How to Wash Suit Pants

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Suit pants are a staple in any professional man’s wardrobe. They’re versatile, easy to wear and can be dressed up or down with the right shirt and shoes. However, even though suit pants look like they require little care and maintenance, they do need washing every once in a while (not just when you spill something on them). This article will show you how to wash your suit pants without ruining them!

How to Wash Suit Pants

Using the Washing Machine

If you don’t want to hand-wash your suit pants, you can use the washing machine (just like any other piece of clothing). However, it’s important that you do this carefully and follow a few simple steps:

1. Put them in a mesh laundry bag. Make sure the zipper is closed! Suit pants easily become twisted inside a washing machine, so having them in a mesh bag will ensure they don’t tangle.
2. Use the gentle cycle. Most machines have different settings for delicate items, which are usually denoted by a small picture of flower or something similar. This setting uses less water to wash items gently, which is important because it won’t damage your pants (especially the thin material used in suiting).
3. Wash with like colours. If you washed your suit pants alone, it’s possible that they would bleed onto other items and ruin them – this is especially true for dark clothing. To be safe, always wash light or bright colours together when doing a load of laundry.

Washing Dress Pants by Hand

If you don’t want to use the washing machine, hand-washing your suit pants is the next best option. However, there are some important things to keep in mind if you choose this method:

1. Wash with cold water. Like the machine, if you wash dress pants too harshly (especially dark colours) it can damage the material. After all, it’s easy to get roughed up while you’re walking around all day! The cold cycle will be gentle on them and won’t shrink or bleach your pants.
2. Remove quickly & hang dry. It might seem counterintuitive to remove dress pants from the water before they’re clean, but leaving them in can cause them to wrinkle. Once you’ve rinsed the pants, quickly remove them from the water and hang dry to avoid wrinkles!
3. Add fabric softener. If you want your suit pants to be as smooth as possible, adding a little bit of fabric softener will make it so they don’t look and feel stiff (even after they’ve dried).

Drying the Dress Pants

Once your suit pants have been washed, it’s time to dry them! To do this safely and avoid wrinkles:

1. Avoid using a wire hanger. Wire hangers will leave dents in the shoulders of your suit pants – which can be very difficult to remove. Instead, use a hangars made from plastic or wood to keep your suit pants safe.
2. Hang dry. Even though you can put suit pants in the dryer, it’s better to hang them up (especially if they’re made from 100% wool). This will ensure there are no annoying wrinkles and they look as clean as possible!
3. Use a low setting. Unless you want your suit pants to shrink, it’s best to use a low setting when putting them in the dryer. If you must put them on high heat, make sure to check them frequently – especially if they’re 100% wool!
4. Iron only the front. The time and effort of ironing is often hard to justify, but it is possible to do so. Just make sure that the button has been fastened and only iron the front of the pant (and not too close to the zipper).

Storing Suit Pants After Washing them

After you’ve washed your suit pants, it’s best to hang them up or fold them into a drawer. If you just throw them in a pile, it can cause wrinkles and creases – which will be hard to remove even after they’ve been starched. Fold or hang them immediately so they don’t get wrinkled!

Tips for Maintaining Your Dress Pants

Take care of your dress pants and they’ll take care of you! There are a few simple things you can do to make sure your suit pants look clean and professional:

1. Wear an undershirt. This not only protects your suit pants from sweat and other damage, but it also prevents the collar and cuffs from staining (which can happen when you roll them up to expose your shirt or undershirt).
2. Use a leather belt. While regular belts work just fine for casual pants, dress pants have a certain sleekness that only a leather belt can provide.
3. Remove stains quickly. Because you don’t want to wash your suit pants too often, it’s important that you remove stains quickly before they set in (especially if the stain is water-based like coffee, tea or soda). The longer a stain sets in, the harder it will be to get rid of!
4. Keep your suit pants clean. Make cleaning your suit pants a regular habit to maintain their appearance and lengthen the lifespan of the material.

Conclusion

Caring for your suit pants is simple and easy to do! Just follow the tips above and you’ll be on your way to maintaining a stylish, professional appearance.