Before Wear- To Dryclean or Not

[wingedferret]

I just got my first two kilts, a still water thrifty kilt in Black Stewart and an economy Blackwatch.
My wife is under the impression that i should dryclean the kilts before wearing them to "set" the pleats so that the kilts stay pleated.

Is there anything to this idea or not?

Thanks for the advice.



Nick

[McMurdo]

No need to dry clean them there should have been some care instructions that came with the kilt, the only thing you need do is follow the instructions when the kilt needs cleaning, just make sure to try them on before taking out the basting stitches. And

[Mr. Kilt]

I have 3 Stillwater kilts and the only thing I did before wearing them was to pull out the basting stitches. Also, you don't need to dryclean a kilt that is not made of wool. Just toss it in the wash when needed.

[JamesA]

I was wearing my SWK MacLeod Hunting standard the afternoon that the box was delivered. When the time has come to lauder it, I simply did it on gentle with Woolite. Line dried and touched up the pleats with a quick steam press.

James

[emolas]

I was wearing my SWK MacLeod Hunting standard the afternoon that the box was delivered. When the time has come to lauder it, I simply did it on gentle with Woolite. Line dried and touched up the pleats with a quick steam press.

James

Me too, I can't even wait for them to be pressed. I put it on the minute I get it and wear it, wrinkles and all, for the rest of the day

[Barb T.]

A dry cleaner will not do anything to the pleats that you can't do at home with an iron and a press cloth. If you're worried about wrinkles from shipping, do the pressing _before_ you take the basting out.

And many cleaners will actually ruin the pressing of the pleats of a kilt because they will lay the kilt down with the pleats fanned before they press. Once a kilt is pressed this way, the back hangs in waves instead of straight down. It's almost impossible to recover from this, unfortunately. You'll see a couple pics below that illustrate the difference between proper pressing and a ruined kilt.

Barb

two properly-pressed kilts



a badly pressed kilt

[wingedferret]

Thanks for the answers and welcomes everyone. It's been a big help.


Nick

[James MacMillan]

Barb - That lower flic is just Sad!!! Is there nothing that could be/can be done for this gent???

I don't let the dry cleaners press my kilts !!! I now have a dry cleaner that understands. But I once had one pressed wrong, and I just did the wet pressing cloth routine and all seems well. I cannot look at the back while I'm wearing it, so I'll have the Battle Axe take a shot of me from the rear.

[fluter]

wingedferret,

With all the talk of steam, be sure not to use the steam setting of an iron. those temperatures are for cotton and wool only.

Do use a cloth between the iron and kilt, dampening it if you want a little moisture. I believe that using the cloth will protect the finish of the fabric.

[Mr. MacDougall]

Also, I've found it's a lot easier to press my kilts on the kitchen table than on a traditional ironing board. Just lay out a bath sheet on the table, then the kilt on top, and, if necisary, use a pressing cloth on top of that.