Arts & Culture

Handheld Steamer

Courtesy DJ Scammel

Lint Roller

Courtesy DJ Scammel

Caring For Your Wardrobe

By Douglas James Scammell

Published 3:46 PDT, Wed May 6, 2026

Last Updated: 3:49 PDT, Wed May 6, 2026

Fashion for Men

Now that you have taken the time and effort to acquire a nice suit or a couple of suits, where I’ve shown you how to get the most out of your purchase by mixing and matching, unfortunately, it’s important to know how to care for your new wardrobe. The sales team at your chosen men’s shop or tailor has ensured that the suit is properly fitted and the accessories complement the suit(s); however, to ensure the life expectancy of your new wardrobe, you have to do your part to properly care for your suits so that you protect your investment and get the most wear out of them to last as long as possible.

There are many things you can do to keep your suits looking fresh each time you want to wear it. I will do my best to explain what you should do. But let’s first get into some things you should not do.

Here is a list of things NOT TO DO with your suits as far as keeping them clean:

1. The Washing Machine: Never put a traditional suit in a washing machine, as it can ruin the structure and cause shrinking.

2. Iron Directly on Fabric: Never put a hot iron directly on the suit cloth, as this can burn the material or leave a permanent sheen on lapels and shoulders.

3. Scrub stains: Never rub a stain, as this can damage the fibers; always dab gently or pat with a cloth so that the stain can be absorbed on the cleaning cloth.

4. Dry Clean Too Often: I personally try to stay away from dry cleaning as much as possible. When dry cleaning, they use harsh chemicals that strip natural oils from fabrics like wool and cashmere, causing them to become brittle. Limit dry cleaning to once a year or twice a year if possible. However, if your suit gets really dirty from let's say, a wedding where there is lots of hugging and dancing, and your suit gets very dirty, dry cleaning will be the best option.

Here is a list of things NOT TO DO when it comes to storing your suit:

1. Use thin Hangers: Never use wire or thin plastic hangers, which can ruin the shoulder's natural shape. Use a wide frame, sturdy wooden or cedar hangers.

2. Store in Plastic bags: Never store suits in the plastic bags from the dry cleaners. These trap moisture, causing mildew and odors. Use Breathable fabric garment bags.

3. Wear Back-to-back: Do not wear the same suit two days in a row. The suit needs 24-48 hours to air out and allow the fabric to recover its shape.

4. Keep Buttons fastened: Unbutton your jacket when sitting to prevent stretching the fabric or putting unnecessary stress on the buttonholes.

Okay, now that we have gone over the things not to do listed above. The biggest thing is to try to stay away from the dry cleaning. Here is a list of proper things you can do to avoid dry cleaning.

1. Use a suit Brush: Gently brush the suit after each use with a soft, genuine boar hair brush. This removes lint, dust, and food particles from the fabric fibers, restoring the luster and preventing debris buildup. I also like using a simple lint roller, seen in the photo. This tool is great, especially if you have pets or you yourself have white or blond hair that can shed onto your suits. Lint rollers are also highly recommended and a fast method to help get lint, dirt, and hair off your suit.

2. Steam to Refresh: This is what I like to do - use a handheld steamer to remove wrinkles and sanitize the fabric, while removing odors and killing bacteria with- out the harsh chemicals of dry cleaning. Steam trousers and jackets lightly be- tween wears.

3. Let It Rest & Air Out: After wearing, let the suit hang on a wide wooden hanger for at least 24-48 hours before wearing it again. This allows the fabric (especially wool) to breathe and regain its shape, let- ting the creases naturally fall out.

4. Spot Clean Stains: Tackle spills immediately with a clean, slightly damp cloth. For oil, use talcum powder or baking soda. Avoid harsh scrubbing to prevent damaging the fabric.

5. Use Proper Hangers: Use wide-shouldered wooden hangers for jackets to maintain their shape, rather than thin wire hangers.

6. Use Breathable Garment Bags: When storing suits for long periods from one season to another, use a cloth suit bag in- stead of plastic, which can trap moisture and cause mould.

Based on my experience with my suits, I have made all of the mistakes I listed above and had to learn the hard way. But over time, I have learned an expensive lesson on how to extend the lifetime of my wardrobe through inexpensive maintenance ideas and save you money along the way.