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How to avoid bubbling, while still getting cleaned?

post #1 of 11
10/1/12 at 6:18pm
Thread Starter 

While browsing these forums I've seen lots of people say how much they loathe fused suits, but the fact of the matter is, it's just about all I can afford at this point, so please don't take this thread as an opportunity to talk about how horrible fused suits are and how inevitable bubbling is. Now, on to the main event!

 

I need to wear a suit for most of my job, but it's just a part of the job that it's going to get dirty, meaning somewhat regular visits to the dry cleaner. (probably once every couple of months) I can hope that the glue used int he process is of high quality, but that isn't guaranteed, and not something I'd like to rely on. So, are there any special services I can request from the cleaner to avoid, or at least postpone as long as possible, the bubbling? Certain types of dry cleaning/chemicals used, certain iron temperatures, etc. I know that for the most part it's cleaning that causes the glue to start deteriorating, but I don't know what part of the process is the main offender.

 

Thanks!

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post #2 of 11
10/1/12 at 6:26pm

I know it is a concern that some discuss here, and a valid point I'm sure... but I've never had it happen to any of my suits, and some of my fused suits I've sent to the cleaners several times a year for several years.  I kept one such suit 10 years--had to have been dry cleaned at least 20-25 times in that time frame, never any issues.

 

I don't know if there's anything you can do in terms of minimizing the possibility of bubbling.  Perhaps someone with more knowledge will weigh in.

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post #3 of 11
10/1/12 at 6:30pm
maybe 30 years ago.

but today. manufactures have figured out how to keep fusing from coming apart from the fqbric
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post #4 of 11
10/1/12 at 6:36pm
Thread Starter 

The reason I'm as concerned and paranoid as I am is because I got a (admittedly really cheap, around €100) suit in March, and it started bubbling around August with about 4 trips to the cleaners, now in October I am embarrassed to wear it, though I don't have much choice as it's currently my only suit. I was looking to spend €300 - €400 on a decent one, and hoping it will last much longer. I'm not expecting the world (and I don't much trust the shops around here to have quality matching the price they are charging) but I would really like to not have to end up replacing it every year.

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post #5 of 11
10/1/12 at 8:25pm
Problem may be with the dry cleaner you use
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post #6 of 11
10/1/12 at 8:39pm

never apply heat to a fused suit while not also applying pressure. imagine the fusing process as hot gluing an interlining to the chest piece of a suit, when the glue is reheated, either by steaming or ironing it becomes viscose/liquid again. this can cause the characteristic bubbles. higher quality fusing melts at higher temperatures avoiding this effect entirely. to avoid bubbling at lower quality fused garments, apply pressure with the iron while ironing out creases of the suit in the chest region. this has the effect, that even though the glue might melt, the interlining has no place to go.
 

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post #7 of 11
10/1/12 at 9:43pm

Use a steamer at home on your jacket and pants. I'm curious to know what type of job requires a suit and is guaranteed to be messy. Do you work for Enterprise Rent-A-Car?

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post #8 of 11
10/1/12 at 11:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by VinnyMac View Post

Use a steamer at home on your jacket and pants. I'm curious to know what type of job requires a suit and is guaranteed to be messy. Do you work for Enterprise Rent-A-Car?

 

Bad advice. Steaming will ruin your fused suit and I would only do it to remove wrinkles on the back (where there's no interlining) if at all.

I usually buy dry-cleaning sprays and brushes myself and save on trips to the cleaners... removing my jacket when sittings prevents wrinkles from forming at all, but I understand not everyone can do that.

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post #9 of 11
10/1/12 at 11:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by omacaco View Post

The reason I'm as concerned and paranoid as I am is because I got a (admittedly really cheap, around €100) suit in March, and it started bubbling around August with about 4 trips to the cleaners, now in October I am embarrassed to wear it, though I don't have much choice as it's currently my only suit. I was looking to spend €300 - €400 on a decent one, and hoping it will last much longer. I'm not expecting the world (and I don't much trust the shops around here to have quality matching the price they are charging) but I would really like to not have to end up replacing it every year.

I understand what you have to say about suit prices in many European countries. In places like Norway and Sweden etc they are close to out right robbery.Our American friends don't know how lucky they are sometimes. It's for that reason we ship quite a few suits to European destinations.

 

On a budget of €300 - €400 though there a few places that can supply a full canvas suit thus solving your worry about the fusing issue although I have to agree with others that's it's not a common a problem as it used to be.

 

In our range the full canvas version of this suit

 

http://www.elitesuits.com/two-piece-mens-suit-bc-p-274.html

 

works out to be around the €340 mark. You can take it in a standard off the rack size or have it custom made whichever you prefer.

 

There are a few other suit that we can squeeze you into under the €400 mark as well for the full canvas versions.

 

If you're interested send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you

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post #10 of 11
10/2/12 at 12:34am

Maybe it's the type of glue that the manufacturer used on the suit. I have fused suits dry cleaned many times and luckily never had this problem.

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post #11 of 11
10/2/12 at 5:46am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by clapeyron View Post

never apply heat to a fused suit while not also applying pressure. imagine the fusing process as hot gluing an interlining to the chest piece of a suit, when the glue is reheated, either by steaming or ironing it becomes viscose/liquid again. this can cause the characteristic bubbles. higher quality fusing melts at higher temperatures avoiding this effect entirely. to avoid bubbling at lower quality fused garments, apply pressure with the iron while ironing out creases of the suit in the chest region. this has the effect, that even though the glue might melt, the interlining has no place to go.
 

By that reasoning couldn't you solve bubbling just by using a really hot iron, which I was under the impression once it started bubbling it couldn't be undone.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by VinnyMac View Post

Use a steamer at home on your jacket and pants. I'm curious to know what type of job requires a suit and is guaranteed to be messy. Do you work for Enterprise Rent-A-Car?

I work at a funeral home, which means black suit, while moving flowers, which get everything dirty from the pollen, and doing funerals in dirty cemeteries, (it's all dirt here, none of those pretty grass ones you guys have in the movies)

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by sullivan025 View Post

Maybe it's the type of glue that the manufacturer used on the suit. I have fused suits dry cleaned many times and luckily never had this problem.

Probably. The place I bought it from was a little shop and I think the brand was their own. I'm not sure I'd call it a brand though, It doesn't have a tag anywhere on it. But I was somewhat desperate and needed a cheap suit as I hadn't gotten my first pay check yet, and 100 was all I could afford.

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