dry clean ? dip in woolite and drip dry or lay it out flat/ air out

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Thank you Calgacus , I appreciate it, the dry cleaners where I live seem to what they are doing, never had a reason to use them until now. But never heard complaints. Will definitely ask if they have a clue about cleaning kilts... thank you ... Angie

[unixken]

Thank you Calgacus , I appreciate it, the dry cleaners where I live seem to what they are doing, never had a reason to use them until now. But never heard complaints. Will definitely ask if they have a clue about cleaning kilts... thank you ... Angie

The questions to ask would not be about the cleaning, so much as about re-pressing. Most cleaners who do not deal with kilts regularly would likely not be as particular/exacting as required, in the way they might need to be, to press the pleats while preserving a proper "lay" of the pleats to avoid wavey "stage curtain"-like results.

When in doubt, baste-stitch the pleats in place (use at least two rows, spaced about 6 inches apart) before bringing the kilt to the cleaners, and tell them not to press. If the "do not press" note gets lost and they press it anyway, your basting stitches should prevent incorrect results.

[Tobus]

I'm actually surprised that people do send their kilts to dry-cleaners. And even more surprised that their kilts don't get ruined in the process.

Most people don't understand what dry-cleaning really is. It's not a cleaning process that's dry. Your garments are washed in a chemical bath, using a washing machine that's not too terribly different than a front-loading washing machine like you may have at home. They are tumble-dried in warm air.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_cleaning

Even if the dry-cleaning process won't necessarily ruin my kilt, I'm not sure I'd want to subject my kilt to that sort of treatment. Washing it at home in the bathtub and drying it gently with towels and a rack seems good enough. And actually, steaming a kilt and brushing it regularly can keep a kilt very clean without needing to wash it unless it's majorly soiled.

[creagdhubh]

I'm actually surprised that people do send their kilts to dry-cleaners. And even more surprised that their kilts don't get ruined in the process.

Most people don't understand what dry-cleaning really is. It's not a cleaning process that's dry. Your garments are washed in a chemical bath, using a washing machine that's not too terribly different than a front-loading washing machine like you may have at home. They are tumble-dried in warm air.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_cleaning

Even if the dry-cleaning process won't necessarily ruin my kilt, I'm not sure I'd want to subject my kilt to that sort of treatment. Washing it at home in the bathtub and drying it gently with towels and a rack seems good enough. And actually, steaming a kilt and brushing it regularly can keep a kilt very clean without needing to wash it unless it's majorly soiled.

I've never taken any of my kilts to the dry-cleaners, and more than likely never will. I just don't trust them, and as you pointed out Tobus, the actual dry-cleaning process can do more harm than good. All I've ever done with a kilt is spot treat it with a wee bit of cold water and a clean towel when needed, which is very seldom, except for the occasional drop of ale or whisky on the apron.

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Hi creagdhubh ! That is all I've been doing except for the drop of ale/whiskey LOL.. I think I will just keep to the air out and if needs to be washed use baby shampoo and drip dry.. I thank you very much..Angie

[Nathan]

First, there's no point to cleaning wool too often. It's not good for the wool, nor is it necessary.

I'll send my kilt to the cleaners every 10 years or so. Otherwise, I air it out, brush any shmutz out of it if need be and hang it up.

When I do get it cleaned, I take it to a kilt shop and have them use the cleaner they send their kilts to post rental. It's worth paying the money to have the kilt basted, cleaned and professionally pressed. ($40 or so bucks here). I'd go directly to the cleaner if I knew who it was.

Flemington isn't that far from Old Bridge. Give this guy a call and ask where he sends his kilts to be cleaned after he rents them. He might just tell you!

http://www.okaneoutfitters.com/rentals/index.cfm

I'm not sure if it's the kilt shop or the cleaners that baste the kilt, but if you're handy with a needle and thread, you can always baste it yourself and then take it to any drycleaner.

[Calgacus]

I should add that I very rarely dry clean my kilts. I wear long shirts, spot-clean with water and maybe a little mild detergent if necessary, and air them. My Macpherson kilt has never been dry cleaned, but my Mackenzie one has, as it's been worn on the hill a lot and I have sweated in it a fair bit as a result.

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Thank you Calgacus...I appreciate your help as well..Still so many different opinions, but I will give them all something to think about.. Yeh I have only spot clean my kilts if I get anything on them, and take a lint to them.. I wear spandex shorts under my kilts because I'm allergic to wool, so where my kilts land on me my shorts are touching my skin not the wool kilt on parts of my sensitive skin. I don't think I can trust the dry cleaners here lol.. thank you again..Angie

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Thank you Nathan , I really appreciate that.. I shall definitely give him a call.. Like you I only spot clean them if needed, take lint brush to them, air them out... I'm allergic to wool, but all my kilts are wool lol. So I wear spandex shorts under my kilts. Wear the kilt lands so does my spandex shorts... I try my very best not to mess any of them up.I try to be extra careful. I thank you again, will definitely call... Thank you .... Angie

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Thank you Tobus ! I have never had to dry clean or wash them other than a little stain out... I had looked about and read just airing your kilts out is good enough.. Which I've been doing..I just wanted to know if I ever had to seriously get washed what would be suggestions..the baby shampoo seems to make sense.. I thank you.... Angie