:) How to Wash a Kilt

A kilt is an expensive garment with special care requirements, and this short tutorial is offered to help you understand the importance of treating your kilt with extreme care.

Black Watch kilt image (above) courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Kilt Care Basics

By Laure Justice

If possible, it is best to avoid washing a wool kilt, according to the experts at Your Kilt. Hanging a kilt up to air out is best when possible, but if you get something on it and need to wash it, keep in mind that wool requires special care when it is wet.

Steps to Wash a Kilt

• Fill a basin or tub with lukewarm water, and gently push the kilt into the water. 
• Never wring or twist wet wool fibers because they easily stretch out of shape and even snap. 

• Let the water soak into the submerged kilt for at least 15 minutes. 
• Add a cap or scoop of wool wash, liquid is best if you have it. 
• Avoid using other detergents and soaps. 
• Push the kilt up and down gently in the water to slowly mix in the wool wash. 
• Let it soak another 15 minutes. 

• Drain the water and rinse the wool wash out with lukewarm water. 
• Do not pick up or wring the kilt when rinsing. Let the rinse water drain away.

• Wrap a towel around the kilt as you scoop it out of the basin or tub. 
• Spread the towel and kilt on a sweater dryer without stretching the kilt.

• Let the kilt air dry for about an hour. 
• It will still be very damp. 
• Put the kilt on a kilt hanger, make sure the pleats are hanging straight, and hang it up to finish air drying. 

Updated August 12, 2018

Thank you for visiting Stitching it Right. Comments are welcome here, on our Facebook page, or under any of the posts on our YouTube channel. Oh, and while you're checking out our videos, if you are interested in learning to sew or just picking up some tips on different techniques, please subscribe to our Sewing Lessons from Stitching it Right YouTube channel.