Getting rid of a funky smell in a secondhand kilt

[Troglodyte]

In addition to the previous suggestions, there are a few seemingly non-scientific methods museums use to rid garments of smells.

Placing the garment in a closed box for a few days with a qualitity of cat-litter is one - the litter absorbes the odour.

Neat vodka sprayed lightly onto the affected area is another - the alcohol is supposed to reactivate the residue causing the odour, and the evaporation helps take it away. Vodka is colourless and near odourless, but pure alcohol is an option.

Dry cleaning is good, but that uses chemicals that lift dirt, but not always the cause of the odours, and can leave residue of their own.

A mild talcum powder (baby powder) can be sprinkled onto the garment and left for a period. The talc absorbes grease or oils and can be easily shaken and brushed off.

One of the best methods is steam and sunlight. A thorough steaming from a proper garment steamer (or over a kettle spout) to swell and loosen the fibres, and then hanging in open sunlight with a mild breeze usually works well. The steam needs to properly penetrate the fibres - if held horizontally over the steam, it will pass through the cloth.

The good thing about both the alcohol and the steam is that they sterilize the garment at the same time, so maybe a combination of the methods would help you.

These are all good for body odours, but the wool of the kilt may be the cause, and is natural. Dyes can affect the smell, and natural oils in the wool often 'mature' over time, and these can often seem fusty or musty (like a dirty, damp dog after an autumn walk in the woods) and are a characteristic of vintage tweeds. But again, the steam and sunlight trick will usually do for these, too.

Hanging in fresh air, such as under the eaves of a porch, for a few days could be all you need to do - but storing in a hanging wardrobe rather then folded in a drawer is always better.

Let us know how you get on, and what success you have.

Good luck..!

[Kris]

In addition to the previous suggestions, there are a few seemingly non-scientific methods museums use to rid garments of smells.

Let us know how you get on, and what success you have.

Good luck..!

Thanks! I'll be sure to give some a try.

This smell is more than just old fabric or wet dog, but more of a wet basement style smell.

[Lallans]

Something I read about: Get a can of cheap ground coffee, open it, and put it in an airtight bag with the kilt inside. I suggest this because it was a trick people used to remove the musty smell from the drawers of antique furniture. When the coffee was vacuumed out, the musty smell would be gone.

[EagleJCS]

Similar to Lallans suggestion, I have heard tell of using activated charcoal and/or baking soda to remove odors. Just place an open container of the charcoal or baking soda in an enclosed space (a closet, sealed bag, drawer, etc.) with the garment having the offending odor for a couple of days.

Another suggestion I found for using baking soda (google "How to take smell out of clothes without washing"): "Put your musty clothes in a large plastic bag and sprinkle in some baking soda. Give the bag a good shake so the baking soda covers all of your clothes and then leave it to sit for 10 minutes. Then, remove your clothes, brush off the baking soda."

Best of luck.

[plaid preacher]

It's a little too late to say this, but the conventional wisdom is to never take a kilt to a dry cleaners. They simply do not understand the design and construction of a kilt and will likely mess up the pleats.

There used to be a great thread by an old friend of Xmarks, Canuck (aka Robert Pel) on proper way to clean an old kilt, but I'm afraid I couldn't find it this morning.

I would suggest you best bet would be to baste the pleats (an easier task than it sounds) and then put the kilt in a bathtub of lukewarm water with some woolite or other type of soap safe for woolen items. Then take off your shoes and socks and walk on it - don't agitate. Drain and then rinse with clear water - it may take more than one tub of water. The final time, add a few drops of lavender. This will both address the odor but also is a deterrent to moths.

Dry by laying the kilt between some heavy towels and roll up - to remove most of the water...then hang dry. Remove your basting pleats and Bob's your uncle. You may not even have to steam.

Hope this helps.

[Kris]

It's a little too late to say this, but the conventional wisdom is to never take a kilt to a dry cleaners. They simply do not understand the design and construction of a kilt and will likely mess up the pleats.

I know, I try not to. The pleats do need some new love.

[Kris]

Update:

Having emptied a cheap bottle of wodka on it (with a spray bottle) most of the smell is out of the inner and outer apron. Cheaper and better than febreze!

It's in between the pleats that the smell still persist. So I just put it in the freezer for an overnight after a tip of someone, and then the cold water bath.

The cedar planks are arriving tomorrow! 🤞🏻

[Lallans]

Update:

Having emptied a cheap bottle of wodka on it (with a spray bottle) most of the smell is out of the inner and outer apron. Cheaper and better than febreze!

It's in between the pleats that the smell still persist. So I just put it in the freezer for an overnight after a tip of someone, and then the cold water bath.

The cedar planks are arriving tomorrow! ����

Cedar wood will primarily keep clothes moths away, if the kilt is placed in a reasonably air tight hanging bag or container with it, its toxic to their larvae which are what do all the damage. I use cedar oil as a supplement to the natural wood, it comes in little bottles and lends a distinct if faint and not unpleasant odour of its own. Believe me, you do not want clothes moths to get established in your home, not if you have any amount of wool around.

[Kris]

Cedar wood will primarily keep clothes moths away, if the kilt is placed in a reasonably air tight hanging bag or container with it, its toxic to their larvae which are what do all the damage. I use cedar oil as a supplement to the natural wood, it comes in little bottles and lends a distinct if faint and not unpleasant odour of its own. Believe me, you do not want clothes moths to get established in your home, not if you have any amount of wool around.

I am very aware! We have been battling moths with their natural predators (Darwin wasps) and a bug zapper. So I have been keeping very close eye. We are getting the overhand, but I might still get some airtight hanging bags with the cedar in there.

[Kris]

Thanks for all your suggestions! Some progress update:

Wodka spray: Getting rid of quite a lot of smell
A night in the freezer: Not a lot of effect, some: not good for the pleats with it being folded.
Half an hour in cold water and letting it dry: no effect whatsoever
Baking soda in an airtight bag: this seems like a winner and has removed the smell from everywhere except the middle part on the inside where a lot of different fabrics meet.

I might have to try the woolite bath Plaid Preacher suggested earlier. I’ll put the cedar wood blocks closest to the smell overnight, we’ll see what that brings.