"Bath" Time

[BLHS209]

OK, spent the weekend kilted (New Hampshire Highland Games, great time, pic's later) and thought that it was time that I got the kilt dry cleaned. It has been more than three years since I got it and hasn't been done yet. Before the "eeewww's" start, I wear it occasionally (it is a tank).

So my question - what should I expect to pay to get it cleaned? I will be contacting some local bands / St. Andrews for drop off suggestions but have no clue what the rates might be.

Chris Shepherd

[Riverkilt]

Sounds like is a wool kilt from the tank description.

Don't....really....odds of getting it messed up from a well meaning dry cleaner without a clue are too high.

[JerseyLawyer]

Unless you've spilled something on it, there's really no need. Just air it out before you put it away.

But... if you do bring it in, expect to pay by the pleat. I think I paid $15 or so last time I got one done, but that was a while ago.

[Ryan Ross]

Wash it in the bathtub with some dish liquid. Seriously.

[denmcdough]

Personally, I would NOT send it to a dry cleaner, as Riverkilt has mentioned. Use a steamer to get out odor and wrinkles, or spot clean if you've spilled anything on it.

I purchased an inexpensive steamer, a Conair, at Wal-mart...works great!

[fluter]

Wash it in the bathtub with some dish liquid. Seriously.

Better yet, Ivory Snow (it's a soap, not a detergent) or a wool wash you get from a yarn shop.

[azwildcat96]

I'd have to agree with the "don't do it" advice. Wool has natural odor repelling properties. The best example I can give is of a friend who has worn the same military style wool sweater, for duck hunting, camping, and general outdoor wear, for the last ump-teen years. Seven years ago, when he told me he hadn’t washed it ever, I didn’t believe him. I purchased a similar one three years ago, and have not washed mine yet either. It smells like it did the day I took it out of the delivery package.

[BLHS209]

OK, should have mentioned outright, yes, it is wool - 8 yd, 13oz. But, so far the suggestions are in the negative. Even though it was spilled on (2nd time wearing), I was able to mop/sop it up before it stained (red drink). At the $15 per pleat as suggested by JerseyLawyer, it would/could get expensive. A quick count is at about 20 pleats (actually more but not sure what "they" would count as a pleat).

And at that rate, might as well buy a new kilt!!

So, as was mentioned in another thread, I will invest in the lint brush and check out the steamer as suggested by denmcdough.

I would still be interested though in what others dry cleaning bills were (about).

Chris Shepherd

[Ryan Ross]

OK, should have mentioned outright, yes, it is wool - 8 yd, 13oz. But, so far the suggestions are in the negative. Even though it was spilled on (2nd time wearing), I was able to mop/sop it up before it stained (red drink). At the $15 per pleat as suggested by JerseyLawyer, it would/could get expensive. A quick count is at about 20 pleats (actually more but not sure what "they" would count as a pleat).

And at that rate, might as well buy a new kilt!!

So, as was mentioned in another thread, I will invest in the lint brush and check out the steamer as suggested by denmcdough.

I would still be interested though in what others dry cleaning bills were (about).

Chris Shepherd

I don't know what your kilt wearing habits are, in terms of frequency of use and the conditions under which you use them. That said, depending on were you wear them, they will sometimes NEED to be washed.

I wear my kilts everywhere, wether it be to weddings, for hiking, or for highland games. Now the Stone Mountain Games, for example, are known for having a dust problem. I've washed a kilt after those games(and it didn't look too bad before the washing, mind you), and you wouldn't believe what was left behind in the tub afterward!

My only point here is: If you feel like your kilt needs a wash, it probably does. In that case, the best way to do it is in the tub. A quick press after drying will bring it back to looking, smelling, and feeling almost like new.

...though it's a bit scary, the first time you do it.

[JerseyLawyer]

Sorry, I wasn't being clear. You pay per pleat, but the total cost when I did it was about $15. Not $15 per pleat. That'd be over $500 a kilt. :P