Scotchgard for Wool

[gKeith]

As the title says... I have been amassing a collection of kilts and wanted to know whether or not I should Scotchgard them. They are all pure wool and some of them are more than forty years old, but in damn near mint condition.

WHAT SAY YOU?!

(Also, I'll take any other suggestions for coatings/cleaning/whatever).

Your friendly, neighborhood physicist
--G/K

[thescot]

I would not. Wool has natural oils that make it fairly rain-proof and most things kind of roll off it like water off a duck's back. (Off course, ink or some such would likely stain it permanently, but . . . .)

I'm not sure what effect Scotch Guard would have over time, but I just wouldn't want to find out. And I don't really think it's necessary, but--Hey! What do I know?

If you do decide to do it anyway, choose a small spot under the apron of the least loved kilt and give it a whirl where it won't show. Leave a long time before moving forward.

[thescot]

P. S. As to cleaning. . . give it a good washing in the bathtub using cold water and Woolite if anything at all. Do not use hot water, and be very gentle, just kind of slosh it around. Then you'll want to rinse it thoroughly under the shower, kind of hosing it down to make sure all the Woolite or whatever is out of it. Get each pleat hosed down well. DO NOT WRING IT OUT.

Let it drip dry by hanging it on several hangers, about 3 to open it up. Better straighten the pleats out when ou hang it, but you'll still probably have to press the edges back in vary carefully once it's dry. I wouldn't hang mine in the direct sun either.

If it's not particularly dirty, skip the soap and hose it down outside. Probably won't hurt it at all. In fact, you can do just about all of this outside with a garden hose.

The worst part is pressing the pleats back in. That's a real you-know-what!

I would never dry clean a kilt as the cleaning solution will remove all the oils from the kilt and it will never be the same!