Making a suit last: what to do between cleans

Clean a suit less and care for it more. Solvent cleaning is hard on wool, and a jacket that is dry cleaned after every wear will look tired long before one that is aired, brushed and rested.

• Use a broad wooden hanger. Wire hangers collapse the shoulder, which is the one part of a jacket that cannot be fixed.
• Rest it a day between wears so the wool can recover its shape.
• Brush downwards after wearing to lift dust out of the weave.
• Empty the pockets before hanging. Weight distorts the front.
• Steam rather than press at home; a hot iron flattens the finish of worsted wool.
• Store in breathable cotton, never plastic, which traps moisture against the fibre.

When it does need professional attention, clean the jacket and trousers together even if only one looks dirty — cleaning them separately over time leaves a visible difference in shade.