Cleaning a traditional kilt...

[highlandtide]

Hey Guys-

I know most of the modern kilts are machine washable, but my trad kilt is getting pretty dirty. I dont know if I trust just any local dry cleaner with it. What do you folk do to get your trad kilt clean?

[Jimmy Carbomb]

I'll be interested in hearing this one too!

I know that I have a good Dry Cleaner that does the work, and the pain-in-the-**** pleat pressing.

When mine needs that quick clean for a gig, I like to hand-wash it in Woolite, and hang dry it on a shower curtain rod (to hold the pleats flat). After that, a quick steam iron will do the trick.

[Chris@southerncelt.com]

I usually tack my pleats down with a basting stitch before taking it to the dry cleaner. Of course this doesn't help if you have any nasty stains under the pleats, but it gives them something to press nice and sharp.

[Celt]

Chris, have you found dry cleaners...generally speaking...to take it in stride when you lay a kilt on the counter, or do you get a deer-in-the-headlights look from some? Or most? Did you have to search until you found one you could trust, and how did you know when you had? Before you committed your kilt to them, that is.....

[highlandtide]

Celt has my sentiments exactly. To be honest may trad kilt has never been cleaned (had it for four years) b/c I dont trust anyone with it. Something might be wrong with me for admitting that...

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Go into the dry cleaner wearing a black leather jacket and a scalley cap. Tell them AT THE COUNTER exactly what you're wanting and what you're expecting. Nothing short of your expectations will be acceptable. Once the kilt is returned in perfect care, you have a new trusted friend.

I take ALL our kilts into the same spot now, and get perfect service everytime. Yes, I tip well due to the work and the time, but they appreciate it and love it when I come in with more.

Dry cleaners are in business to keep customers... not tick-off the community. Let them know that you will gladly recommend their "unique and outstanding" work and service to everyone. So... basically... suck-up to avoid a &$*%-up.

[allenlynott]

Save yourself a lot of driving around and contact the reputable cleaners in the yellow pages. I found my cleaner by talking to the owners of one of the local Celtic shops. Word of mouth is amazing.

Cheers,
Allen

[Celt]

suck-up to avoid a &$*%-up.

Hooo..good line. I gotta remember that one.

Word of mouth is amazing.


Yeah, ain't it, though? Advertising is 90% bs...word of mouth is 90% dead-on.

[Chris@southerncelt.com]

Celt, and others. Sorry it took so long to reply. I usually find that the mom and pop dry cleaners do the best work and are less likely to look at you funny when you walk in. The chain places will inevitably have some high-school kid working the counter that isn't going to know what to do with your kilt. But the smaller business will be far more likely to have someone there that knows exactly what they are doing.

Allenlynot has the best solution, with the asking kilt wearers/makers in the neighborhood. But if you, like me, don't have any of those. Try this method.

[John in Texas]

I havent tried this with my traditional kilt yet, but it is how I clean my wool sweaters.

I use a product called Dryell.
Basically it is a do-it-yourself dry cleaning kit. You just put the garment in a special zippered bag with a cleaning pad and put it in the dryer as directed. There is a special stain remover as well for the bad spots. Then I guess you can iron the pleats straight and be off. I am one of those "I trust myself the most" when it comes to that sort of thing.

Just a thought.

The recommendations of asking around and researching are very good, I'd add that you might call the BBB (better business beureau) once you find a potential cleaner to see what kind of track record they have.