Suit cleaning in Tomball, TX

Why suits need careful cleaning

A suit jacket is built in layers. Under the wool shell there is usually interfacing in the chest and lapels, shoulder pads, and a lining of a different fiber. Those layers can shrink at different rates in water, which is why a jacket that goes through a home washer often comes out with puckered lapels, a rippled front, or a lining that hangs below the hem. Wool also tightens and felts with heat and agitation, so a dryer can take a size out of the trousers. The shape of a suit is pressed in, too. The roll of the lapel and the crease in the trousers are set with steam and pressure, and an iron that is too hot can leave a shine on dark wool.

Reading the care label

Most suit labels say Dry clean, often next to a circle with a P or F inside. That letter tells the cleaner which solvents the fabric tolerates. Some say Dry clean only, which signals the maker expects water to damage the structure. A few modern suits are labeled machine washable. Even then, check that the instruction covers the whole jacket and not just the cloth, and expect it to need pressing afterward.

Before you bring them in

• Bring the jacket and trousers together, even if only one looks dirty, so the color stays matched.
• Empty every pocket, including the inside chest pocket and the small ticket pocket above the right hip.
• Point out spills and say what they were, such as coffee, wine or salad dressing.
• Check the front and cuff buttons. A loose one can be reattached before it falls off and gets lost.
• Mention any lining that has split at the armhole or back vent so it can be repaired.

Care between cleanings

• Hang the jacket on a wide, shaped hanger that fills out the shoulders, never a thin wire one.
• Brush the wool with a soft clothes brush after each wear to lift dust before it works into the weave.
• Give a suit a full day off between wears so the fibers recover and any moisture dries out.
• Hang trousers by the hem from a clip hanger, or fold them over a padded bar along the crease.
• Clean only when the suit is stained, smells, or looks dull, since frequent cleaning wears the cloth.