Getting rid of a funky smell in a secondhand kilt

[Lallans]

Something I read about: Get a can of cheap ground coffee, open it, and put it in an airtight bag with the kilt inside. I suggest this because it was a trick people used to remove the musty smell from the drawers of antique furniture. When the coffee was vacuumed out, the musty smell would be gone.

[EagleJCS]

Similar to Lallans suggestion, I have heard tell of using activated charcoal and/or baking soda to remove odors. Just place an open container of the charcoal or baking soda in an enclosed space (a closet, sealed bag, drawer, etc.) with the garment having the offending odor for a couple of days.

Another suggestion I found for using baking soda (google "How to take smell out of clothes without washing"): "Put your musty clothes in a large plastic bag and sprinkle in some baking soda. Give the bag a good shake so the baking soda covers all of your clothes and then leave it to sit for 10 minutes. Then, remove your clothes, brush off the baking soda."

Best of luck.

[plaid preacher]

It's a little too late to say this, but the conventional wisdom is to never take a kilt to a dry cleaners. They simply do not understand the design and construction of a kilt and will likely mess up the pleats.

There used to be a great thread by an old friend of Xmarks, Canuck (aka Robert Pel) on proper way to clean an old kilt, but I'm afraid I couldn't find it this morning.

I would suggest you best bet would be to baste the pleats (an easier task than it sounds) and then put the kilt in a bathtub of lukewarm water with some woolite or other type of soap safe for woolen items. Then take off your shoes and socks and walk on it - don't agitate. Drain and then rinse with clear water - it may take more than one tub of water. The final time, add a few drops of lavender. This will both address the odor but also is a deterrent to moths.

Dry by laying the kilt between some heavy towels and roll up - to remove most of the water...then hang dry. Remove your basting pleats and Bob's your uncle. You may not even have to steam.

Hope this helps.

[Kris]

It's a little too late to say this, but the conventional wisdom is to never take a kilt to a dry cleaners. They simply do not understand the design and construction of a kilt and will likely mess up the pleats.

I know, I try not to. The pleats do need some new love.