Dry Cleaning [Revisited]

[macwilkin]

The one time I had to have a kilt cleaned, I went to the local dry-cleaner that cleaned Page's wedding dress, and they did an excellent job.

You might check with someone in the local reenacting community and see if they recommend anyone, since Revolutionary & Civil War reproduction uniforms are made of wool for the most part. Granted they don't clean their uniforms on a regular basis (at least the "hardcore authentics" don't!), but sometimes you just have to! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

[Alan H]

Our local dry cleaners press the kilt as well (of course) and they charge BY THE PLEAT. It's a $1.00 a pleat. I was going to get my Stillwater dry-cleaned, but then after learning that it'd be a $38.00 dry cleaning and pressing bill for a $70 kilt I decided the washing machine would be the ticket.

There is a wool kilt in my future, though, so I'm watching this topic with interest.

[Barb T]

Just a quick note to say that one of the dangers of dry cleaning a kilt is that they will press it wrong. if the kilt has any taper in the pleats between the hips and the waist, the presser is likely to lay the kilt out with the pleats all fanned and press it. That results in pleats that don't hang straight and parallel. So, if you have it dry cleaned, consider asking them _not_ to press it and press it yourself.

If you do decide to do your own pressing, take the time to run a few lines of basting stitches to hold the pleats together while you press. Doesn't take as long as you'd think it would, and it makes a huge difference keeping the pleats from sliding open while you press. Dampen an old pillow case, lay it over the kilt, and PRESS (don't slide). Takes a lot of pressure. Press both sides. You'll need to dampen the pillow case often to generate enough steam. Let the kilt dry for at least half an hour before removing the basting.

Cheers!

Barb

[beerbecue]

This may be an awful, way off the mark, suggestion..... but what about a carpet steam cleaner?? Not one of those commercial rental ones, but like the home version Hoover type ones??

If you used the hand attachment, and just worked the really dirty spots??????

You can use cold water, very little detergent, it sucks it fairly dry, and you could lay it out for further drying (or hang it, I guess).....

Please, no rocks.......

[Alan H]

This may be an awful, way off the mark, suggestion..... but what about a carpet steam cleaner?? Not one of those commercial rental ones, but like the home version Hoover type ones??

If you used the hand attachment, and just worked the really dirty spots??????

You can use cold water, very little detergent, it sucks it fairly dry, and you could lay it out for further drying (or hang it, I guess).....

Please, no rocks.......

I've never seen one of these. HuH, it sounds like an interesting idea.

No rocks, here.

Hey Barb, thanks for the pressing hints...

[James]

My local dry cleaners do a great job--but if I book the garment in as a kilt it costs three times as much as if booked as a 'skirt'!

Well what would you do?

James

[Freelander Sporrano]

My local dry cleaners do a great job--but if I book the garment in as a kilt it costs three times as much as if booked as a 'skirt'!

Well what would you do?

James

Hi James is the price difference somthing to do with sewing the pleats before cleaning ?

I'm comming to England / Scotland next month would a Sketctleys do a good job?

[Riverkilt]

When I visited Kathy Lare at Kathy's Kilts in Albuquerque last weekend she was sending a kilt out to be drycleaned and had basted all the pleats together BEFORE she sent it to the cleaners. Think she had four rows of basting stitches in....

Ron