Wet dog fur smell

[Archangel]

Went to a concert tonight, see mudmen in the music section, and a few minutes after the ending, the heavens opened up. I got pretty wet before I got to my car, which was just across the street.
Now I'm noticing a smell coming from the kilt. I've never got a kilt this wet before. So, the question is: is this normal when a kilt gets wet?

This is your basic heavy army surplus wool kilt bought used. If it needs cleaning I'll get Burnett's and Struth to do it.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

That's not wet dog odor... that's wet sheep odor! Yes, wool does have a smell when wet. Should go away when it dries out, don't worry.

Just getting it wet won't make it need cleaning. But if you wore it in the car on the way home, you may need to press it. I got my kilt soaking wet once in a downpour and then drove an hour home in it. Because the kilt was wet, when I sat on it, I effectively "pressed" in wrinkles all over the back. Had to fix that with the iron when I got home.

M

[Archangel]

That's not wet dog odor... that's wet sheep odor! Yes, wool does have a smell when wet. Should go away when it dries out, don't worry.

Just getting it wet won't make it need cleaning. But if you wore it in the car on the way home, you may need to press it. I got my kilt soaking wet once in a downpour and then drove an hour home in it. Because the kilt was wet, when I sat on it, I effectively "pressed" in wrinkles all over the back. Had to fix that with the iron when I got home.

M

Thanks, just checked it and you're right. Smell is pretty much gone but it is wrinkled from sitting but not too bad. Should probably have an "emergency" change of clothing and hanger for future events when rain is expected. What are the chances of the wrinkles going away after wearing it? I guess ironing kilts has been covered on some other thread somewhere.(?)

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Depending on how wet the kilt was and how long you sat on it, the wrinkles may be in there pretty good. When the wool gets wet and you apply weight to it for that long, what you are doing is essentially "pressing" the kilt. Except that instead of pressing in the pleats, you are pressing in the wrinkles.

Ironing them out shouldn't be that hard. The original creases from where your pleats were pressed should still be farily obvious. Just take a hot iron and re-press them along the original lines. Use the steam setting, and remember to press with the iron. It may be time consuming depending on how many pleats you have to press, but not difficult.

Aye,
M

[Doc Hudson]

Mat,

Would a steamer work as well for dewrinkling the kilt as an iron?

I use a steamer for regular neatening of my PK's pleats and for after wash pressing. Would it do as well on a wool kilt with pressed in wrinkles?

[Freelander Sporrano]

Mat,

Would a steamer work as well for dewrinkling the kilt as an iron?

I use a steamer for regular neatening of my PK's pleats and for after wash pressing. Would it do as well on a wool kilt with pressed in wrinkles?

I've a steam gun which I use to freshen my wool and pv kilts . Works well...Now Matt will tell us this is a no no....or???