Suits should be dry cleaned after three to four wearings. Formal attire: Although formal clothes, like suits, do not contact your skin, they are not as commonly worn. Formal suits should be washed once a season, or after each wear, unless you wear them more than once or twice a year. If you do not wash your suit in between uses, it will smell like old smoke and moth balls. If you clean your suit too frequently, you will ruin its texture and color. Dry cleaning removes any moisture that may have come into contact with the suit during use, such as when climbing into and out of cars or buses. You should know that some fabrics, such as silk, cannot be cleaned without damage. If you own a silk suit, you should consider having it dry-cleaned only about every other time you wear it. The best way to care for your suit is by washing it with shampoo before wearing it and then drying it completely before putting it in the closet. This will help keep it looking new longer!