The average cost for a U.S. household doing laundry is $183.79 annually. Throw an occasional trip to the dry cleaners to the mix and things add up.

You've decided it's time to learn how to wash dress pants. Not sure where to start? Don't worry, we've got your back. Here's everything you need to know.

What Are Dress Pants?

Dress pants cover the bottom half of the body and are made from an array of fabrics like wool, polyester, linen, and blends.

You don't need to worry about washing dress pants after every wear. Unless you get a stain or dirt on them, you can wash them after every two to three washes. 

Using a Washing Machine

To ensure you clean the washed wool pants well, follow these instructions.

1. Understand Your Laundry Labels

Before you Google “how to wash wool pants”, check out the symbols on the label inside the trousers.

The label will cover washing, bleaching, drying, and ironing to ensure you do so properly. You’ll notice there is a circle, which is the dry cleaning symbol.

It’ll either be empty (needs dry cleaning) or with an “F” and “P” to show which solvent to use. If there’s a circle with an “x”, it means “do not dry clean”.

2. Determine the Fabric

Note that delicate synthetics like suede, leather, velvet, and silk won’t do well with soap and water, so they must be dry cleaned. You can handwash cotton, wool, nylon, and linen with gentle handwashing or in the “delicates” washing machine cycle. 

Another way to test whether it needs to be dry cleaned is by doing a spot test. Run a little bit of water over the inside of your dress pants. Then dab a small amount of laundry detergent and rub a cotton swab over the fabric. 

You’re testing for colorfastness and its resistance to running or fading. If the area bleeds and your cotton swab is no longer white, it must be dry cleaned. 

3. Wash In Cold Water  

Before you wash pants, ensure they’re turned inside out to prevent fading and to preserve your buttons. You should also remove tissue, paper, or other items in your pockets as they could streak and damage your pants.  

Put your trousers in a mesh laundry bag as they help protect delicate fabrics if you have a mixed laundry load. Then throw them in the washing machine.

Use mild laundry detergent and turn the washing machine on the gentlest cycle with cold water. Wait for the cycle to end, and you’re sorted! 

Washing Dress Pants By Hand 

If you're unsure how to wash suit pants when the fabrics are too delicate, wash them by hand. 

1. Fill Up the Sink   

This will take longer than using a machine but your pants will still be appropriate for work. Fill up your sink with cold water or, if you have multiple pairs, use the bathtub. Make sure you’re not mixing fabrics or colors as dark clothes must be washed separately from light-colored ones. 

2. Add Laundry Detergent

Next, pour mild detergent so the water becomes frothy. Put your pants in the water and press them so the mixture soaks into them. Scrub gently with your fingers, focusing especially on areas with dirt or stains. 

Then drain out the soapy water and refill your sink or tub with clean, cold water. Keep dipping your pants in the water until the laundry detergent has been washed out. You can also run water and move the pants back and forth to remove the suds.  

Tackling Stains 

Your pants may be clean except a pesky ketchup stain from lunch.

To get rid of the mark, soak the stain in room-temperature water. Next, pour salt onto the stain and let it soak for 15 minutes. Then rinse off the salt and apply mild detergent from the inside of your pants. 

Note that if you don’t want to use cleaning products you can use lemon or vinegar on cotton. If your dress pants are wool, you’ll need to get a special wool detergent.

Once you’ve applied the cleaner, place a paper towel over the stain and leave it for an hour. Now, your stain should’ve disappeared. 

Drying Your Dress Pants

Never dry your dress pants in the dryer. Instead, lay the wet pants on a dry, fluffy towel and roll it up. Next, squeeze the rolled-up towel to remove any water from the pants. Unroll the towel and move to a drier part to repeat the process. It may take five goes to get all the water out from your pants.

Air Dry

Lay your dress pants on a clean, flat surface so they can air dry. Don’t touch or pick them up until they’re completely dry.

Iron

Once your pants have been towel dried, you can iron them. 

Turn the pants inside out and iron the pockets first to ensure they’re flat. Just be sure not to put too much heat on the delicate fabric, it’s better to use the steam setting. Also focus on the inseams, crease, and cuffs. 

Hang Up Your Dress Pants

You must hang your pants after every cleaning. If your dress pants have pleats, fold them along the pleat and hang them on the hanger. Otherwise, fold them in half on the hanger and hang them up. Doing so will prevent any annoying wrinkles from emerging.

That's How to Wash Dress Pants

There are many ways on how to wash dress pants and it depends on the fabric. If you’re worried it’s too delicate, hand wash them with mild detergent and cold water in your sink. Or, use a gentle wash setting with cool water to ensure it’s completely clean. And don’t forget to properly dry them too. Happy cleaning!

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