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.