How to wash a men's suit in a washing machine

Generally, it's recommended to dry-clean men's formal clothing or other professional care services. But if you don't have the time or opportunity to dry-clean your suit, what should you do? Machine-washing a men's business suit is possible, provided you follow a few guidelines.

The nuances of automatic washing

The easiest way to properly clean a suit is if it still has the care label. This way, you'll be confident you can handle washing such a delicate item.

So, if you're sure your suit is machine-washable, you're ready to go. First, prepare the garment for the "water treatment." To do this, brush the surface with a dry brush. Then check the pockets for foreign objects and remove any that you find.The jacket can also be turned inside out.

Now let's move on to washing:

1. It is recommended to use a gel as a cleaning agent, as dry powder can leave indelible cloudy stains.
2. If your suit isn't white, use a color-preserving product. This will remove stains and keep the fabric looking its best.

Attention! Take a closer look: sometimes stores sell special granules for washing these types of items. They contain a combination of gentle cleaning agents and fabric softener.

3. As for washing parameters, they're usually the most gentle: a delicate cycle, a temperature no higher than 30 degrees Celsius, and no spinning. Pre-soaking isn't necessary, but don't skip the rinsing cycle. You can even add a special anti-static conditioner; it won't hurt.

If you can set a wash time or select a cycle based on its duration, aim for 30-40 minutes. This is sufficient to remove stains and generally refresh your suit.

It's recommended to wring out the suit by hand and let it air dry. You won't be able to wring out all the water the first time, so you can hang the garment vertically and periodically wring out the remaining water until all the excess moisture is gone.

Wet cleaning of a suit

But those who aren't sure whether their suit can be machine washed, or know for sure that it's prohibited, shouldn't despair. You can also clean the item by wet hand cleaning at home. This has the advantage over dry cleaning: it eliminates unpleasant odors.

To perform the procedure, take a container of warm water and dilute a gentle detergent in it. This could be cosmetic soap or baby laundry detergent. The key is to make sure it doesn't contain any active ingredients or harsh bleaches. Then find a clean, soft cloth, preferably one made from natural materials. Dampen it in the soapy solution and begin wiping it over particularly problematic areas, including:

• collar and cuffs of a jacket.
• armpit area.
• back of the jacket.
• lapels.
• areas of active bending (elbows, shoulders, etc.).
• the bottom of the trousers.

When preparing the cleaning solution, be sure to stir it thoroughly. The liquid should be smooth and free of any undissolved elements. Otherwise, stains will remain on the jacket that will be difficult to remove by hand.

Cleaning with folk remedies

If your suit is in excellent overall condition, but only a few spots are spotty, you don't need to bother with machine washing or a full wet cleaning. People have come up with their own homemade cleaning solutions for this situation, too. As a rule, their natural ingredients do an excellent job of dealing with grease, dirt, sweat odor and other unpleasant things.

1. In a glass of cool, clean water, dissolve one tablespoon of alcohol or vinegar.
2. Take a terry cloth napkin or towel and soak it in the resulting solution.
3. Wipe particularly dirty areas vigorously but not aggressively.

This solution can be used not only to remove general dirt from underarms or cuffs, but also to remove serious, stubborn stains. It works like a charm.

Washing in a shower stall

Some suit manufacturers allow them to be exposed to water, but completely exclude washing. Another effective way to clean the suit is by "showering" it.

• The suit should be placed on a hanger with the legs and sleeves straightened.
• Pour water over the product.
• Apply a small amount of laundry detergent or soap to a cotton cloth or towel and wipe the problem areas of the item.
• Rinse the suit with cool water from the outside and then from the inside.
• If the detergent does not wash off the first time with running water, take a soft, clean brush, dip it in warm water and go over the remaining detergent.

Now you can begin drying. Once everything has drained, hang the garment in a dry place, unbutton it, and let it sit for a while. Once the suit is dry, button it, straighten the sleeves and pant legs, and shape it properly.

   

Readers' comments