Kilts, leather and dry-cleaning

[Kiltman]

I took one of my kilts in to be dry-cleaned today and was told that they would have to send it to a special cleaner since the belts are made of leather. In the past my wife has gotten wool items cleaned with leather on them. Is this a problem with kilts? If it is, how do you deal with the problem when making kilts? Thanks for the help.

[David Duncan]

Dry cleaning chemicals do destroy the leather, and with that in mind take a few moments to consider what they do to the wool.

Wool is a natural fiber that breathes, at least it does before it is dry cleaned and for that reason I would never dry clean a kilt.

There is a lot of good advice (and unfortunately even more poor advice) available on how best to care for your kilt, my advice do some research before you have your kilt impregnated with harmful chemicals.

Kind regards,

David.

www.your-kilt.com

[Barb T]

Interesting - I have a tweed jacket with a leather collar, and my cleaner has handled it just fine. And the collar look infinitely better after cleaning. So, I dunno! I know lots of people who have taken kilts to have them dry cleaned (not that I recommend it....), and I've never heard of this response.

[Kiltman]

Thanks Barb. Katie's kilted skirt has been dry cleaned too and had no problems. Oh well, guess that dry-cleaner just didn't want business.

[Colonel MacNeal]

Is "Woolite" an alternative?