Quote Originally Posted by Moses View Post
I am getting a kilt bought off eBay. I do not know how it was cared for by the original owner.

I do know it is wrinkled, I do know it was hand-stitched, also that it is of 8+ yards, and made of either 13 or 16oz wool from Lochcarron about 1997 – I was able to chat with the kilt maker.

If it fits and is in good shape I will need to do at least some cleaning and ironing.

I have never even threaded a needle so basting is not an option for me personally and also I am very nervous about washing it. I want to be careful but I am afraid it should be really cleaned.

So I believe I should take it to the cleaners. Does anyone know about one in the Detroit metro area? I do know to tell them no pressing.

Also I am hoping, in ironing my kilt, I might just get away with the apron. I can do some basic ironing but again it's not my forte and am not confident. Is there a chance the weight and mill of the wool will help me out?
My big concern with a used kilt would be moth holes, which would require reweaving to close. Other than that, send it to the dry cleaners. Dry cleaning, in my experience, works OK. I have never washed any of my kilts or needed to. They have not been cleaned very often either, because I am careful not to get them dirty. My understanding is that dry cleaning on a regular basis may result in deterioration of the straps, which I would think would also be the case with washing. In washing, the recommendation is to use cold water and "Woolite," do the job in your bathtub, hang on it a line, hose off the kilt with cold water then let it dry gradually. You do not need to baste the pleats no matter what you finally decide to do. In my experience with dry cleaning, the kilt comes back with the pleats in place. I have never specified "no ironing," when putting the kilt in the cleaners. Even if they are not in place, it should be simple, given that the sett is stitched into the rear of the kilt, to line them up and press them.

Disclaimer...while I have been wearing kilts for 35 years, I am not an expert on wool or making kilts. All I can give you is my personal experience. You are likely to get a lot more opinions on this question and some of them are probably going to be different from what I said. Anyway...good luck with the kilt. Wear it a lot, do not shut it up in a dark closet, unattended, during the summer months and you should be able to enjoy it for years.