How Can Diligent Suit Care and Suit Rotation Extend Suit Lifespan and Maintain a Professional Look?

Suits are a “staple of menswear” and, as so often required or essential for job interviews, weddings, and other formal events and meetings.

With suits, men can dress professionally and appropriately whenever necessary. Also, suits are multi-purpose: you can wear them as a complete set or as separate pieces coordinated with other clothing for non-formal events.

Maintaining your suit is critical to keeping it looking fresh and holding its shape. This article contains tips and tricks for caring for your suit, so it continues to look impeccable for years to come.

Different kinds of Suit Fabric - Wool | Cotton | Linen

Wool

Wool is one of the most popular suit fabrics. Wool is a hard-wearing and flexible fiber. They are warm in winter and breathable in summer, making them suitable for year-round wear.

Hang wool suits on wood or padded hangers to prevent them from losing their shape. Wool suits must be dry cleaned to avoid shrinking or misshaping.

Cotton

Cotton suits are also lightweight and breathable, making them a good choice for warm weather. They are less formal than wool suits and so are appropriate for more informal occasions.

It is also best to gently machine-wash and hang-dry a cotton suit. When it is time to wear your suit, be sure to iron on low heat so that the fabric does not get damaged.

Linen

Linen suits are ideal for summer events or hot weather. They are very light and breathable, keeping you cool even in the hottest conditions.

Linen suits appear relaxed and more casual, and are suitable for beach weddings and outdoor parties. Linen wrinkles, so when a suit is not in use, hang it on a suit hanger and store it in a breathable garment bag.

Cleaning Your Suit

Brushing Your Suit

You should brush your suit with a clothes brush. Frequent brushing helps eliminate dust, dirt, and debris that settle into the fabric before they become ground in and damage it.

Allowing dirt and debris to accumulate on the fabric can cause fibers to deteriorate over time, leading to premature wear and tear. Regular cleaning of these particles helps preserve the quality and longevity of your suit. Brushing also helps return the form and maintain the crisp, neat appearance of the suit.

Lint rollers are another viable option for picking up lint, hair, and other debris from clothing. These have sheets of adhesive that pick up and pull off the particles when rolled over the fabric. A lint roller isn't as good for heavy lint removal or brushing fibers out of cloth, but it can do an adequate job for periodic touch-ups.

Occasionally, Wash and Dry-Clean Your Suit

The primary care for your suit is to clean it properly. This fact also means that you should be careful when washing and dry cleaning your suit. Suits are usually made of delicate and expensive fabrics, wools, and silks; too much cleaning may severely ruin your suit.

Dry cleaning uses chemicals that remove natural oils from the fabric, which can cause fading and/or shrinkage. For this reason, it is advisable only to clean your suit when needed. Smaller stains may be spot-cleaned with mild detergent and a clean cloth. When your suit does need professional cleaning, find a dry cleaner you can trust with suits. Let them know if some stains/parts would require more work.

Extending The Life of Your Suit

Suit hanging

Properly storing a suit is the first stage of suit care. Always use a broad-shouldered, well-shaped wooden hanger because it mimics your shoulder shape, reducing the likelihood of creasing and wrinkling.

Avoid using wire hangers, as they will stretch or alter the shape of the suit fabric; instead, purchase a high-quality hanger made of wood or rigid plastic. Also, avoid overstuffing your closet to allow your suit to breathe. This strategy is the key to preventing moisture accumulation and musty odors, and to ensuring the suit can breathe and recover its freshness.

Invest in a good-quality steam iron.

A crisp, clean suit makes you feel good and, more importantly, confident. A person can achieve the outcome by getting the right tool. Finally, we do suggest investing in a good steam iron as it will significantly improve the look of your clothing.

Its ability to smooth out the texture of your outfits is incredible; you are left with a beautiful, crisp, wrinkle-free suit. With a steam iron, hot steam penetrates the fabric to eliminate even the most stubborn wrinkles, unlike a regular iron.

This means no repeatedly ironing and adjusting, you can have a suit pressed in no time. Investing in a steam iron with vertical steaming capability will let you steam your suit while it's hanging. This function is especially convenient for suits made out of delicate fabrics or with complex designs that may be cumbersome to iron on a flat surface.

Rotating Your Suits

It is best to rotate your suits so that they last longer and look fresh. Wearing the same suit each day puts significant stress on the fabric, causing it to wear through.

By alternating your suits, you allow each one to rest and recover from wear. It will enable the suit to wear better and help to avoid wrinkles and creases from "setting in". Give your suits a day or two between wears to let them breathe and recover their shape.

Traveling with Your Suit

Garment bag

A suit must be handled with a bit more care while traveling to keep it looking new. To guard your suit against wrinkles and stains in transit, start with a proper garment bag made for suiting. Ensure your suit is clean, steamed, and ready to pack.

Additional dirt or stains tend to "set" if not removed during your travels. Fold the suit as it drapes naturally. Don't overpack your suitcase, or your suit will be under pressure. When you reach your destination, immediately unpack your suit and hang it up. This step will help "iron out any wrinkles".