Kilts and Dry Cleaning

[Jimmy Carbomb]

All I can say is, Thank G_d for Woolite hand-washings and hang-dryings!

It's so easy to keep the straps out of the water, and still get the kilt washed with Woolite in a basin. A simple hang dry over the shower door, and voila!

Pressing is easy since the pleats fall into place during the hang drying process.

This way... no one to rely on to get it clean or protect the leather. It's all up to my own care.

[zeytoun]

Jimmy,

does that mean you can safely hand-wash a dry clean only kilt?

[Jimmy Carbomb]

I (being very careful) have safely hand-washed MANY silk, wool, and other "dry clean only" garments.

The trick is to be gentle, use just enough Woolite for the job, DON'T grind the fabric, and let it drip-dry. Rinsing twice with VERY cold water is a must to keep the integrity in the fabric.

[Rufus]

Has anyone been brave enough to try the Dryel home dry cleaning stuff? I know you can get it at pretty much any grocery store in America. You put the clothes in a bag and toss it in the dryer for 30 minutes.

It supposedly can be used for wool. I'm just wondering if it would work, or mess up an expensive kilt.

http://www.dryel.com/usa/index.shtml

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Has anyone been brave enough to try the Dryel home dry cleaning stuff?

It will work for getting odors out, but DON'T rely on it to get any real stains off. If you have a Monica Lewinsky kilt... you're gonna get caught.

Remember too that it requires good heat to be effective. When you lower the heat to protect the wool, it will work... but not really well.

It WILL work if you're looking to "freshen-up" a kilt after a night in the gutter.

[Rufus]

It will work for getting odors out, but DON'T rely on it to get any real stains off. If you have a Monica Lewinsky kilt... you're gonna get caught.

Bwaaahaaahaaahaa! Try to avoid black lights if you've got the Monica kilt on too, or everyone will know.

Thanks for the info about the Dryel stuff Jimmy! I appreciate first-hand knowledge about these kinds of things.

[Alaskan Celt]

[richardljohnson]

I remember something I read somewhere that said heat and agitation are what will 'kill' wool. The suggestion was cool water and slight agitation and not to let the items stand in water too long.

RLJ-

[Northern Celt]

I've used Dryell on wool sweaters ( and other dry clean only clothing) with good results. The starter kit come with a spot remover that as quite good. It might not remove old embeded spots but for relatively new ones it does fine.

[Kiltedchic]

Well okay time for my 0.02cents. I hand wash my wool kilts. I don't want to send them to dry clean coz i am too cheap. Some charge per pleat. So i wash my kilts in a mild soap... ( i wash mine in a special soap that is for delicate bra's, Now you may want to get your GF or Wife to buy this soap for you ) or you can find a soap on the market that is for wool as well. Just remember luke warm to cold water not hot nor ice cold. I dry partly on a towel to soak up the extra water than i hang to dry.
This has always worked for me and my mother and mother's mother the both the womens and men's kilts are 70- 80yrs old and still look good.