How often to dry clean a suit?

MrMiyagi · Jul 5, 2009

I have a suit that I wear every day for work. Its wool and I have it dry cleaned weekly.

Is this too often? It has been hot so I've been sweating in it for the past few weeks but I dont notice any smell. I'm thinking I can push it back to every other week (if not further). Its the only suit I have so its worn every day.

radicaldog · Jul 5, 2009

You really need to get another suit, or this one won't make it until the end of the season. Get a heavy wool worsted -- it will last longer.

Just don't dry clean your suit unless it smells or is stained.

JayJay · Jul 5, 2009

I'd consider getting at least a couple more suits so that you can rotate wearing them. Daily wearing the same suit and dry cleaning it weekly will ruin it quickly.

MrMiyagi · Jul 5, 2009

Right. I've only had it cleaned maybe six times. I dont know what guide I was using, but I read this weekly guide somewhere. I guess I'll just get it cleaned when it smells or gets stained. Getting another suit isnt really an option.

Siggy · Jul 5, 2009

You should only dry clean suits when really really needed because it is not good for the fabric. I wear suits every weekday and dry clean them once every year or so, if that. However, I brush them with a Kent natural bristle brush after every wearing.

radicaldog · Jul 5, 2009

Look, if you really need to clean it just use a brush and maybe a little bit of steam. Dry cleaning should be a last resort.

Don Carlos · Jul 5, 2009

Originally Posted by MrMiyagi

Getting another suit isnt really an option.

It will be when your current suit wears out. At the very least, get another suit or two now -- even if on the cheap -- to develop a rotation. You're going to destroy your one suit if you wear it every day, five days a week, regardless of how often you dry clean it. Frequent dry cleaning will hasten its destruction, but the point is academic if you're wearing the suit every day in the first place. At this point you're doing the sartorial equivalent of putting butter on bacon and debating about which will give you a heart attack first.

dzang · Jul 5, 2009

S long as it isn't dirty I say hold off on the dry cleaning or else your suit will wear out very quickly

dizzhizz · Jul 5, 2009

def only two to three times a year.

lasbar · Jul 5, 2009

Don't over dry clean your suits...The chemicals involved are not good at all for the wool...
Buy another one or two suits and have a rotation between them...A suit needs to breathe.
It will be cheaper in the long term than dry cleaning every week...

taxgenius · Jul 5, 2009

Originally Posted by dzang

AS long as it isn't dirty I say hold off on the dry cleaning or else your suit will wear out very quickly

Agreed. And dont wear the same suit daily.

TheWraith · Jul 5, 2009

Another suit or two is a definite must, even if you go the cheap route.

madaboutshirt · Jul 5, 2009

I can't imagine someone who can wear the same suit day in and day out. I'd die of boredom alone.

I have seen someone who brought in a pair of pants to my tailor to get the belt loops replaced. The loops were so worn out that you could see the white threads in them. Apparently that wasn't the first time either. The tailor had to get the extra fabric from the hem. This was caused by wearing the same pants to work everyday and sitting in a hard plastic chair.

phillyesq · Jul 5, 2009

Originally Posted by radicaldog

You really need to get another suit, or this one won't make it until the end of the season. Get a heavy wool worsted -- it will last longer.

Just don't dry clean your suit unless it smells or is stained.

+1

Getting a few more suits is really the answer. Even if you have to go to JAB for a stopgap, doing so will preserve the suit you currently wear.

Gus · Jul 5, 2009

I have found that the less you dry clean the better.

You need to send it out if it truly needs it. However, if you 1) hang a suit and let it air out, 2) give a simple brushing and 3) simply spot with cold water and a towel any small food or dirt stains, you can probably get by for a very long time without cleaning.

I feel the longer you can go the better. And, avoid hotel cleaners whenever possible. I have had more shirts, pants, suits and jackets ruined by sending them out while traveling.

How often to dry clean a suit?

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