Dry Cleaning In The USA

[Hirsty]

So I am relatively new to the US, a year and a month to be precise, and am a bit nervous about taking my kilt to the local dry cleaner. Back in Edinburgh I frequented the same dry cleaner for years and they always treated my kilts well. I was going to take it into a local place and advise them not to press it but is there anything else I should do?

Cheers

G

[Madadh]

I have had no problem with my local dry cleaner. With lots of people wearing kilts here they get to see more than you think. When you go talk to them. If they have never seen one then you man need to tell them more.

[WalesLax]

I generally ask if they’ve done Kilts before, and if there are any local bands they do them for. An alternate approach would be to ask area bands what dry cleaner they use.

Not sure where in the US you are, but if you tell us, people may have better suggestions.

Rob

[Toxpert]

I also asked questions about prior work with kilts.
I also ask if they price cleaning kilts as a uniform or per pleat.
Per pleat prices generally are much more expensive than uniform prices.

The dry cleaner I use does a lot of band uniforms and I have been very pleased with the service and the pricing. They also pay special attention to buttons on jackets .... something to really watch out for.

[Steve Ashton]

The biggest thing to remember is that a kilt can be cleaned very successfully by modern dry cleaning methods. Where the problem comes in is not with the cleaning but with what is done afterwards.

I have been using the same dry cleaners for quite some time now but I remember the first few times. The cleaner had done kilts before but I would not say that they knew a lot about them.
So I had them write in large red letters in the special instruction section of the slip Do Not Press. I made it very clear that all I wanted was for them to run the kilt through the machine and then hang it up.

These instructions were OK with them because it saved them from the added expense of the hand work. The pressing and folding after an item comes out of the machine is the expensive part of the whole job and I was saying - no thank you. So they were happy and I have not had a single problem.

[rebelrouser]

I generally ask if they’ve done Kilts before, and if there are any local bands they do them for. An alternate approach would be to ask area bands what dry cleaner they use.

Not sure where in the US you are, but if you tell us, people may have better suggestions.

Rob

I emailed local pipe band and they gave me the name of the cleaner they use took my kilt in and was more than happy with their work. Beautiful job for @ 15 bucks

[Katia]

I forget-- what is the issue with having them do it? If the pleats are basted? That's the part *I* would mess up and be inclined to leave to someone with the pro equipment!

I have had no problem with my local dry cleaner. With lots of people wearing kilts here they get to see more than you think. When you go talk to them. If they have never seen one then you man need to tell them more.

Yes, ask. I walked into one dry cleaner's:

Me: "Do you clean kilts?"
Employee: "What's that?"
Me: "Never mind."

[dirkomatic]

I guess I've been lucky. My local dry cleaner does a great job of cleaning and pressing. They've cleaned and pressed three of my kilts and done the pressing very well. The only issue I have had is when the stitching on the strap came loose on my old black watch kilt. They sewed it back on, no questions asked.

That being said, I have to pick up another one this evening... Watch it be mangled

[dirkomatic]

Man, they had to do it to me... Picked up two kilts today and the pleats are messed up. Just when I was bragging on them. Now I've got to sped a couple hours re doing them. Shoot.

[CollinMacD]

Since I have had no experience with bring kilts to the cleaners here in the US, could somebody please outline for me the do's
and don'ts about having the kilt, jacket or anything else dry cleaned. Would like to know much more so I don't make costly mistakes.

Thanks...