It’s a fairly common question asked by most suit owners across the globe. And the good news is that you don’t need to go to the dry cleaners every single time you spill some coffee on your suit.
So, can you put a suit in the washing machine? Yes, you can wash your suit in a washing machine. But you have to turn the suit jacket inside out and put it in a mesh bag & also, put the temperature setting on the washer to cold and put it in the gentlest setting.
In this article, we’ll discuss how you can put a suit in the washing machine and take care of it after you put it in the washing machine.
What Happens If You Put a Suit In The Washing Machine?
You can either choose to clean your suit inside the washing machine or by hand. If you do choose to use your washer for this task, you need to be careful.
Once you put the suit inside the washer, it’ll be rolled around in a water and detergent solution.
It’s highly likely that this process might ruin the shape of the suit, especially around the shoulder area. Your suit could also shrink. That’s why we’ve outlined the safest possible method of washing a suit in the washer.
Make sure to pull the jacket and trousers up before letting them hang. Fasten all the buttons and iron the suit immediately after drying.
How to Wash Your Suit in a Washing Machine? (In 5 Easy Steps)
The suit has been a staple of western culture since time immemorial. It’s the part and parcel of any gentleman’s formal as well as casual life.
And nowadays it has even become a casual form of the garment as one might need to attend events, parties, or conferences 3-4 times a month.
But, cleaning your suit can become a nightmare for most, and doing so at the dry cleaners can be an expensive endeavor. And it’s also a lengthy process.
Therefore, today we’ll be discussing how you can get your suit washed in the washing machine without facing any issues. So, let’s have a look, shall we?
1. Place the Suit In The Washing Machine (While Making Sure it’s Inside Out)
First things first. You have to turn the suit jacket inside out. This is by far the most basic rule for cleaning your clothes inside the washer.
This prevents the colors from your clothes from leaking and ruining your other lighter fabrics. This will also protect your suit from the fluff that gets stuck to clothes while inside a washing machine. This step is mostly precautionary.
2. Choose a Mild Detergent
If you’re putting your suit inside the washing machine, you’re basically taking the risk that your suit might be damaged during the cleaning process. That’s why you have to take steps to make sure that doesn’t happen.
One way of doing so is choosing a mild, neural, liquid-based detergent that’s made for delicate clothes. Your choice of detergent can mean the difference between a nicely-cleaned, sleek suit or a huge disaster.
Always use a liquid detergent while cleaning your suit and never go for a powder-based detergent.
3. Schedule the wash
This is the most crucial step. The key to success when it comes to properly wash a suit inside a washing machine comes down to the setting of your machine.
As you’re probably aware, your washing machine comes with a myriad of programs that are related to your washing setting.
You must choose the gentlest washing setting as well as a short washing cycle that is less than 30 minutes long.
Also, make sure the temperature of the water is cold. The delicate fabric in your suit might get damaged by higher temperatures and so, you have to keep the water cold.
And don’t select spin as that might cause some aggressive movements. This will help prevent wrinkles.
Finally, never use any fabric softener as that might also damage the suit.
Just follow these instructions, and your suit will be squeaky clean in a matter of 30 minutes.
4. Place the Suit Outdoors to Let It Dry
Now that you’re done washing your washing machine, it’s time to let it dry. Always use a hanger to hang the suit and never go for a clothespin as that might cause wrinkles.
Do not use a dryer as that will damage the integrity of your suit. Personally, I wash my suits in the evening so that I can let them dry outdoors all throughout the night.
This way I have my suit dried up in the morning. This also protects the suit from sun damage. Once the suit is dried, please proceed to the next step.
5. Iron the Suit
This is probably the most delicate step of the entire process. You must iron your suit to make sure it looks stunning the next time you wear it. You can easily do so at home, but you need to be very careful while doing it.
After you’re done washing and drying your suit, you need to place it on the ironing board. Next, take a cloth and cover the suit with it. This will protect it from getting burned.
If your iron has a steam function, you should use it as that will help escalate the ironing process. Now start ironing the suit carefully and smooth out the creases.
Related Questions
Do Suits Shrink When Washed?
Yes, most suits can shrink when washed as most of the suits in the market are made out of wool. Wool is a type of substance that shrinks when it gets wet.
The worst part is that the suit will not shrink uniformly and it will look stretched and damaged.
Different types of fabrics are used to make a suit, but if it contains wool in it, then it’ll likely shrink when washed.
Is a Suit Ruined If It Gets Wet?
Not necessarily. You can wash your suit with water, provided that you’re careful while doing so. But, in general, you should always avoid getting your suit wet. It’ll most likely damage the fusing in the suit.
Can I Machine Wash a Dry Clean Only Suit?
Actually, you can machine wash a dry clean only suit, provided that you wash it in cold water with a mild detergent and no spin. Don’t keep the suit in the washer for even a single extra second. You can also hand wash your dry clean only suit with a mild detergent.
Can I Put A Suit In The Dryer?
No, you cannot as that will set stains and sweet onto the suit. You should hang the suit outside to let it dry on its own.
Final Thoughts
That marks the end of our discussion about whether or not you can clean your suit in a washing machine. Isn’t it great to know that you can actually get your suit squeaky clean and ready to use without having to leave your home and go to the dry cleaners?
Armed with this guide, you can disregard dry cleaning and have your suit ready at all times. This will also ensure your suit stays clean, neat, and tidy for years on end. If you have any concerns please feel free to share them in the comments.
