New Kilt Owner Advice

[pbutts]

As another newb, searching for similar advice, I've found the advice on how to hang your kilt helpful, too.

Here's advice from New House Kilts -- http://www.newhousehighland.com/care.html

and here's another thread on hanging --http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f139/how-hang-your-kilt-28264/

Now my question is this-- how paranoid should a kilt owner be about moths?

[Tobus]

Now my question is this-- how paranoid should a kilt owner be about moths?

I wouldn't call it "paranoid", but you should be taking active steps to keep them away from your kilt. They will attack it, and you won't even know they're doing it until it's too late. There have been horror stories posted here by members who found their kilts ruined by moths, and I've had the same thing happen with some wool ties and scarves. It doesn't matter where you live, or if you've ever had moth problems before. Take the proper precautions.

[JohntheBiker]

If you absolutely have to get a kilt drycleaned (it happens), I take mine to a kilt maker who will baste the pleats before sending it off to a cleaner that he regularly uses. I've had no problems. Proper drying and hanging with occasional spot cleaning will do the trick most of the time.

[mookien]

... Now my question is this-- how paranoid should a kilt owner be about moths?

I have all my woolen goods in a room that I keep cooler and brighter than the rest of the house. All the woolen accoutrements are stored in cedar lined drawers and chest. Occasionally (a couple times a year) I use a sanding sponge on the cedar to rejuvenate it (unclogs the pores in the wood, as I understand it).

I intermix and surround everything with sachets of potpourri and packets of Moth Away, both of which can be obtained at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Finally, I check for moths and signs of moths almost every day. So far, so good.

I, too, have stored (hung) my kilts in an outside unheated closet for a couple of days/nights of below freezing weather. I can't tell whether it did any good or not, but it didn't seem to hurt. I haven't used a deep freezer, yet, but might do so, if I felt it was necessary.

Maybe I'm paranoid, but you know the old saying, "Moths even lay eggs in paranoid people's wool."