BEST OVERALL
A high-quality suit is a big investment. Whether you wear your suit daily or for special occasions, learning to clean it properly will ensure it remains pristine for the longest possible time.
Suits aren’t like your average day-to-day wear. While you might throw a T-shirt in the wash without much thought, special consideration is required when you clean a suit, so you don’t damage the fabric, pull it out of shape, or ruin the color.
Here’s how to keep your suit — and you — looking the very best for years to come.
There are several methods for cleaning a men’s suit and some best practices for keeping it cleaner for longer.
First rule of thumb: Don’t wash your suit every time you wear it — this could lead to undue wear and tear. Instead, a suit brush is the next best thing for regular maintenance but upholding the integrity of the attire.
Made from synthetic or animal hair, suit brushes clean the fabric by removing tiny particles that can build up over time, like dead skin, crumbs, and dust.
To use, hang your suit up and sweep the brush over it in a downward motion. Clean up any fluff or excess particles using a lint roller.
When you’re not wearing your suit, store it correctly to prolong its life and keep it crease-free.
Use a good-quality wooden hanger and avoid wire hangers, which are too flimsy and bend.
Cover your suit with a zippered garment bag as well. These act like a snug sleeping bag for your suit and can protect it from dust, insects, and anything else that might damage the fabric.
Just use cloth bags, not plastic covers. Cloth is breathable, so it will maintain airflow and keep the fabric fresh.
Never wash your suit daily. The less you wash it, the better you can keep the delicate fabric and shape intact.
Trust your eyes and nose. If the suit smells fine and has no visible dirt or stains, it doesn’t need cleaning. In contrast, if your suit smells like an armpit on a hot day or has mud splashed up the back, it’s of course time for a wash.
A gentle hand-wash is the best way to clean a suit at home, particularly if your suit is made of wool.
Use a very gentle detergent, like soap flakes, or find a detergent specifically designed for your suit’s fabric. Submerge it in cold water and gently wash. Do not scrub!
If you’re washing a woolen suit, use ice-cold water to prevent shrinking.
The biggest problem with hand-washing is rinsing out the excess water sufficiently. If you struggle, place your suit in a mesh bag and run it through the gentlest spin cycle on your washing machine.
You can use a machine washing to clean your suit, but ONLY if the care label does not state “dry clean only.”
Turn the suit jacket and pants inside out and place them in a mesh bag. Find the gentlest wash cycle on your machine and select cold water. Use a gentle cleaning agent.
Do not use warm or hot water for your suit.
The best way to dry a suit is to air dry it flat. Don’t hang or fold it, as this can cause wrinkles or the fabric to pull.
Lay the suit on a flat surface, smooth out any wrinkles, and ensure good airflow. Wait until it is fully dry before hanging.
Steamers sanitize a suit between washes. While they won’t fully clean your garments, they do a good job of reducing odors and will completely remove wrinkles and creases.
Hang your suit on a proper wooden hanger, plug in the steamer, and attach the garment nozzle. Set the steamer to the highest setting and lightly run it over the surface. To avoid exposing the fabric to too much steam, keep the steamer moving and don’t linger in one spot.
Even if your suit has visible dirt, it doesn’t necessarily require a full wash. Spot cleaning can be effective.
Add cold water to the dirty area, then use lemon juice or distilled vinegar and a clean towel to gently dab the dirt away until clean.
Test your spot-cleaning method in a hidden area, such as the inside of the suit jacket. This will quickly show you if the fabric can be cleaned this way or if it requires a professional dry cleaning service.
Red wine, oil, ink, and other substances can take a suit from hero to zero. Don’t panic, though. Chances are, you can do something about it.
If you’re in doubt or nervous about cleaning a stained suit, take it to a dry cleaner. They will know what to do.
If you want to clean it yourself, here’s the best method:
Many suits are dry clean only and require professional dry cleaning services.
Choose a provider with good online reviews, or get a recommendation from someone you trust.
Suit dry cleaning can take anywhere from two to seven days. It depends on the suit’s fabric and how busy the dry cleaner is. Some places will offer a guaranteed express service for an increased cost.
Tip:If you’re having your suit cleaned for a specific event, take it in to be cleaned at least a week in advance.
The cost will vary depending on the suit, dry cleaner, and location.
On average, it costs $25–$50 to get a full suit dry cleaned, including the shirt.
You can clean your suit at home by brushing it regularly. Unless it says “dry clean only,” you can also hand-wash or machine wash your suit using ice-cold water and a gentle detergent.
Dry cleaning is the preferred and safest method. However, carefully washing your suit with cold water and gentle detergent can be a good solution if dry cleaning isn’t an option.
You can put suits in the washing machine if the care label says so. Turn the suit inside out and place it in a mesh bag. Use a gentle, cold cycle and gentle detergent.
You can press a suit without dry cleaning it using a steamer. Set the steamer to the hottest setting and run it lightly over the suit fabric. The wrinkles and creases should fall out quickly.
Don’t wash a suit that says “dry clean only.” If you have no choice, hand-washing the suit in ice-cold water and gentle detergent is unlikely to damage it.
At The Groom Club, we help with everything wedding-related, including looking great in your suit. Whether you’re seeking tuxedo rental services, advice on destination wedding attire, or black tie dress codes, we’ve got you covered.
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