or the collar (for a jacket) and lift it up and down. Do this 3 to 4 times until the rinse water runs clear.
- Step 5: Leave the water in the garment, hang it on a hanger and let it dry naturally. Take care not to wring it. Once the garment is dry, it must be pressed with a steam iron, with a thin layer of cloth on top, never directly on the fabric surface. Use an ironing board.
Do not stuff too many things into your suit
Do you often cram a thick wallet into the back pocket of your trousers? Do you often put all sorts of accessories, such as a handkerchief or a watch, into your jacket pockets? If so, stop right away. Your suit is “crying out” and you don't even know it. Why? Because as soon as things are put in the pockets, the pocket edges bulge and look unsightly, and over the long run it can also make the suit lose its shape.Do not wash in water hotter than 70°C
Limit dry cleaning
Is dry cleaning the first thing that comes to mind whenever you take a suit to the laundry? That is fine, as it is a common way of thinking. However, this choice may shorten the life of your suit.Our advice is to dry-clean only when hard-to-clean stains appear on your suit in conspicuous places. Instead of dry cleaning, to clean ordinary dust from the jacket you can lay a damp towel on the surface of the jacket and run an iron over it. The dust will rise with the steam and cling to the towel, and your suit will always stay clean.
How to dry and wear a suit properly
- Do not dry it in strong sun or very high temperatures, as this will fade the suit
- Do not wring the jacket when drying it
- Let the jacket dry naturally
- Steam-press the jacket once it has dried
- When sitting, take care not to let the hem of the jacket fold, to avoid wrinkling
- Unbutton the jacket when sitting, for your comfort
- Button the jacket when standing, which shows courtesy, style and elegance
- Do not put too many items or heavy objects in the jacket pockets
- Hang the suit jacket on a wide, purpose-made hanger to avoid wrinkling and losing its shape.
Conclusion
In this article, Mon Amie has pointed out small care tips that help your suit look sharper after wearing. We hope the article is useful to you. Choose a reputable dry cleaner, or one of Mon Amie's locations.