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Steaming suits/pants in washer?

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SAndrews

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Ok, I know I can hang a wool suit or pants in the bathroom while I take a shower to let out slight wrinkles, or I can use a steamer. I recently bought a LG washer with the steam ability, and it has a steamfresh cycle that uses light steam and a slow tumbling action to remove wrinkles. I read a review of the washer from a lawyer's wife that said she barely takes his clothes to the dry cleaner any more. She just throws a few pairs of pants in the steamfresh cycle and then hangs them by the cuffs. A guy I work with said he does the same with his pants. I am afraid to put any of my dry clean only wool stuff in the steamfresh cycle for fear it might damage it, but it would save a lot on drycleaning bills.

Has anybody tried this? What do you think?
 
#2 ·
I have a conventional topload washer that I wash "dryclean only" wool dresspants in with cold water & delicate cycle, then dripdry & iron myself to no visible bad effect, so I suppose a steamfresh cycle would be ok, I suppose you'd have to iron them after, right?
 
#3 ·
well, according to member Jeffreyd (who still owes us a tutorial on how to properly press a suit using a sleeve board :) ),

Quote:

Please please please do not steam a suit!

Wool is a hair like the stuff on top of your head; when a suit has been finished, about an hour is spent pressing it, molding that hair into a shape, much like when a woman puts her hair in curlers. Pressing is an art form in itself which, when badly done, can destroy a suit. Likewise, steam in the hands of the inexperienced can ruin the careful shaping that the pressing has given it. Think of how women squeal about their hair when it is humid or rainy out; that's what steaming is going to do to your suit.

I hesitate to even suggest you take your suit to the cleaners for a pressing as most of them will do a poor job as well; find a reputable tailor and ask him who does his pressing, as the chances are very good that he sends his work out to be done on specialized equipment. Failing that, find the best cleaners in town and have them give it a pressing. A good suit will recover between wearings, and little creases in the elbow, knee and back can be gently removed with an iron and a little steam (use a rolled up towel in the sleeve).

Your suit will love you for it.
 
#5 ·
Yes I have to agree. The washer dryer is not a good place for a suit. Even a low end pair of pants I had washed in delicate with cold water came out like crap than it does when it comes from the dry cleaners. Take them to the cleaners to get pressed if they are not too soiled, and just need to be freshened up. Otherwise, sweat, food stains, etc... it's time to dry clean them. Just my two cents. :icon_smile:
 
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#6 ·
Fairlane said:
Yes I have to agree. The washer and dryer is not a good place for a suit. Even a low end pair of pants I had washed in delicate with cold water came out like crap than it does when it comes from the dry cleaners. Take them to the cleaners to get pressed if they are not too soiled, and just need to be freshened up. Otherwise, sweat, food stains, etc... it's time to dry clean them. Just my two cents. :icon_smile:
Click to expand...
Are not you jocking? It just cost 2 cents? I mean really ? I am stunned to hear that it just 2 cents? Where do you live actually?
 
#7 ·
^^
Well considering Fairlane posted those comments fully eight years ago, perhaps that's what it cost back then? Seriously, Fairlaine's use of the phrase "just my two cents" is just a way of saying what he said in his post is just his opinion. ;)
 
#9 ·
^^LOL....
I suspect you are right, my friend. I came on Begather's post while the coffee was still perking and I had yet to have my fist cup of the morning. It's always dangerous to post before one's first cup of Joe! LOL. ;)
 
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