Kilts and Dry Cleaning

[zeytoun]

I also think that the dry cleaner's comments may have been the standard comment whenever leather is involved. In the dry cleaning process, do they totally submerge the garments? or are the chemicals sprayed on or applied by hand? if it's the latter, if you are very concerned, you could just tape of the exposed straps. The dry cleaning chemicals might just strip the finish at worst, they certainly wouldn't eat all the way through the straps would they? Otherwise what would stop the chemicals from eating through your clothes? If my points are wrong, somebody correct me quickly before someone damages their kilt...lol

[bear]

Bear, you might look into alternate materials for straps, like woven nylon or cotton. Maybe even use snap buckles instead of traditionals.

Thanks Bubba,
I'm trying to look at all the choices before I try one on a kilt.

[Hamish]

I just got my TFCK B/W polly/viscose back from a local drycleaners here in Canada and didn't have any probs.also do you have old kilt that you can sacrifice as a test to see if it will be a prob?
or do the cleaners not have anythin to test first.

Phil,

OK, I see your point. However, whilst some of my kilts are older than others, I do not have any "old" kilts that I'd be prepared to sacrifice! Even my old ones are too precious for me to take such a risk!

The impression I gained from the dry-cleaners was that the straps could become brittle and denatured by the effects of the new chemicals. That would, for me, be a disaster since the authenticity of the kilt would be lost, even if new straps had to be found.

Thanks for your suggestion, though.

[Hamish]

I also think that the dry cleaner's comments may have been the standard comment whenever leather is involved. In the dry cleaning process, do they totally submerge the garments? or are the chemicals sprayed on or applied by hand? if it's the latter, if you are very concerned, you could just tape of the exposed straps. The dry cleaning chemicals might just strip the finish at worst, they certainly wouldn't eat all the way through the straps would they? Otherwise what would stop the chemicals from eating through your clothes? If my points are wrong, somebody correct me quickly before someone damages their kilt...lol

Thanks for your thoughts on this, Zeytoun. I have no idea how garments are dry-cleaned - maybe I'll ask to watch the process when I have a spare half-day. As I have just said to Phil, I came away with the impression that the new chemicals might make the leather brittle or otherwise become denatured.

In the past, I have known of cases where buttons had to be removed from clothing before a dry-cleaner would accept them, I suppose for similar reasons.

It is just that I have not come across this before - and I've had many kilts dry cleaned over the years. As Rob said, the introduction of different chemicals is probably down to some new Euro-directive from Brussels! After all, the shops/garden-centres are no longer permitted to sell 90% of the things we've been putting on our gardens for as long as I can remember! I guess dry-cleaning is the same.

Anyway, thanks for your comments.

[phil h]

well it's probably only a matter of time before we get the same stuff here,so what are we to do then?
wear stinky kilt?
In the meantime hamish send your kilts to Canada to be cleaned.

[Doc Hudson]

Hamish,

If your leather straps do become brittle, whether from age or dry cleaning, let me suggest the use of Lexol Leather Conditioner. I've been working with leather for nearly 20 years and I use nothing but Lexol to treat dry leather. Lexol also makes a great Leather Cleaner, so be sure you get the Conditioner.

Lexol is great for restoring the essential oils in leather without beinge messy or making the leather greasy. I don't think it would harm the wool of your kilts, but I would still try keep from getting it on the fabric.

If you can't find Lexol locally of from a British source, you can order it through Tandy Leather @ http://www.tandyleather.com/

[bubba]

Bear, I used woven cotton straps and snap buckles on one kilt. They work pretty well even if they don't look exactly traditional. For those that don't know what snap buckles are, they're the kind used on bum bags and kids school backpacks. They do well in the washing machine and I imagine they'd be immune to dry cleaning solvents.

[Hamish]

Hamish,

If your leather straps do become brittle, whether from age or dry cleaning, let me suggest the use of Lexol Leather Conditioner. I've been working with leather for nearly 20 years and I use nothing but Lexol to treat dry leather. Lexol also makes a great Leather Cleaner, so be sure you get the Conditioner.

Lexol is great for restoring the essential oils in leather without beinge messy or making the leather greasy. I don't think it would harm the wool of your kilts, but I would still try keep from getting it on the fabric.

If you can't find Lexol locally of from a British source, you can order it through Tandy Leather @ http://www.tandyleather.com/

Doc., thank you so much. I've noted the details and will consult the saddlemaker when I visit there next week. I have a leather jacket which is about to start cracking - maybe Lexol will save that too! I've never handled leather in my life, other than to wear shoes and jackets, so this is opening a whole new area for me.

Thanks to all.

[Doc Hudson]

Get the Lexol for you coat. It will help. I don't know how much, but the improvement should be noticable.

[richardljohnson]

One thing to also consider is if the straps are dyed, could possible newer chemical in the Dry Cleaning process interact with the dye? This may be a non issue but, it is another question. If they do it could not only be a problem for your kilt but other items in that load.

RLJ-