Traditional Scottish Kilt Maintenance: 3 Tips for Caring for Your Kilts
Kilts are not only one of the most popular types clothing associated to Scotland, but also their popularity has since spread to all over the world. Many people wear them now to everyday activities and formal occasions like weddings, or as casual wear to show off their proud heritage. It is common practice to hand down a traditional kilt from one generation to the next almost as right a passage, but that is only possible with proper care and maintenance. Before you buy a kilt for yourself, it is important to know how to care for it properly.
Keep It Clean
Keeping your kilt clean is probably the best thing you can do for it. It will help retain the color, and those walking behindyouor sitting next to you will appreciate it too. Washing the kilt can be tricky because you don’t want to chemically damage it. Dry cleaning is typically recommended for most traditional kilts. If you do spill something on it, clean it immediately with damp cloth. If the stain remains, take it to a dry cleaner you trust. Not all cleaners will know how to work with a kilt.
Store It Properly
Proper storage is important in order for your kilt to retain its form. You can’t just hang it like a women’s skirts, so if a women does your laundry make sure she treats it with the proper masculine attention it deserves. The best thing to do is to invest in a long kilt hanger with a straight edge and some clamps.
Lastly, put it in a plastic garment bag and store it in your wardrobe to protect it from dust and moths. Make sure that the kilt isn’t too cramped inside by shaking it out. Also make sure it is hanging naturally after you put it into your closet or it will end up getting wrinkles that can be difficult to work out it left that way for months on end crammed into your closet. Adding a few mothballs or some moth repellant rings to your closet is a great way to keep those little kilt eating buggers away.
Wear It with Care
Because even the smallest rips and tears on your kilt may lead to bigger problems and costly repairs we suggest you have it mended before they damage gets worse. Besides a good tailor can work magic and often make your kilt look like nothing ever happened.
Incorrect use of kilt pins are one of the common causes of rips and tears, so be sure to use them carefully and only as intended – to keep the kilt down in windy weather. Remove the pins only when necessary and use the pre-established holes to put them back in. Before sitting down, smooth the pleats under your bottom so it doesn’t end up wrinkled.
Before you buy traditional kilts for sale from companies like UT Kilts, keep these tips in mind.
Sources:
How to Care for your Kilt,Scottish Tartans Authority
Kilt Care and Maintenance, Heritage of Scotland
