Washy, washy

[Taffy Jack]

Well, we threw our annual veterans' eggnog bash again this year. I served our guests kilted, and dang if I didn't lean on the wrong counter and practically sat on a lemon tart, spoiling its skift of whipped cream and leaving me with a rather alarming bunny tail of dairy fat. I was treated to a brisk wiping down with a damp cloth, and the festivities continued.

Today, following a trip for supplies (there's never Woolite around when you need it, but now we'll probably find three bottles hidden on some obscure shelf), we laid my kilt over a towel on the kitchen table and agitated small portions of the affected area at a time, up and down in a Tupperware dish that held a bit of Woolite and water. After several rounds of this, we did the same with plain water until it remained clear. We did not rub at it.

My kilt is currently spread out flat across its third or fourth drying towel on the same, long-suffering, little pine table with the pleats carefully arranged as they were originally pressed. It appears to be drying out slowly, but well. When it is as dry as "slightly damp," I figure I can hang it uncovered until it's bone-dry without stretching it out.

It's an eight-yard woolen kilt from USAK, with the pleats stitched down along the top few inches near the waist. Currently, though not permanently, the only kilt in my inventory. I like it quite well and, while I believe it to be worth what I paid, it wasn't cheap and I'd like it to last.

Am I overlooking anything here? Have I already done the (not yet imagined) unthinkable?

I didn't expect to clean it this aggressively...maybe ever. Surely not for a few more years, at my low rate of wear and given that I don't camp out in it.

Suggestions and Chanukibbitzing welcome. Thanks.

Cheers,

Jack

[Pleater]

It should be just fine.
I have, in the past dunked heavy all wool kilts into a bath of warm water once a first sponging and rinsing off was done, to be washed with a mild detergent such as shower gell already dissolved and slightly frothed, then gently moved the kilt around to work the water through the fabric, then allowed the water to drain away and lifted the kilt out to refill the bath several times for rinsing. Lifting out was done with the kilt aprons rolled around the pleats, no pulling by the waistband or a casual handful of any part of it.
For the full immersion I finished the process with a cup of white vinegar added to the final rinse as wool likes to be slightly acid, but for spot cleaning I would not think it necessary.
The kilts were left to drain and were then wrapped in towels and the water pressed out several times before being laid on an airer and turned several times a day.
The kilts in question had suffered far greater insult than whipped cream and recovered well.
Wool stands wetting well - it is heat and agitation which causes problems.

[Taffy Jack]

It should be just fine.
...
The kilts in question had suffered far greater insult than whipped cream and recovered well.
Wool stands wetting well - it is heat and agitation which causes problems.

Thank you kindly. I was a bit worried, despite it seeming to come through just fine so far.

Nearly dry now!

Cheers,

Jack