Following the Dutch answer to Keith Lemon and Dame Edna thrusting a choux bun in my face, which proceeded to drip onto my suit, I now have to take my suit to the dry cleaners to get the deep-set chocolate and cream stains out.
Yet, I am not an advocate of dry cleaners at all. They are expensive and unnecessary in most cases. I take my suits there once a year for a proper dry clean as taking them too often (as most people do) can cause the thread and material to wear quicker than if properly cared for.
Most dry cleaning of sweaters, cashmere and other ‘dry clean only’ garments can be done at home with the proper know-how. A lot of higher-end outfitters seem to only sell ‘dry clean only’ clothes – and this will just be to cover their backs should some laundry luddite ruin a new V-neck merino jersey.
But, back to suits. Here are my tips on how to care for your suits, making them last longer and saving your household those expensive dry cleaning bills.
- Do not wear the same suit every day. Have two or three (or more) suits and alternate. If you wore a suit on Monday, leave it to hang properly on Tuesday before wearing again on Wednesday
- Use proper suit hangers. It’s amazing how many wardrobes I see where perfectly nice suits are hung on shirt hangers (or, worse, wire hangers). Invest in proper wooden (or plastic) suit hangers, like these from John Lewis
- If your wardrobe has the space, hang trousers separately on clamp hangers from the ‘cuffs’ (i.e., the bottom)
- If your jacket has got creased after wearing, hang it up in the bathroom as you shower – making sure you shut the door and close windows so the room steams up. Depending on how long you’re in the shower and how much steams builds up, the creases should quickly ease away
- Failing that, hang the suit with the back against the boiler in your airing cupboard overnight
- However the best method of getting rid of creases from jackets and trousers is using a good steam iron. I have gone on at length before about the amazing Laurastar irons, but a good quality steam iron will enable you to quickly blast out any wrinkles and creases within seconds. Watch this video from Laurastar as to how their irons work wonders
- If your suit gets stained, use a rinsed out cloth to try to remove the stain. Water and friction work best on most things and you should always try this method before resorting to dry-cleaning
Tags: domestic bliss, dry cleaning, etiquette, fashion, housekeeping, laundry, suits, wardrobe
Tip from my tailor: to get perfect creases in your trousers, first iron them on a medium heat with the steam on max. Then turn off the steam and turn up the heat as high as it will go. Give it a minute to heat. Place a piece of linen, folded in two, over the crease and then to over it with plenty of pressure. The linen takes the moisture out of the trousers, setting the crease. Get it right and the crease lasts for weeks.
Growing up, we sent everything to the dry cleaner, almost as a knee-jerk reaction. I learned of caring for good wool and cotton garments the old-fashion way a few years back. It suddenly occurred to me that wool and cotton had been around a lot longer than dry cleaners, so of course there were old methods that probably worked. William’s advice is excellent and easy to understand, as usual, and more importantly, it works! Thanks for sharing.
“If your wardrobe has the space, hang trousers separately on clamp hangers from the ‘cuffs’ (i.e., the bottom)”
This tip interests me the most, is there any purpose to this method? I’m curious.
Yes – this is the best method to avoid/get rid of creases in trousers. Hope this helps.
I hate it if my trousers get creases so I fold them by laying it flat front ways then fold it length wise so it doesn’t get a crease that runs down the legs. But I will try this tip, I never thought of hanging them this way… Thanks William