cleaning/pressing a kilt

**KiltedMariner** · 26th March 13, 05:37 AM

Greetings,

I have a kilt that needs to be cleaned and pressed. Please note: I AM NOT prepared to do this myself (all thumbs and too busy). Consequently, I am seeking someone who is willing to perform this service. Ideally, they will baste the pleats, send the kilt to the cleaners, and press it upon its return. I'd be happy to have it completed in two weeks.

If there is an individual or merchant who will do this I will be eternally grateful.

I am located in southeast Connecticut.

Thank you,
Richard

**tulloch** · 26th March 13, 11:05 AM

I took mine once to a commercial cleaner and he did a fine job. He did have sore wrists from the pressing. I would probably not do that again based on what I have learned. I will air them, spot clean them and iron them or steam them. I have one that fell off its hanger in a garment bag and got all wrinkled. After hanging for a while the wrinkles are gone.

My band advocates having them cleaned once a year at a dry cleaner. They look fine.

**Geoff Withnell** · 26th March 13, 11:10 AM

Cleaners can vary. I have gotten kilts back with the pleats absolutely trashed, and others do fine.

Originally Posted by tulloch

I took mine once to a commercial cleaner and he did a fine job. He did have sore wrists from the pressing. I would probably not do that again based on what I have learned. I will air them, spot clean them and iron them or steam them. I have one that fell off its hanger in a garment bag and got all wrinkled. After hanging for a while the wrinkles are gone.

My band advocates having them cleaned once a year at a dry cleaner. They look fine.

**Mikilt** · 26th March 13, 11:38 AM

I just ask my dry cleaner to baste the pleats before laundering. Haven't had a problem.

**JohntheBiker** · 26th March 13, 01:48 PM

I take my kilts to a shop that both makes and rents out kilts. They're happy to baste the pleats and arrange to sent out to their cleaner (who clearly knows what he is doing). All for a price of course.

**ForresterModern** · 26th March 13, 05:13 PM

I just got my MacDonald Glencoe Muted tank back from The British Tailor here in Louisville after formal pressing to rid some sizable and particularly unruly and steamer resistant rumples resultant from wearing it while working in my office chair for 8 hours after 4 hours in a drenching rain playing golf (my partner at work called in sick and I unexpectedly had to fill in at last moment). The British Tailor is either Indian or Pakistani and was formally trained as a tailor in the UK, and knew exactly how to press it when I brought it in to ask about it. He even took a couple minutes to explain it to his assistant while I stood there waiting for her to write up my ticket. Convinced me easily that he knew his way around pleats. Beautiful result--like new.

Might be worth looking around for a tailor in the area familiar with kilts in addition to calling your local cleaners.

**Katia** · 26th March 13, 06:53 PM

When I get around to having my kilt cleaned (should probably do before competition season!), I'll baste my own pleats. I simply started asking kilt-wearers in the area where they had theirs done, as I figured such a place would be "tried and true." I got a recommendation from a piper who told me she and several of her bandmates take theirs to this place and they do a fine job.

I walked into one place and asked if they cleaned kilts. When they said "what's that?" I knew I wasn't taking my kilt there...

(I thought of simply washing it myself in the tub-- some do, and since I'm a spinner I know how to wash wool carefully-- but frankly, not having cleaned it before, I'm not 100% sure the dye wouldn't bleed, and with a dress tartan that could be disastrous.)

**neloon** · 27th March 13, 08:16 AM

Even in Scotland, dry cleaners are not always too kind to kilts. In times gone by, kiltmakers would provide cleaning and re-pressing as a service but not nowadays (in this neck of the woods).

So, here's what I do:-
- about 6" water in the bath at 30C with a cupful of biological powder fully dissolved.
- place kilt gently in water - do not agitate.
- after half an hour, remove and rinse well with flexible hose shower head (kilt preferably buckled and hung above bath).
- leave hanging until dry or at least no drips, preferably outdoors.
- the pleats should be more-or-less still there - press carefully with steam iron.

Katia,
I don't think the dye would bleed - never has with me - but you could test it on a corner of the innner apron.

Comments from kiltmakers please!

Alan

**RandyN** · 27th March 13, 11:30 AM

My local dry cleaner has cleaned mine mulitple times with no issue, the pleats are always perfect. He only charges me $7, When I lived in the Los Angeles area, the dry cleaner charged by the pleat. let's just say it was far more than $7!