When Dry Cleaning a Suit is (and Isn't) a Smart Idea

A suit brings along an aura of self-confidence and commands respect. One of the critical aspects of maintaining a suit is taking it to the dry cleaner. Dry cleaning is typically the process of cleaning textiles without the use of water or detergents. However, the process isn’t as dry as the name suggests. 

Garments typically soak in a solvent, such as perchloroethylene (perc), tetrachloroethylene, or trichloroethane. These chemicals have strong cleansing properties, are compatible with most fabrics, and are not flammable.

Clothing is agitated to remove dirt and stains and then rinsed with fresh solvent. The next step involves draining and extracting the solution using a spin cycle. Finally, clothing is dried, and the remaining solvent vaporized using warm steam. The process looks more like a regular washer and dryer set up, only that the machines are more substantial, and water and detergent are exchanged for a solvent.

Benefits of Dry Cleaning a Suit

Amongst the benefits of dry cleaning, a suit is its ability to remove stains such as oil and grease that are not easy to dissolve with a “wet” cleaning process.

Natural and delicate fibers dry clean beautifully, but can distort, shrink and even lose color or original shape when washed in water. Water can damage delicate fabrics by swelling and stretching fibers, thereby altering their structure during the cleaning process.

Also, the use of a high degree of heat and a water-based detergent to dissolve stains increases the potential to damage the fabric.

Dry cleaning is the appropriate cleaning method for suits because it protects the fabric from water and heat damage. What’s more, dry cleaning helps extend the life of a garment by removing ground-in dirt, soils, and stains that act as an abrasive on the fibers.

Thanks to special pressing equipment, dry cleaning gives suits a wrinkle-free, crisp, and like-new condition using precautions to prevent a change of texture, loss of color, and shrinkage.

Situations Where Dry Cleaning a Suit is a Good Idea

Dry cleaning a suit is a necessity on many occasions, but just how often is it necessary? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. But here’s a guideline to help you figure out if your suit needs to be dry cleaned or if it can be hung back in your closet:

• If you spilled food or drink on your outfit, you should probably have it cleaned before putting it away. Stains, such as red wine or mustard, require quick attention and should be taken to the cleaners the next morning. When stains sit on your garment for long, they become more challenging to remove. Also, insects will start feeding on food and beverage spills, which will cause the fibers to weaken and break. Avoid home remedies such as salt, club soda, or water because you’re likely to damage the fabric.
• If you are not going to wear your suit for quite some time, have it cleaned before storage, even if there are no stains on it. On average, we shed 30,000 dead skin cells every hour. Not only do insects like to feed on food and beverage spills, but they also enjoy feeding on the body oils and skin cells left on fabric, which will eventually leave holes in your suit.
• Consider taking your outfit to the dry cleaner after your return from a business trip. Suitcases are not great storage places for pants, jackets, and shirts. And if your suit was exposed to pollutants, take it to a professional dry cleaner. Dirt and contaminants can shorten the life of a garment.

Rules for Not Dry Cleaning a Suit

• Do not dry clean your suit every week or month. Remember, frequent dry cleaning can accelerate garment deterioration.
• Don’t dry clean suit pieces separately. Why? Because dry cleaning can cause a slight change of color. You don’t want your suit pants to be 1% brighter than your suit jacket.

Store Your Formal Attire with the Right Suit Hangers from Butler Luxury

Your suit spends more time in your closet than it does on your body. And what is it resting on for days, weeks, or months? Hangers. Hanging your suit improperly or with cheap hangers can ruin your outfit right in your closet.

A quality suit hanger has a thick shoulder section slightly contoured forward, just like your shoulders. This feature provides opulent shoulder support and helps your suit jacket retain its shape.

Butler Luxury offers a selection of suit hangers to provide your outfits the quality care they need. Browse our online store for a fantastic collection of wooden suit hangers that are thoughtfully created to offer jacket support, preserve the shape of your collar, and protect your suit.

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