Kilts are normally pretty expensive clothing apparel which means you are supposed to take good care of your kilt. By following the proper caring guide, you can increase the life of your kilt drastically. There are lots of kilt-care guides that have been shared; however, most of them do not provide the all-care solution for kilts.
According to Kilt and Jacks, there are a few things that you need to do in order to make your kilts long-lasting. In order to talk about these things, I have decided to share a detailed and in-depth kilt care guide with you. At the end of this guide, you can increase the life of your kilt drastically.
How to Care for your Kilt?
I have divided this care guide into different sections that will ultimately help you care for your kilt properly.
Storing your kilt
I would recommend you to never sleep while wearing your kilt. You should always change before sleeping.
You need to make sure that before storing your kilt, it should be properly aired outside on a sunny day.
If you can’t dry it in a sunny area then you may try to hang it in the shower room so it can absorb the steam. The idea is to make your kilt completely dry before storing it.
In case you are going to store your kilt for a long period of time then I would recommend a high-quality hanger along with a properly closed top. For short-term storage, you may use any kilt hanger. A kilt-hanger comes with two clips that are designed specially to hang kilts.
If you want to store the wool then wool is supposed to be stored in a breathable space which means you are supposed to get a kilt carrier and roll set in order to provide extra protection to your wool kilt.
You may also use a plastic bag or kilt cover to properly store it for a longer period of time. It will keep your kilt safe from dust and all.
Cleaning your Kilt!
If you spill something on your kilt then I would recommend you rub it with a damp, lint-free cloth rather than rubbing. You may also try cleaning it with baby wipes.
In some cases, you may also use a spot cleaner; however, make sure that the cleaner is enzyme-free. Moreover, before using the cleaner outside of the kilt; test it by using it inside the kilt.
In case you don’t want to deal with the cleaning process then head to a dry cleaner who has pretty decent experience in cleaning the kilt.
Ironing your Kilt
Before ironing your kilt, I would recommend you wear it so that you can have an idea of where all the pleats stand naturally.
Now you are supposed to lay down your kilt on the flat surface for an appropriate ironing setting. Set your iron on moderate heat. Then moisten your kilt before ironing. You need to identify each
Make sure you iron your kilt by properly positioning the pleats of your kilt. I would recommend you to use the steam iron for better results.
Disclaimer: Most of the kilts don’t need ironing.
Travelling with Kilts
If you are carrying kilts in your luggage while travelling by car then you should hang them in a protective cover from the suit hook. And if you are travelling a longer distance then I would recommend you roll it in a protective cover and you can easily carry it on your shoulder.
Packing your Kilt
If you are carrying multiple kilts and travelling for days then you should pack your kilt in a suitcase. However, you want to do it right in order to avoid creases. In order to pack your kilt correctly, you will need to lay your kilt flap on the surface. Then you need to fasten the straps and roll the pleats from left to right then store it in a purpose-made kilt carrier. You can use that carrier to store your kilt, sporrans and pins in one place.
In case you don’t have the carrier, then you can lay your kilt flat at the bottom of your suitcase. In order to do it perfectly, you need to make sure that the buckles are fastened and there are no creases while laying it flat.
Type of Kilts!
The cleaning process of a kilt does depend on the type of your kilt as well. Since each cloth and material needs a different style of cleaning. I am listing some of the most common types of kilts for you.
Utility Kilts
A utility kilt is the modern style of kilt that comes with cargo pockets and thick fabric. It is usually made up of 100% cotton, cotton drill, or a denim fabric. All of this fabric is tough and can bear the usual cleaning. However, most of these kilts come with heavy hardware which is made up of brass and chrome and requires special care. Therefore, I would recommend you to dry clean these kilts with cleaner prior experience with kilts. You can check some of the best men’s kilts here.
Leather Kilts
A leather kilt is also a modern variation of kilts. It is made up of 100% genuine leather which does require some special care while cleaning and storing it. You may use alcohol cleaner or any good leather cleaner to clean your leather kilts. It is the same as taking care of your leather jackets.
Tartan Kilt
Tartan Kilts are made up of either 100% wool or acrylic wool and both materials require special care. Most of these tartan kilts have fringes, leather straps, and hooks which is why we don’t recommend washing them in a machine. I have shared a detailed discussion of it cleaning above. In some cases, I do recommend dry-cleaning it once a month.
Conclusion
I am pretty sure that our kilt care guide can help you to increase the life of your kilt dramatically. You have shared all the available methods to take proper care of your kilt in this guide. In case you want any personal help then you can contact us for personal assistance. Don’t forget to share this with other kilt lovers as it may be proven helpful and worthy for them.
