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How to Clean a Suit: Suit Cleaning Tips

LAUNDRY TIPS

Cleaning your suit is an essential step to keeping it in its best shape so it will serve you for years to come. Whether you need to treat a stain on your sleeve, freshen up your blazer, or find a suit cleaner, we're here to answer all your suit cleaning questions.

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Suit dry cleaning

Due to the material and craftmanship of nice suits, you should seek out a dry cleaner for suits most of the time. Dry cleaners like Tide Cleaners have the equipment, detergent, and expertise to care for your garments.

Find a Tide Cleaners near you that offers suit cleaning, or learn more about why we're the #1 brand in dry cleaning.

How much does it cost to dry clean a suit?

On average, you can expect to pay between $15-35 to get your suit dry cleaned. Price can vary depending on where you live and which dry cleaner you go to. Many cleaners charge per individual garment, so keep in mind that a three-piece suit will often cost more than a two-piece suit.

Download the Tide Cleaners app to find suit cleaning pricing for your location.

How long does it take to dry clean a suit?

Dry cleaning turnaround time for suits varies from cleaner to cleaner, but 2-3 days is pretty typical. If you're in a time crunch, it's always best to call ahead and ask what's possible before dropping your clothes off to make sure they can meet your needs.

While many dry cleaners offer same day service, this typically requires you to drop off your clothes by a certain time that day and may exclude certain items, so it never hurts to ask what's included in that promotion.

How often to dry clean a suit

Unless you wore the suit all day long, you likely do not need to clean it after each use. If you wear suits regularly, consider getting them dry cleaned after the third or fourth wear as needed.

Learn more about how often to dry clean suits based on how often you wear them, what material it's made of, and more.

Do dry cleaners press suits?

Getting your suit pressed is one of the best reasons to take your suit to the dry cleaners before an event. While you can sometimes press a suit at home depending on your suit's care needs, it's hard to replicate that perfectly pressed look professionals provide.

How to clean a suit at home

While we recommend taking suits to the dry cleaner when you need a full cleaning, you can sometimes spot clean or freshen up your suit in between cleanings at home.

How to freshen up a suit without dry cleaning

Spot clean mild stains before storing.
Brush your suit after every use. This removes dirt and dust from your suit before it sets in.
If the care label indicates it's okay, steam your suit to remove wrinkles and odors.
Hang your suit neatly on a sturdy hanger to help keep its shape and inside a garment bag to protect it from dust.

You may also like: How to Press a Suit at Home

How to remove a stain from a suit jacket

It's important to treat stains as soon as you notice them. For large or tough stains, take your suit to the dry cleaner for professional care. Be sure to give as many details as you can about what kind of stain it is and how old the stain is so they can better assess and treat it.

How to spot clean a suit

If you're still at the event and you notice a small stain on your suit, you may be able to spot clean it yourself. It's a good idea to carry a stain remover like Tide to Go with you just in case.

If you find yourself without stain remover, you can try dabbing cold water and lemon juice or white vinegar. Just be sure to test the mixture on a hidden part of the fabric first to make sure no color transfers.

If you see any color transfer, don't try to spot clean on your own. Take your suit to the dry cleaner as soon as possible to treat the stain instead.

Can you wash a suit jacket or pants?

You can always check your garment's care instructions, but we recommend you do not wash or dry clean your suit at home. Most suits are not machine washable, and at-home dry cleaning kits are no substitute for professional dry cleaning.

Maintaining your suit can feel overwhelming at first, but we're here to help anytime you need it cleaned, pressed, or altered! Learn more about what sets our dry cleaning services apart or find a Tide Cleaners near you.