Quick No-Wash Hacks to Remove Stains from Your Suit

Your trophy suits can maintain their sparkle and form over the years, in spite of shifting elements that may unavoidably touch them. And albeit with some mindful care and gentle usage. Objects move and impact one another; dust swirls; mud flies; and people sweat. But with the guarantee that your suits were expertly tailored and from quality natural fibres, to remove stains from your suit should be a no-brainer.

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We shall explore a few tips and tricks to remove stains from your suit should the occasion arise. This will ensure your esteemed wardrobe follows a slow but decent progression through the years to stay polished, maintain structure, and minimize blemishes. In all, you get the reward and satisfaction that your treasured suits do not suffer quick distortion and wear that may result from frequent dry cleaning.

1. Avoid Stains While You Can

Is there a magic formula to preserve the fine and crisp look of that special jacket with the CEO vibes? Or protect your designer shirts and sharp-cut pants from blemishes? Perhaps not, but it would benefit you to be conscious of your environment and sidestep possible stain incidents. Imagine decking a designer jacket in the league of Ralph Lauren or Harrods to a high society wedding, and the unforeseen happens! Be on the lookout for any dripping fluids, spilling of food or liquids, and any other substances (particularly coloured ones) that may tarnish your pristine look.

2. Remove the Stains Fast Enough

If an unplanned stain defies your eagle eye, move as fast as you can to reduce the impact. Granted that the chance may not present itself at that moment, but handle it in the soonest time. Because stains are harder to remove with each passing second. You may be lucky to use just cold water and a clean cloth to get the stain off.

3. Read The Care Label of Your Suit for Cleaning Instructions

The ideal starting point is to check the cleaning instructions on the care label of your suit jacket or some other affected suit piece. The care label often lies right under the collar of your jacket. It could be on the inside of the side hems of some jackets as well. Check along the seams inside your trousers - the care label should be somewhere above the bottom hem of one leg, typically the left leg.

The care label will indicate the most suitable cleaning method for the jacket or suit piece. But that depends on the fabric of the jacket, and what the designer or stylist recommends. Take the care label as the infallible product manual and follow the directions there, not your own.

4. Your Suit Needs Gentle Treatment

Don't fall for the illusion that a hard scrub or wash will better lift stains from a suit. Not only will the stains likely seep deeper into the fabric; the hard pressure can wear out the fabric's fibres, or even tamper with the colour. Just do some spot cleaning - dab or blot the spot gently.

In the same vein, heat can make stains set deeper into the fabric. It is wise to move the suit jacket or piece away from heat sources until you succeed in removing the stains.

5. Water is Usually Enough to Remove Several Stains

Water can handle a good number of stains if they are not the stubborn type. So if the care label does not indicate something contrary, gently dab or blot the stain with water and a paper towel or a clean washcloth to see if it works. If not, you may test out stronger stain-removing products. Whichever product you choose, start by testing it on the reverse side of the jacket to ascertain how well it will work on the offending spot.

6. Keep Hot Water Away from a Wool Suit Jacket

Wool is often the choice material for cold-weather coats and suit jackets for men because it provides enough warmth and comfort. Wool fibers are also self-cleaning if you handle your suit well. But a quick word of caution - hot water is not friendly with wool. You risk damaging a woollen jacket or material if you apply hot water on it. You should rather stick with cold water, which is just adequate.

The above rule does not prevail over other fabrics. As stated earlier, always check the care label to know if hot water treatment is compatible with your suit material, and how to apply it.

7. Stain-Removing Agents in the Home

Some common household products are good at removing stains. You may achieve better results with any of the three mixtures below:

A mild solution of one part cold water and one part of either hydrogen peroxide, white distilled vinegar, or lemon juice. White distilled vinegar and water works well for lifting oil stains; thereafter blot the spot with mild dish washing soap and a simple rinse. Otherwise mix white distilled vinegar and dish washing soap in equal parts and apply it on the stain for about 20 minutes before rinsing.

A mixture of two parts dish washing soap, one part hydrogen peroxide, and one part baking soda. Leave it to soak in before washing off.

A mixture of cold water, hydrogen peroxide, detergent, and ammonia (for blood and other protein-based stains). A quick warning though - NEVER mix ammonia and hydrogen peroxide directly with one other. Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide can react to give off harmful fumes. You can start by spot cleaning the stain with a quarter teaspoon of clear dishwashing detergent in warm water, followed by a good rinse. If it fails, drop some hydrogen peroxide on the stain, then follow up by spraying some ammonia on the spot.

Being acidic, white vinegar, lemon juice, and hydrogen peroxide can easily wipe out germs - an effective way to freshen up your suit and keep it odour-free. Some other household products are also known to tackle one form of stain or another. They include chalk, cornstarch, talc, rubbing alcohol, and borax, alongside laundry detergent and dish washing soap. But ensure you use them in small amounts to prevent damage to the fabric. And again, test the solution on concealed areas of your suit before applying them on the real stain.

8. When and How to Use Chemical Stain-Removing Products

There are cases where water, simple water-based solutions, or other household cleaning agents fail at casting out stains. You may need to apply more powerful proprietary stain-removing agents from stores around town - like Oxiclean or Tide To Go Stain Remover. Both brands are on-the-spot stain removers shaped like a pen. They serve the purpose of emergency use as soon as the spot mishap happens.

But you might not get the opportunity to take immediate action; in which case a product with a broader range that covers several stubborn stains would prove useful. Products like Carbona or Zout can combat tough grease or protein-based stains, even if they have long impacted on the fabric or seeped deep.

But yet again, heed caution - you should not apply any cleaning product directly on the stain. Some of these cleaning agents can discolour your jacket while attempting to remove the original blemish. So it is wise to test it out on hidden areas of your suit jacket - like on the insides. If there is no discoloration, follow the instructions to apply it.

9. Last Resort - When Dry Cleaning Your Suit Becomes Necessary

When all else fails or you are unsure of what to do, then you can take your suit for proper dry cleaning. Dry cleaning involves the use of chemicals, not water, to wash or remove tough stains from clothing. Ideally you should only dry clean your suit at most three or four times in a year, and if the care label specifies it.

Other Important Care Tips for Your Suits

As a style-conscious man, learn to preserve your suits in the following ways:

After each use, brush and hang up your suit to remove dust and moisture. It is best to use a wooden or cedar hangar so it can maintain its shape and keep insects far away. Go a step further to envelop the suit in a garment bag later on.