Care Of PV Material

[seanachie]

I read with great interest the recent thread on getting a good brush for you kilt and regularly brushing it after wear. I just received my first wool kilt recently and want to keep it in good shape, Keltoi did a great job.

I also have a PV kilt and am wondering should I brush this as well of will it damage the material. I want to preserve these as well.

Thanks

[RockyR]

Is it really PV or acrylic or Poly Cotton? Who was the maker?

If it is a USA Kilts (or any MM PV Fabric), then there's no need to brush it. When dirty, just pop it in the wash on cold with like colors. DO NOT use fabric softener. When it's done washing, lay it flat to dry. Be sure to "neaten" up the pleats while it's wet (straighten out each one and make sure the edge of the pleat it crisp). This will make it easier to iron when dry.

[Tobus]

DO NOT use fabric softener.

I know I've read that advice before, but can you remind me why fabric softener is bad for PV? I seem to have forgotten.

[RockyR]

It takes the Teflon coating off of the fabric.

[Riverkilt]

Well, I brush my PV kilts after wearing. Then steam out the wrinkles and steam the pleat creases back if needed. Do the steaming while the PV kilt is hanging from a hanger.

The few PV Kilts I've needed to wash have washed up well on gentle cycle with cold water. I don't lay them flat though. Hang them from three hangers in a row on a shower rod and put weighted clips on each pleat so the pleats reform during drying. Then steam the pleats into shape if needed. Have never ironed.

Working for me so far.

[seanachie]

Is it really PV or acrylic or Poly Cotton? Who was the maker?

If it is a USA Kilts (or any MM PV Fabric), then there's no need to brush it. When dirty, just pop it in the wash on cold with like colors. DO NOT use fabric softener. When it's done washing, lay it flat to dry. Be sure to "neaten" up the pleats while it's wet (straighten out each one and make sure the edge of the pleat it crisp). This will make it easier to iron when dry.

Thanks for this response Rocky, the information was more expansive than I asked and very helpful. Yes this definitely Marton Mills PV so all applies.

[Zardoz]

Good to see Rocky endorsing the "lay it flat to dry" concept, I noticed it's even on the label of the newest kilt I got from him. I've been promoting doing it that way for a couple years now.

[Kornkob]

I don't think I own a table large enough to lay a kilt out flat and I'm reasonably certain that Mrs Kornkob would have some unkind words for me if I appropriated the kitchen counter or our bed as a kilt drying location.


I have to confess-- other than the canvass Amerikilt, all my kilts get dry cleaned at a local place that charges me about the same as for my dry clean only pants.

[Mike in Dayton]

Please explain the reason for laying flat rather than hanging the kilt out straight on the shower rod. Finding horizontal space that is not on the floor (dog would get on it) is harder than hanging it. I can make the arrangement if there is benefit in doing so.

For my cotton/poly, i.e. Utilikilt, I use the weights on the pleats. I don't do that on PV kilts. The cotton kilts tend to curl the pleats and the weights appear to help prevent that problem.