How often to dry clean a suit

Updated 25 July 2026 · 3 min read

Intervals by use

How often you wear it	Dry cleaning	Between cleanings
Daily (office)	4–6 times a year	air after each wear, brush weekly
Once or twice a week	2–4 times a year	air 24h, brush after each wear
Occasionally (events)	1–2 times a year	clean before storing
Rarely	after each event	—

Exception: any visible stain, smoke smell or underarm perspiration means immediate cleaning regardless of interval. Stains left on cloth oxidise and become permanent.

Why over-cleaning harms

Wool contains natural oils that give it elasticity and drape. Dry-cleaning solvent removes dirt, but also some of those oils.

The effect accumulates. After too many cycles the fibre becomes brittle, and friction areas — elbows, seat, inner thighs — develop a shine that cannot be removed. This is the typical wear pattern of a weekly-cleaned suit.

What to do between cleanings

Airing — the most important habit

After each wear, hang the suit on a wide hanger somewhere ventilated for at least 24 hours before returning it to the wardrobe. Most odours disappear on their own. A suit put straight into a closed wardrobe keeps and sets them.

Brushing

With a soft clothes brush, top to bottom, along the nap. It removes dust and particles that otherwise act as an abrasive with every movement.

Steam

A garment steamer, or simply hanging the suit next to a hot shower for 15 minutes, relaxes the fibres and drops creases without direct contact. Never iron directly on the cloth without a pressing cloth: the iron leaves permanent shine.

The two rules everyone breaks

1. Always clean both pieces together. Even if only the trousers are dirty. Each cycle imperceptibly shifts the shade, and cleaning one piece alone means that after a few cycles the jacket and trousers no longer match in daylight.

2. The hanger matters. A thin wire hanger concentrates the weight at two points and permanently distorts the shoulders. You need a wide, curved hanger that supports the shoulder line.

Long-term storage

• Clean, never dirty. Moths are attracted to organic residue — perspiration, food — not to clean wool.
• Cotton garment bag, not plastic. Plastic traps air, and residual moisture causes odour and yellowing.
• Space between hangers. Crowded suits crease permanently.
• No mothballs in direct contact with the cloth — the smell is hard to remove. Cedar is the alternative.

What it costs

With us, a two-piece suit costs 49 RON and a separate jacket 27 RON. If the garments are only creased rather than dirty, pressing costs 70% of the cleaning price — a far better fit for routine upkeep.

Frequently asked questions