Best way to wash kilt hose?

**jmercier** · 13th March 08, 09:05 PM

So Iv'e read the thread on stretching hose shrunk in the wash and other threads, but I haven't found a concise thread on what the best way to wash woolen kilt hose is. Should I hand wash them with woolite and set them out to dry? Can i toss them in the cold water wash delicates and then set them out to dry? I'm just not sure what the best way to wash them is, but walking around a dusty hillside for a highland games or the like gets the hose quite dirty pretty darned fast, so it would be nice to know the /best/ way to wash them, since they're expensive as far as socks go.

**Bugbear** · 13th March 08, 09:16 PM

You almost need to know if they are all wool, a wool blend... From what I have heard, the all wool gets hand washed, and the acrylic/wool can go in the cold, gental wash cycle, and all are to be air dried.
I lay mine a cross a clothes drying rack. I don't have all wool hose either; they're acrylic wool blend.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

**SteveB** · 13th March 08, 09:30 PM

I have some plain wool kilt hose, as well as some custom knitted wool kilt hose. All are quite dear. All of them are treated to hand washing, then being laid out , over a cotton mesh covered wood drying rack, in my basement so they are not exposed to the effects of the sun.

**jmercier** · 13th March 08, 09:40 PM

I believe that most of my kilt hose are 70% wool, just a pair of creme ones that i have that are 100% wool

**Bugbear** · 13th March 08, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by jmercier

I believe that most of my kilt hose are 70% wool, just a pair of creme ones that i have that are 100% wool

I might hand wash those... Deffinatly the pure wool. And Steve has a good point about not putting them out in the sun. Wouldn't want to rost your woolly lamb legs.

D :

**jmercier** · 13th March 08, 09:51 PM

Thanks for the advice, guess i need to go out and find some more woolite, just had a little bit laying around from when i had to get coal dust out of a kilt at one time

**Bugbear** · 13th March 08, 09:53 PM

I don't seem to be able to find my links to the how to wash wool topics,, but basically do your best to not adgetate, twist, or ring them... I wish I could find that link for you, sorry.

**Alaskan Kilted Guy** · 13th March 08, 09:59 PM

I have a pair of hose that are a wool/poly blend. I hand wash them and then hang dry. Seems to work ok.

**Canuck** · 13th March 08, 10:02 PM

Put them on when you take a bath or shower. Use hand soap, give them a good scrub, rinse, peel them off gently wring them out and drape them over the shower rod to drip dry. Got yourself clean at the same time!

**The Wizard of BC** · 13th March 08, 11:28 PM

I have had very good luck putting my Wool/Nylon blend hose in one of those mesh bags that women use for their underthings. Then putting them in the washer in cold water with liquid detergent.

When they come out of the washer I gently pull them into their normal shape and hang over a line in the laundry room overnight.

The Mesh bag keeps down agitation to a minimum. That paired with the cold water and I haven't had a bit of a problem.

If you have a problem with washing hose ask your wife or girlfriend to give you some pointers about washing "delicates".

If you don't have a lady in your life, go to your local laundromat. Stand there in your kilt with a pair of hose in your hand and a really pitifully look on your face. It will only take about ten minutes before someone asks if you need help.