Dry Cleaning [Revisited]

[highlandtide]

Ok folks. I have to revisit this topic b/c it is way overdue...

I need to have my dirty dirty dirty kilt cleaned. Anyone know someone who I can send it to b/c I dont trust any of the local dry cleaners.

Matt Newsome since you are in my neck of the woods for all practical purposes do you have any suggestions?





Thanks!

[Dreadbelly]

What about a hand held steam cleaner?

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Been there, Hank. My kilts don't make it through too many appearances until they're in dire need of some TLC. Here's what I've done (after MUCH trial and tribulation).

I begin with the home-dryer, dry cleaning methods. It's as easy as placing the stain cleaner on the really bad spots... place the kilt in the bag... dry it on the appropriate setting. I got a steamer at Home Depot for next to nothing to iron-out the pleats without actually touching heat to the wools or materials.

I've given-up trusting the dry cleaners with such a "different" garment, and have decided to trust myself. It didn't take long to realize that the process is MUCH better for the kilts, and the care in the maintenance is actually better. Due the the sheer number of cleanings, the kilts don't wear or fade at all with this process. The machine washings on "certain materials" have proven to be quite fatal in some instances. Therefore... ALL of my kilts get this method now.

[mkmound]

. . .

I begin with the home-dryer, dry cleaning methods. It's as easy as placing the stain cleaner on the really bad spots... place the kilt in the bag... dry it on the appropriate setting. . . .

Jimmy,

Where do you find these home dry cleaning bags? I haven't seen them (although I haven't looked . . .). Also, I assume that they use some type of chemical action in the dryer -- have you noticed any damage to the leather straps, or do you do some type of leather conditioning before / after?

Regards,
Mark

[Rufus]

Jimmy,

Where do you find these home dry cleaning bags? I haven't seen them (although I haven't looked . . .). Also, I assume that they use some type of chemical action in the dryer -- have you noticed any damage to the leather straps, or do you do some type of leather conditioning before / after?

Regards,
Mark

Hey Mark,

I noticed Jimmy hasn't responded yet, but here's what I've seen. One brand of at-home dry cleaning bags is Dryel. I've seen it at just about every Walmart/KMart/Fred Meyer, etc... and most grocery stores. I don't know about the leather straps...maybe their website gives more information.

Hope this helps! :-D

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Jimmy,

Where do you find these home dry cleaning bags? I haven't seen them (although I haven't looked . . .). Also, I assume that they use some type of chemical action in the dryer -- have you noticed any damage to the leather straps, or do you do some type of leather conditioning before / after?

Regards,
Mark

Sorry about the delay with the response. Three lashes and a Guinness to me. Wait... that's actually kind of cool.

Rufus was right with the Dryel thing. I've done my wool kilts atleast two times each, and they have no damage... no wear... no fading... no stains... and the ironing (or steaming) is minimal. As for the leather straps, a dry cleaner suggested that I use pieces of terry cloth tied-up with string to protect them. To this point, it has worked like a charm. My kilts are beautiful. Now, it we could just figure out what to do with the wearer.

[mkmound]

Sorry about the delay with the response. Three lashes and a Guinness to me. Wait... that's actually kind of cool.

No Guinness for you this weekend! Light beer only!

Rufus was right with the Dryel thing. I've done my wool kilts atleast two times each, and they have no damage... no wear... no fading... no stains... and the ironing (or steaming) is minimal. As for the leather straps, a dry cleaner suggested that I use pieces of terry cloth tied-up with string to protect them. To this point, it has worked like a charm.

Jimmy and Rufus -- thanks!! I'll look around for them.

My kilts are beautiful. Now, it we could just figure out what to do with the wearer.

Who's got a paper bag handy???

Mark

[Thistle Stop]

This won't help you, Hank, but for some of our Scottish members I want to mention that Kleen Cleaners in St Mary’s Street, Edinburgh, has received a Royal Warrant (i.e., they can say they are 'By Appointment To Her Majesty, The Queen' and/or other member[s] of the Royal Family), and there is apparently a dry clean shop in Aberdeen that has the same honour, but I don't know the name of it. You can read about the Edinburgh shop in the Edinburgh Evening News. One probably can assume that if a cleaner is good enough for the Royal Family, they are good enough for the average Jock.

In London, Blossom & Browne's Sycamore and Jeeves of Belgravia have the Royal Warrant as dry cleaners. Also in England are White Knight, a dry cleaner chain in London and the South East -- they have a Royal Warrant, but I wouldn't assume that means that every shop in the chain is necessarily of the same quality.

There's a new drycleaning technology, liquid CO2 (carbon dioxide) cleaning, that could be of interest for cleaning kilts. It's supposed to be a gentler but highly effective type of cleaning, as well as better for the environment. See www.hangersdrycleaners.com for info and locations (not many at present, unfortunately). In a Consumer Reports comparison test with other dry cleaning methods, the CO2 was judged superior, including maintaining the pleats in a test garment and a lack of pilling on fabric surfaces -- two important concerns with a kilt.

If you look for 'best dry cleaner' in Google, you will find a lot of cities' 'Best Of' list toppers, which could be a good place to start if you live in a metro area.

I'm currently investigating the possibility of setting up a mail-order specialist cleaning service for kilts and other Highland attire, which would be handled through my web site and by phone. If and when the service is established, I'll be sure to let the X Marks community know about it! My plan is to learn all I can about tips for cleaning kilts, to add to the knowledge I already have about Highland attire, and, working with the best cleaner(s) I can find, set up a program to educate them about the special characteristics of the kilt and then offer the service to kilt-owners. Tell me, guys, does that sound like something the X Marks members would want to patronise? I welcome your comments and suggestions! :grin:

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Hank,

Personally, I've never had any trouble with our local dry cleaners, so I haven't really researched the topic too much. My personal kilts I never dry clean, because they have never gotten that dirty (beyond what I can clean myself at home with some spot-cleaning as others have described here).

The kilts we rent at the STM we do have dry cleaned, and for years we have just taken them to our local cleaners in Franklin. Carolina Cleaners, they are called, and are owned and operated by a Chinese family (I know it sounds like a stereotype, but hey, it's true this time!). They have never messed up a kilt for us, and charge something along the lines of $7. (It's been a while since I looked at one of the bills).

I know there have to be some other kilt wearers in/near Charleston who could tell you of their experience with different cleaners so you can get a recommendation for someone more local.

Aye,
Matt

[Graham]

Likewise, on those few occasions I've needed a dry cleaner, our local does an OK job.
The PV kilts i chuck in the washing machine.