A wool military coat needs four habits, not a dry cleaner: brush it after wearing, air it before storing, spot clean marks as they happen, and store it on a wide shaped hanger away from moths. Do those four things and a handmade wool coat outlasts its owner. Never machine wash it, and dry clean only when something serious happens.
The care cycle
THE ROUTINE THAT KEEPS A WOOL COAT PARADE READY
Step by step
1. Brush after wearing
A soft clothes brush, worked downward, lifts dust and dried mud before they settle into the weave. Pay attention to cuffs, collar and skirt hems. This one habit does more than everything else combined.
2. Air it out
Hang the coat in a dry, ventilated spot for a day after an event, out of direct sun. Wool releases moisture and odour on its own; it rarely needs washing at all. A damp coat goes nowhere near a wardrobe.
3. Spot clean, do not soak
Dab marks with a cloth dampened in cool water, working from the outside of the stain inward, and never rub hard on the nap. For grease, let a little cornflour sit on the spot before brushing off. If a stain beats you, that is the moment for a dry cleaner who knows structured garments, and only then.
4. Store it properly
A wide, shaped wooden hanger keeps the shoulders from collapsing. For long storage use a breathable cotton garment bag, never plastic, and cedar blocks or lavender against moths. Check on it each season; moths love an undisturbed coat.
Wrinkles, steam and the iron question
Hang the coat in a steamy bathroom and most creases fall out on their own. A garment steamer held a hand's width away works too. If you must iron, use a pressing cloth between iron and wool and a wool setting, and never press braid, frogging or buttons directly. The structured chest of a military coat should not be ironed flat at all; steam only.
PALE WOOL AND GOLD CORDS REWARD CAREFUL STORAGE
Frequently asked questions
Can I machine wash a wool military coat?
No. Machine washing shrinks and felts wool and destroys the coat's structure. Brush, air and spot clean instead.
How often should it be dry cleaned?
As rarely as possible, only for serious stains or a full refresh after years of use. Solvents slowly dull wool and stress stitching.
How do I protect gold braid and frogging?
Steam around it, never iron over it, and store the coat where the braid does not press against other garments.
Why wool repays all this care is its own story, told in our wool cavalry coats guide. And if your coat is still ahead of you, every piece in our military uniforms collection is handmade in wool to order.
Handmade to order · Built to be cared for
