Caring for a wool suit requires a few precautions to preserve the quality of the fabric and ensure its longevity. You often ask how to care for your tailored clothes, so we wanted to devote today's article to this issue. This is important because too often customers admit to over-washing their suits, which results in the destruction of the wool fibers. We hope that the following text will help you take better care of your wardrobe.
A tailored suit is an investment and should be approached with great sensitivity - you want to use it for as long as possible. Because how a suit behaves over time depends primarily on who wears it and how. Let's remember that in today's clothing, worsted wool for year-round suits is relatively light and thin because that's also what customers prefer nowadays. It doesn't have much in common with the thick and resistant wool of our grandparents who used suits every day, including physical work in a factory, for example. Therefore, remember that you should not overload your suits and if you have to wear them every day, it is good to have 4 or 5 pieces in your wardrobe to wear alternately.
In the same way, it is important to make sure that the suit is properly fitted to your figure. Clothing that is too tight not only causes discomfort but also a lot of stress on the wool fibers, which can lead to the fabric tearing. The crotch and elbow areas are particularly vulnerable due to the high friction of the fabric. Wool, despite its natural elasticity, does not stretch like the material with added elastane commonly used in today's ready-to-wear collections. That is why we always point out to our customers that wool trousers must have more slack so as not to damage the fabric. Following this line of thought, for people with a strong figure or for men who want to commute to work by bike, we recommend ordering a suit with an extra pair of pants to extend its life.
Caring for a wool suit requires delicacy, as wool is a natural fiber that can be damaged with improper wash. Thus, make sure that you address professionals who know how to clean and maintain the natural fabrics as well as the jacket’s construction during washing. It should be remembered that the jacket has a structure inside that can be damaged if the temperature is too high or the use of chemicals is not appropriate. Wool should not be washed frequently, as this can alter its texture and hold. It is best to limit dry cleaning to when it is really necessary (about once or twice a year). And here comes the most common sin of many of our clients who take their suits to the cleaners every 2-3 months. This is absolutely unnecessary because there are home methods, which will be discussed later, sufficient to clean a suit. Washing too often weakens the wool fibres and after a short time the material will lose its original appearance, the surface may look washed out and tired, and as a result, it is more prone to abrasion.
Here are some tips for cleaning and maintenance at home:
- Brushing after each wear: Use a natural bristle clothing brush to remove dust and particles.
- Localized stain removal: For small stains, gently dab with a damp cloth and a little mild soap, then allow to air dry.
- Ventilation: Hang the jacket on a wide hanger and let it breathe after each use. Avoid humid places and sun exposition.
- Steam: Run a steamer a few inches from the fabric to help remove odors. The steam will also work as a great disinfectant. Moreover, it will also help the fibers and allow them to return to their natural shape after wearing.
- Iron with care: If necessary, use an iron at a low temperature with a damp cloth between the iron and the fabric to avoid shining the wool.
Of course, suits in very light tones like beige will need to be washed more often than dark ones. All within the limits of common sense, to save the wool from unnecessary manipulation.
Last but not least, keep your suits neatly hung on hangers designed for this purpose, away from sunlight, which can fade the fabric. Hangers should be wide to maintain the natural shape of the shoulders. You can choose wooden or plastic ones. Only use a cover when traveling and choose ones made of a material, preferably natural, that allows air circulation. Also, don't forget to use a moth repellent, such as a small bag with natural ingredients such as dried orange, cloves, or dried lavender, which these insects do not like.
Hopefully this article will be useful and will help you store your suits in a more appropriate way. The better you take care of them, the longer they will last.