How To Wash Custom Suits And Shirts

A good suit last a long time if proper care is taken. It is one of the most expensive things in your wardrobe, so you should do what you can to preserve its longevity. Here are few tips to ensure that the look of your suit remains even after years of wearing. Do not Stuff your pockets with keys, change and other assorted items which put strain on the seams.

You should unbutton your suit jacket before you sit down otherwise you will be pulling on it. Also, as you are sitting down, pull your pants up at the thigh just a little so you don?t stretch the fabric too much. Both of these things will also make you more comfortable.

A clothes brush is a great thing--brush your suit with one when you take it off to keep it clean and looking good.

Hang your suit on a good wooden hanger that is made for suits and store it in a breathable garment bag for protection.

Dry clean your suit only when necessary but at least once a season. In between cleanings, have it pressed or steamed and spot clean when required.

Wool Suits: A frequent dry-cleaning can discolor and/or wear down fibers, can give your wool clothes an undesirable sheen, and can shrink your clothes if overdone. So even though it is important to dry-clean your clothes, don't dry clean them frequently. Sometimes a simple spot cleaning and/or steaming/pressing will be all that is required. And always choose a dry-cleaner that comes highly recommended.

Shirts: We recommend that you wash your shirts at 40 degrees centigrade, by hand or by machine. We do not recommend tumble drying. Please follow the washing instructions on your shirt. Wash dark colors separately with a color detergent. Remove collar stiffeners prior to washing. Shirts are best ironed when damp, taking extra care when ironing the collar points to avoid creasing at the front of the collar.

Ties:: Never wash your silk tie, dry clean only. For small stain spots we recommend you use a reputable stain removal product, as provided with initial purchase.

Suits/Blazers/Trousers: These garments must be dry cleaned and stored hanging. After wearing allow 24 hours to air thoroughly before storage.

Overcoats: Dry clean only.

Casual Wear:Please follow the manufacturers care instructions found on labels within the garments.

Wool Fabric Care Tips :
• Allow 24 hours between wearing a wool garment. The natural resiliency of wool fabric will allow wrinkles to fall out and the original shape to bounce back.
• Wool fabric requires cleaning only once or twice a year.
• Soil and dust can be removed from wool fabric by brushing lengthwise with a garment brush. Wool garments with heavily napped surfaces should be brushed regularly. Finer wool fabric should be restored using a damp cloth instead of a brush.
• If a wool garment gets damp, hang it out of direct sunlight. Be sure to brush it after it is dry.
• If the care label reads "Dry Clean Only" for the best results the garment should be taken to a professional dry cleaner. If you choose to hand wash the garment instead, beware if done incorrectly washing may result in shrinkage, loss of color, and/or the fabric may lose some of its softness. For washing tips please scroll down (see “Hand Washing Wool Fabric”).

Removing Stains from Wool Fabric
• Try to treat stains immediately to prevent them from setting into the fabric.
• With a clean white cloth, blot to remove as much of the stain as possible. Do NOT rub.
• Take garments with stubborn stains to the dry cleaner as soon as possible.
• Have a bottle of stain or spot removal solution on hand for oil based stains such as oil, make-up, or chocolate. Make sure that the product you use is safe for wool fabric. Test the solution on an inconspicuous area before using on the stain.
• Be sure to remove stains before pressing. Heat can cause stains to set in wool fabric.

Hand Washing Wool Fabric
• Clean wool fabric using a mild detergent (mild dishwashing or liquid hand soap) in lukewarm water. Never use hot water! Does NOT use bleach. Bleach dissolves wool fabric.
• Completely cover the garment in water and soak for 3 to 5 minutes. Gently squeeze to allow water to penetrate the fabric. Do NOT wring the garment.
• Rinse thoroughly with cool water to remove all traces of soap.
• Squeeze gently to remove excess water. Do NOT wring the garment.
• To dry, lay the garment on a flat surface, reshaping if necessary and allow garment to dry away from direct sunlight and heat. Do NOT hang to dry. This will cause the wool fabric to stretch from the weight of the water that has soaked into the fibers.
• Never put wool clothing in the dryer! The combination of heat, friction and pressure will cause shrinkage.

Pressing Wool Fabric
• Set iron for WOOL setting.
• Add water to the iron. Always use steam heat when pressing. Never iron wool fabric dry.
• Squeeze gently to remove excess water. Do NOT wring the garment.
• Press garment on the inside of the garment to avoid surface shine.
• Use a pressing cloth when top pressing. A clean white handkerchief or cotton cloth may also be used.
• When pressing napped fabrics, place a piece of the same fabric or a thick terry cloth towel on the ironing board to prevent crushing.
• If napped wool fabric is slightly scorched when pressing, rub lightly with an emery board. A diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide may be used for a more severe scorch. Be sure to test on a hidden area first.
• Shine created by pressing may be reduced by sponging white vinegar on surface of wool garment. Rinse thoroughly.
• Some recommended notions for someone with a lot of wool to press are a steam iron, a tailor's ham for pressing curved areas such as collars and lapels, a seam roll for pressing seams open without making a visible seam edge, a point presser for hard-to-reach places, and a press cloth.

Wool Fabric, Clothing, and Blanket Storage
• To prevent the invasion of the clothes moth, brush wool with a fabric brush before storing.
• Clean the garment or blanket. Food stains and body oils attract moths. Dry cleaning or laundering kills moth eggs and larvae.
• Store cleaned wool fabric in airtight bags or containers with tight-fitting lids. When folding, add white tissue paper between folds to prevent wrinkling.
• Add mothballs to the container. Do NOT put them directly on the fabric. Hang them in small loosely woven cloth bags near the fabric. Clothing will need to be aired out after removing from storage to remove the mothball odor.

Silk Fabric Care Tips
• If you wish to maintain the original characteristics of the fabric your silk garment is best when dry cleaned either by the individual or bulk method.
• However, in most cases, it may also be washed with care. The major exceptions being: taffeta, brocade, velvet, metallic, chiffon, charmeuse, satin and crepe. These silks should be dry cleaned.
• To Dry Clean: Always tell the Dry Cleaner that your garment is made from silk so that it will not be placed in a vat with jeans and other garments that could harm your silk garment. Some Dry Cleaners use solutions that are not best for silks. Inquire first.
• To Wash: Wash in cool water. Use a small amount of soap or a mild detergent (i.e. Ivory, Joy). Rinse very well in cold water. Hang or lay flat to dry in shade. If pressing is required, press on wrong side of fabric. A low to moderate steam setting may be used or the fabric may be pressed while still damp (dry setting: low to medium). Use an all cotton ironing board cover.
• To keep white silk white, add peroxide and ammonia to the wash. Do NOT use bleach or products which contain bleach. To remove yellowing, add 3 or 4 tablespoons of white vinegar to a basin of cool water. Perspiration and sticky deodorant stains can be a problem with any fabric. They are not removable. Use small shields or a silk undershirt.
• Machine Wash: Silks may be washed in a machine on gentle cycle providing that the machine is clean (free from soap and grease that could spot your silks). Try placing your silk garments in a mesh bag or an old pillow case loosely tying the open end. Always use a mild detergent or a small amount of soap. Note: If your silk garment has not been pre-washed it may shrink. Also, note that garments made with a combination of fabrics or that are highly detailed probably should not be machine washed.
• A note about silk: Irregularities and variations in the weave of this fabric are characteristic and are not to be considered defective.

100% Cotton Care Tips
• Machine wash in cool or warm water and machine dry.
• To keep that new baby-soft feel, particularly if you have hard water where you are, adding some fabric softener.
• Lighter weight fabrics for summer, we recommend only partial machine drying.
• For smooth, ready-to-wear garments, just take them out of the dryer while still a little damp. Smooth things out by hand, and let them finish drying on a hanger.
• Remove dirt & stains from 100% cotton fabrics apply a commercial pre-wash product, such as Spray'N Wash™ or Shout™, and then allow the product to work for a few minutes (for best results, do not scrub in). Wash and dry as normal.

Stain Guide
The following general procedures apply to nearly all stains. Fresh stains are much easier to remove than old ones, so take care of stains promptly.
• Blot up any excess liquid with a clean white cloth, paper, or other towels.
• Remove excess solids by gentle scraping or chipping with a dull knife or metal spatula. With some solids such as heavy amounts of surface mud removal may be easier after the stain has dried. Excess can be brushed off before the clothing is submerged for washing.
• Avoid rubbing the stained area with a linty terry towel or a dark-colored cloth. You may complicate the problem.
• Never rub a fresh stain with bar soap. Soap sets many stains.
• If garment can be dry cleaned, take it to the cleaners as soon as possible (within 24 to 48 hours).
• Do not try to treat suede, leather, or fur. Professional cleaners are needed for these items, and even some professionals do not offer this service.
• Avoid using hot water on stains of unknown origin. Hot water can set protein stains such as milk, egg, or blood.
• Test the stain removal agent on a seam or hidden area of the garment to be sure it does not affect the color or finish of the fabric before starting on the stain.
• Avoid excessive rubbing unless fabric is tough and durable. Rubbing can spread the stain and damage the fiber, finish, or color.
• Do not iron or press stained fabrics. Heat will set most stains.
• Check laundry for stains before washing. Many stains need pretreatment.
• Inspect wet laundry before drying to be sure stain has been removed. If a stain is still evident, do not dryer dry. The heat of drying will tend to make the stain more permanent.
• Wash heavily soiled items separately. During laundering soil is broken into smaller particles and can be re-deposited on cleaner clothing if insufficient detergent is used, water temperature is too, low, washing time too long, or washer is overloaded with too many clothes.