A good suit may spend years in your wardrobe, but the way it looks over time depends on how you care for it between wears. Cleaning your suit too aggressively can be just as unhelpful as neglecting it, which is why figuring out how to wash a suit is so important.
This guide explains the safest route to care for your suit and how to store it to increase its shelf life and wear time.
Can You Wash a Suit?
You can wash a suit in certain cases, but never assume you can without checking the care label first. The jacket, in particular, is a layered and structured garment, so it needs to be handled gently.
- Fabric: A nice suit is made of fabrics like wool, cotton, linen, though you can also find polyester ones. Knowing how the fibers react to heat and detergent is crucial for taking care of your suit. For example, wool can shrink due to hot water and mechanical agitation (like rubbing or spinning in a washing machine).
- Lining: This is the smooth fabric inside the jacket that helps it sit comfortably over a dress shirt. The lining might have a different fiber from the shell, so the two layers can shrink or react differently during washing.
- Interfacing: This hidden layer supports areas like the chest and lapels so the jacket maintains its shape. Water and agitation can affect the structural integrity of interfacing, even if the outer fabric remains intact.
- Shoulder construction: Padding and internal shaping create the jacket’s shoulder line. Excessive agitation or heat can distort the pads and change how the jacket hangs from the top downward.
- Manufacturer instructions: Don’t judge the washability of a suit by its fabric alone. Follow the instructions listed on the care label, which takes the suit’s overall design and construction into account.
Many traditional wool suits require dry cleaning, which is a professional process that uses chemical liquid solvents to dissolve oils and dirt rather than the water, mild detergent, and mechanical agitation involved in machine washing. Some modern suits are machine washable, but only when the label says so.
Check the Care Label Before Cleaning Your Suit
Before cleaning a suit, look at the care label. It tells you whether water is safe, but also which cleaning and drying methods your suit can tolerate.
Depending on the suit, you may see instructions for:
- Dry clean only: Don’t wash the garment with water and take it to the dry cleaner instead.
- Professional cleaning: The label should specify professional dry or wet cleaning. Both require a controlled, specialized process handled by a cleaner.
- Hand washing: The garment can handle water but can’t go in the washing machine.
- Machine washing: If your suit can handle a washing machine, the label should say what cycle and water temperature to use. It may say to tumble dry it on low or hang dry only. Follow these instructions carefully, because heat can shrink or warp the garment.
- Ironing and heat: Temperature limits prevent scorching, unwanted shine, or heat damage. The label might recommend steaming instead.
If you ignore these instructions, your suit may lose its original shape or fade in color.
Should Suits Be Dry Cleaned?
Suits should be dry cleaned if the care instructions recommend it. But that doesn’t mean sending it to the dry cleaners after every wear. Spending a few hours in an air-conditioned room is very different from a summer wedding or a long commute. Professional cleaning makes sense when you notice visible soiling, a persistent odor, or a stain you can’t safely treat at home. If it’s a fresh spill, point out the stain and explain what caused it (if you know), because that can help the cleaner choose the right treatment.
If the jacket and trousers are a matching set, then always send them together. Dry cleaning them one at a time can cause each piece’s color or surface appearance to age at different rates.
Can You Wash a Suit in a Washing Machine?
You can put a suit in a washing machine if the care label says you can. The drum inside the machine tumbles, flexes, and spins the garment. That’s fine for everyday laundry, but too much movement can knock that shape out of place and change how the jacket fits you.
Washing machines also use water and heat. Some fabrics can shrink. The lining may respond differently from the outer cloth and create puckering or tension between the layers. Heat during washing or drying can agitate it further.
Some modern suits are designed to be washable, so machine washing isn’t automatically off-limits for every suit you have. If yours is one of them, follow the manufacturer’s directions for:
- Cycle: Control the amount of agitation and spinning within the machine
- Temperature: Limit exposure to potentially damaging levels of heat
- Detergent: Use the type and amount specified
- Drying instructions: Follow the recommended method
Can You Hand Wash a Suit?
Hand washing might sound safe because there’s no spinning drum involved, but water can still damage your suit. Once wet, the suit becomes heavy, which can stress its shape and internal construction. Rubbing, twisting, and wringing also concentrates force in small areas. If the label says “dry clean only,” it means it.
If hand washing is allowed, use the recommended water temperature, handle the material gently rather than scrubbing or wringing it, and follow the drying directions to a T.
How To Keep a Suit Fresh Between Washes
A suit doesn’t need a full cleaning every time it picks up a little dust or a couple of creases.
Try these techniques in between washes to keep your suit looking good:
- Air dry after wearing: Hang your suit in a well-ventilated area before returning it to the closet. This gives trapped moisture and odors time to dissipate.
- Brush off surface debris: A soft brush can remove lint and dust before loose particles settle deeper into the cloth. Use light strokes instead of scrubbing, or you might disturb the fine threads in the fabric.
- Treat small marks carefully: Blot any small fresh marks; rubbing can spread the stain or push it further into the fibers. If you’re unsure what caused it, or if it won’t come out on your first try, leave it to a professional cleaner.
- Remove wrinkles selectively: If the care label allows it, a gentle garment steamer can relax light creases without pressing a hot iron directly onto the cloth. After using the steamer, let the suit fully dry before storing it in your wardrobe.
- Store it to protect its shape: Use broad, contoured suit hangers that fill out the shoulders. Empty the pockets, and don’t cram the suit between other garments. For longer storage or travel, pack it in a breathable suit bag.
Find a Suit at Men’s Wearhouse and Keep It Looking Its Best
Buying a suit is an investment. With the right maintenance habits, you can get more wear out for years to come.
At Men’s Wearhouse, you can pick out a suit and get tailoring adjustments under one roof. Whether you’re building out your wardrobe or replacing a longtime favorite, find your nearest Men’s Wearhouse store and buy a suit that’s built to stay in rotation.
FAQ
How Do You Clean a Suit at Home?
Look at the care label first. If it says “dry clean only,” you should take it to a professional cleaner. If it’s allowed, you can spot clean, brush, steam, or machine wash it at home.
How Do You Wash a Suit Jacket?
Follow the cleaning method specified on the jacket’s care label. Some jackets can handle machine or hand washing, but structured or traditional wool jackets might need professional dry cleaning.
Is It Safe To Wash a Suit Jacket at Home?
It can be, but only if the manufacturer allows it. The safest method is to follow the instructions on the label.
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