taking my first alan made kilt to the cleaners

**James MacMillan** · 27th November 07, 12:39 PM

I really like the signed agreement idea - I have one old kilt that just never recovered form its trip to the cleaners. I still wear it, but not to anything nice.

Has anyone had any experience fixing a wool kilt that has been stretched out of shape by a bad press job? It was a few years ago, but I remember hours and hours trying to work the wet wool back into shape. I got it half way fixed, but ..... well you get the idea.

**O'Neille** · 27th November 07, 12:54 PM

Wash something in woolite sometime after you get it back from the dry cleaners. You'll be amazed at how much filth you get out of it. Personally, I like to know that the gunk on my kilts is my gunk and not from the last hundred items that were "cleaned" in the same fluid.

To each his own, but I swear by the Kathy Lare method of hand washing in woolite and laying flat to dry. I use an old patio screen door w/ fiberglass screen. This preserves the lanolin and other oils in the wool, prevents excessive felting and is quite easy.

**Bugbear** · 27th November 07, 01:44 PM

Hand washing works great, but I bought a fold out clothes drying rack to dry my kilts I've found that the kilts are difficult to lay flat because of the tapering at the hips, so I hang the tapered part over the edge of the rack and the pleats are very easy to flatten out and don't require much pressing when it dries.

Originally Posted by O'Neille

Wash something in woolite sometime after you get it back from the dry cleaners. You'll be amazed at how much filth you get out of it. Personally, I like to know that the gunk on my kilts is my gunk and not from the last hundred items that were "cleaned" in the same fluid.

To each his own, but I swear by the Kathy Lare method of hand washing in woolite and laying flat to dry. I use an old patio screen door w/ fiberglass screen. This preserves the lanolin and other oils in the wool, prevents excessive felting and is quite easy.

**James MacMillan** · 27th November 07, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Ted Crocker

Hand washing works great, but I bought a fold out clothes drying rack to dry my kilts I've found that the kilts are difficult to lay flat because of the tapering at the hips, so I hang the tapered part over the edge of the rack and the pleats are very easy to flatten out and don't require much pressing when it dries.

Where did you find a fold-out drying rack? I've done some searches, but no luck yet.

**Bugbear** · 27th November 07, 07:19 PM

I found mine at a yard sale, but I think that Walmart has racks that set in a tub for drying wool sweaters. You might try those type of stores in the travel departments.

**James MacMillan** · 27th November 07, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by Ted Crocker

I found mine at a yard sale, but I think that Walmart has racks that set in a tub for drying wool sweaters. You might try those type of stores in the travel departments.

You might be talking about something like these.

But I am looking for a flat one.

**Bugbear** · 27th November 07, 08:45 PM

The one I have is made of plastic coated metal bars and has legs and fold out wings, so it's like a table almost. I've been looking for one like it on the web, but haven't found anything yet. It looks like there are sweater drying racks on the web that could be put side by side to make enough space to spread out a kilt though. If I see anything like what I have, I will post it.

**auld argonian** · 27th November 07, 12:56 PM

Not to rain on your parade but I really doubt that you'll find a cleaners that will sign any kind of agreement like that...

I seem to remember Glassman having mentioned that he had some luck cleaning his kilts at home with that Dryel stuff...

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/k...ighlight=dryel

Best

AA

**The Wizard of BC** · 27th November 07, 01:01 PM

James, Any competent kiltmaker can get your kilt back in shape unless it has been crumpled in a box somewhere for 20 years.

If you can't find anyone, send it to me and I'll do it.

Yes, I always tell my customers to baste their pleats before any washing.

It is far better to hand wash a good Wool Kilt.

Check the articles section on ideas about washing and basting.

**James MacMillan** · 27th November 07, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

James, Any competent kiltmaker can get your kilt back in shape unless it has been crumpled in a box somewhere for 20 years.
If you can't find anyone, send it to me and I'll do it.

OK - After things slow down after Christmas, I'll see what we can work out. So busy right now, that I feel guilty poking the keys instead of doing other more important stuff.