Dry Cleaning

[Blu (Ontario)]

... Maybe I'm just a chicken and all you guys will tell me that you wash wool kilts all the time. But, frankly, this isn't something that I'm going to try any time soon!!...Barb

I know I'd be chewin' my fingernails to the quick washing a $600 worsted wool kilt. So far, I've managed to get away with spot cleaning & a bit of steam, etc. and I plan on doing just that as long as possible.

[bubba]

I have no problems at all. Fill the bathtub with cold water and woolite, swish it around by hand. Then I let it drip so most of the excess water is gone, then lay it out on bath towels. Line everything up and press the pleats with my hands and let it dry. Takes a long time to dry but it's cheaper and safer than dry cleaning and pressing. Just wash it like you would an expensive sweater. DON'T use the washing machine! Doing it this way it ends up with sharp pleats all nicely in place with no steaming and it hasn't affected the finish yet. I don't wash it often, twice so far with my MacNeil kilt, usually a spot cleaning and a touchup with a steam iron is enough.

[Hamish]

You bold soul, you! I have to confess that I've never met anyone who actually does that with a traditional wool kilt. I have heard of people hanging a kilt on the line and hosing it down when it's dirty and sweaty, but Woolite and cold water is something I'm not sure I'd try any more than I would wash a nice wool suit. Don't you have trouble with the kilt keeping its shape during the washing?? What happens to the nice hard finish of the tartan when you wash it?

Maybe I'm just a chicken and all you guys will tell me that you wash wool kilts all the time. But, frankly, this isn't something that I'm going to try any time soon!!

Barb

Nor would I, Barb! As for dry cleaning a traditional woollen kilt: it should be done only when absolutely necessary, and even then think twice before having it done! Most of my traditional kilts have never been cleaned - they simply do not need it. My oldest kilt, tailored for me in 1973, has probably been cleaned no more than six or seven times, and it has seen extremely good service in those years. For over twenty of them it was my only kilt. Today, it looks like new. Of course, I have treated it with respect, as I do all of my kilts. Thorough airing overnight after wear, carefully arranged on a grip hanger and each one stored individually in moth-resistant plastic covers. I find they sedom require pressing either - at least not the 100% woollen ones!

[Phil Wright]

Amen to that! I have 2 kilts bought from other sources, Ths first I naievely had cleaned and it came back with more ruffles than a Dandy.Then the second I thought I would explain (nicely) about how to align the sett, but still no joy. I wonder how many of the assistants would feel if they had $600 of hard earned cash under the machinery? My advice, get it cleaned then press it yourself, after re-basting. Just a press doesn't work. My first kilt is only for messing about in now!!!
Phil

[jjoseph]

Regarding dry cleaners: if it's a PV kilt or cargo, just about anyone will do. If you have a leather kilt or one in vintage wool, then look for a cleaner who specializes in those. I've found that cleaners who prepare wedding dresses for longterm storage are pretty adept at dealing with finer things.

[An t-Ileach]

If you're in London, "Jeeves of Belgravia" know how to do kilts, but they're expensive. My tailor years ago would have a fit if anybody dry cleaned one of his suits - he held that the chemicals ruined the wool over time and believed that all that was needed in most circumstances was spongeing and pressing. But it's in the pressing that the problem lies: better do it oneself, or stand over the dry cleaner with a mallet