3/2 rolls Pressed Flat AKA Wash Your Own?

[freefinancialadvice]

*noob alert*

Every time I take a 3-2 roll jacket to the cleaners, they press it flat back to a 3 button jacket. I hate it. Even when I explain : Do not iron the Lapels!

So, it happened at like 4 different cleaners in my area, and i'm tired of it.

I figure that maybe I should wash them myself.

Anybody here wash their own jackets? If so, what are the secrets. I Never washed anything on my own that says Dry Clean Only.


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[teddieriley]

well noob,

if we are talking about a wool suit, you really don't need to be dry cleaning it on a regular basis. In fact, as long as you hang the suit immediately after wearing and airing it out a bit, and give it at least a day or two between wears, you shouldn't even have to expose your suit to harsh chemicals of dry cleaning and the abuses of pressing. If anything, dry clean if there are noticeable spots or stains.

I've had a couple of 4-season suits I haven't cleaned since i picked them up and it's easily been over a year. They don't smell, and I see no need in having them cleaned. Wool is a natural fiber. How often do you see sheeps taking a bath?

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by freefinancialadvice

*noob alert*

Every time I take a 3-2 roll jacket to the cleaners, they press it flat back to a 3 button jacket. I hate it. Even when I explain : Do not iron the Lapels!

So, it happened at like 4 different cleaners in my area, and i'm tired of it.

I figure that maybe I should wash them myself.

Anybody here wash their own jackets? If so, what are the secrets. I Never washed anything on my own that says Dry Clean Only.


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Just throw it in the washing machine, gentle cycle, cold water. And iron while damp.

 

[NaturalShoulder]

I agree with the advice about not taking wool suits to the cleaners with any frequency.

I have some poplin 3/2 roll suits I do take more frequently. I use a safety pin on the lapels to indicate that the lapels should not pressed to a full 3 button jacket.

 

[Dewey]

You can iron the lapels flat at home - use a drill cloth - to remove the crease pressed in at the cleaners. Then, steam the injured lapel gently and wear the jacket buttoned as you like. The roll should come back to where it is supposed to be. This has worked for me with vintage jackets.

 

[freefinancialadvice]

Originally Posted by grimslade

Just throw it in the washing machine, gentle cycle, cold water. And iron while damp.

Use regular detergent? or Woolite or something?

 

[freefinancialadvice]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

well noob,

Wool is a natural fiber. How often do you see sheeps taking a bath?

 

[Edward]

I check my suit when I get it back from the cleaners, before I leave the store - if they haven't put in the roll that I've asked them to, I make them iron it again while I wait. They don't usually forget again to follow instructions.

 

[tlmusic]

A great SF post on how to iron suits: www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=88504 I try to avoid dry cleaning my suits. If you can find a very good tailor (one that knows how to make suits) in your area, you could possible pay them to repress suits that are messed up by the cleaners.

 

[emptym]

Originally Posted by grimslade

Just throw it in the washing machine, gentle cycle, cold water. And iron while damp.
Seriously? Have you done this? I've washed two jackets, both thrift store experiments. The first was an old, maybe 1950's, canvased, 3/2 from Sears, probably poly-wool blend, maybe 100% poly. It turned out great. But it said "machine wash" inside. The second was a cotton DB from RL, newer. It said "dry clean only." The lining shrank at a different rate than the exterior fabric, causing the whole coat to buckle weirdly. The varied rates of shrinkage in the fabric, lining, padding, canvas, and thread makes me very hesitant to try it on anything I'd paid more than $10 for.

 

[Infrasonic]

Originally Posted by grimslade

Just throw it in the washing machine, gentle cycle, cold water. And iron while damp.
Seriously? No problems with fused canvasses etc.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Dewey

You can iron the lapels flat at home - use a drill cloth - to remove the crease pressed in at the cleaners. Then, steam the injured lapel gently and wear the jacket buttoned as you like. The roll should come back to where it is supposed to be. This has worked for me with vintage jackets.

OMG no !!! them seams !!

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by Infrasonic

Seriously?

Um, no.

 

[freefinancialadvice]

Originally Posted by grimslade

Um, no.

So I can't throw them in the washer? i'm confused now.

I figured that you could hand wash them though.

 

[bigbris1]

Epic