When you do wash, choose between machine washing and dry cleaning. Handwashing isn’t advisable, because if you accidentally give your suit an uneven wash, it could warp your suit’s fit over time. Professional dry cleaning tends to be the best option for keeping the suit in the best possible shape. If you’d really rather hand wash though, go with ice-cold water and a gentle cleaning agent. You obviously do not want to wear a dirty suit, so it’s important to strike a balance between repeat usages and infrequent cleaning.
This means you’ll need to find a dry cleaner. If you wash this garment, it’ll hurt the fabric. Though many suits will have a “dry clean only” label, you can ignore this. If your suit has this tag, see this as a reminder to handle your garment with care. The jury is out on which fabrics definitely can or definitely can’t get spruced in the wash. If you’re unsure, a quick test is the best solution!
Wash your suit by itself in your machine, just to be safe. This will limit friction in the wash.
Put your wool shampoos in the detergent compartment and for soap flakes, place them directly into the main wash compartment.
Resist the urge to put your suit in front of a heat source, like sunlight or a heater. This can easily warp the fabric. Pro tip: lay a towel over a flat surface when you first remove your jacket. Gently lay the suit on top and roll the towel and jacket up together. This will squeeze out some water, cutting down on drying time! [8] X Research source
To test whether your suit can handle a spot clean, first test the suit in a hidden portion of the suit. Blot your suit with a little bit of lemon juice or vinegar, then check the cotton swab. Did the color run? If so, take your suit to the cleaners. When you’re applying lemon juice or vinegar, less is more. Start with just a couple drops and increase the amount slightly as needed.
Anything that stresses your fabric will hurt a suit over time—steaming helps limit this risk. Pro tip: you can get the same effect by steaming with an actual steamer. Or, you can hang your jacket in the bathroom while you take a steamy shower with the door closed.
