When life gets busy and so many things demand our time and attention, it may seem that ‘suit care’ is a superfluous task. However, as you will have invested so much thought and time into choosing your suit, and perhaps all the necessary custom fitting or tailoring, we have some maintenance tips that will extend the life of our suits, to ensure that it is looking in excellent condition for many years to come.
We have a few top tips listed below:
1. Make Sure Your Suit Fits Correctly
Whilst it may sound like an obvious assumption, it is very important that your suit fits you correctly, as an ill-fitting suit can put strain on seams and stretch the fabric, which over time, will weaken the material.
2. Brush Your Suit
Brush your suit regularly with a good quality suit brush in between wears, using downward strokes on the fabric, restoring the suit’s natural brilliance.
Don’t be tempted to use any other brushes unfit for the job, and we strongly advise against using a lint roller, as it can damage the suit in the long term, leaving a glue-like residue on the material.
A suit brush is specifically designed to remove fibres, fluff, hair and dust, without damaging the suit. There are exceptions to this rule, such as delicate silk or linen suits, where alternative care solutions are necessary, but please speak to a member of staff who can advise how to care for them.
3. Don’t Wash Your Suit In A Washing Machine
We strongly advise that you do not wash your suit in the washing machine.
In fact, some materials forbid it, as it can ruin the garment altogether and cause shrinkage.
Spot cleaning with a damp clean cloth is recommended for any mishaps or surface level stains. Whilst you should not need to clean your suit too regularly, some suits can be cleaned with a steam cleaner.
This is different from a regular iron, which should be avoided. Always read the label, and if in doubt seek out a professional steam cleaner.
Steam cleaning can act as a deodoriser whilst lightly cleaning your suit, and is excellent for ties, shirts and more. If you are someone who travels a lot, you can hang your suit in the bathroom whilst you shower, in order to steam out any unwanted creases that have appeared throughout the day.
4. Rotate Suit Usage
Ideally, rotating between suits each day is a good idea for longevity of the garment, but this is not always financially viable, so where possible we recommend that you buy an additional pair of trousers to wear in rotation to extend the lives of them.
Constant use over time can put strain on the fabric or cause the fibres to weaken, resulting in shiny or worn areas.
A trouser press is an elegant and stylish piece of equipment that is excellent for maintaining those wrinkle free and smooth trouser legs, keeping them pressed and sharp ready for the next day.
5. Use The Correct Hanger
Where possible, always use the specific jacket hanger to maintain the correct shape of the shoulders, which, in turn, keeps the body of the jacket in shape.
If you don’t have a jacket hanger, a heavy duty wooden one would suffice and ideally with sloped shoulders, but we advise that you avoid a wire hanger as it will inevitably dip or sag over time, causing the suit to lose shape.
We recommend that you refrain from hanging your suit over the back of a chair for long periods or on hooks, as over time it will also impact on the shape of the suit.
6. Use A Suit Carrier
Hang your suit in a suit carrier every day after use, to minimise creasing and protect from dust and dirt.
Leave the zip slightly undone to allow the fabric to breathe.
You will be issued a standard suit carrier when you purchase your suit, but at Walters we offer a leather carrier for that ‘lock, stock and barrel’ care of your garments!
Our exquisite leather carriers offer a lifetime of excellent suit care and protection, whilst looking elegant and stylish, either at home or for regular travel.
It is important that your suit be stored away from direct sunlight in a dry and breathable environment that is not subject to noticeably fluctuating temperatures, such as a loft, or a basement.
We hope that, as you continue to wear your beautiful suit each day, you will benefit from following a few basic rules of maintenance, so that it will look just as fabulous in years to come, as on the very first day you purchased it!