Need Some Greatcoat Rehab Advice

[thescot]

Ron

Try putting one in a duffel bag with some rocks and rolling it down a hill, or drag it behind your car on one of your many off-road excursions. That ought to soften it up a bit. sort of like what I've heard people do with brand new balmorals to get the right look.

Tha's almost exactly what I do with a new balmoral. I rough it up, soak it, and generally give it some "shaping" before I wear it in public. Otherwise, it looks like a characature of Scrooge McDuck, at least on my head.

As to the greatcoat, one reason to think carefully about soaking it in water is that the lining may shrink while the outter material does not. That's one reason some articles of clothing have "dry clean only" tags; the outter and inner material is dissimilar.

If it's rayon or some such, you're probably OK. The tub won't hurt the wool for sure. In fact, that's a very good way to wash a kilt. (OK, let the barrage of dry-clean-only afficionados begin. But there's still no way I'd let a dry cleaner touch one of my kilts.)

[Riverkilt]

Great ideas guys, thanks! So far, I'm hanging in with air. Took both of them out and about this weekend and they seem softer just from the wearing.

The "old smell" seems to transfer to whatever clothes I'm wearing under them - grubbies this weekend so no problem. And, the smell seems to transfer to my skin. Probably need some more work on the insides with the Febreze. Both have rayon-type linings that I can only get the Febreze through sort of.

If I do dunk them its probably gonna be in the tub. Its way toooo cold to shower in cold water this time of year - but that seems a good idea for warmer times.

The acid test; does my bachelor cave stink of the coats when I return? is a no - so it is getting better with air.

Ron