Taking Care of your Tartan

Our tartan is made from 100% wool. With proper care, your tartan will remain vibrant and in excellent condition for years to come, becoming a cherished heirloom for future generations.

1. Spot Cleaning: For minor stains, gently dab the area with a clean cloth and cold water. Avoid rubbing, which can damage the fibres.  Treating your product quickly and carefully should keep it in tip-top condition.
2. Dry Cleaning: While dry cleaning is an option for your tartan, note that the process involves chemical solvents. Each time they are cleaned in this way a little more of  the wool’s natural oils will be stripped.

1. Cool Water: If you need to hand wash the tartan, only use cold water and a mild wool detergent (found in all supermarkets). Hot water will shrink the wool and might cause some colours to fade or bleed into each other.
2. Soak: Submerge the cloth in the basin of cool water and gently agitate the garment to loosen any dirt. Soak for about half an hour (longer if heavily soiled).
3. Rinse: Drain the soapy water and refill the basin with clean, cold water. Gently submerge the kilt, agitating the water to rinse away any remaining detergent. You will need to repeat this process until the water runs clear.
4. Press Out: Avoid wringing out the fabric; instead, press it between towels to remove excess water.

1. Flat Drying: Lay the garment flat on a clean, dry towel, reshaping it to its original form. Avoid hanging, as this can stretch the wool.
2. Air Drying: Ensure the garment is dried in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight or heat sources, as these can cause fading and shrinkage.
3. Ironing: If ironing is necessary, use a low heat setting with a pressing cloth to avoid direct contact with the wool. Steam can also help remove wrinkles without direct heat, but please use with caution. If you are ironing a kilt – carefully press the pleats one by one, taking care not to stretch the fabric.

1. Clean Before Storing: We recommend that you clean your tartan before storing to prevent moth damage and stains from setting.
2. Breathable Storage: Store in a cool, dry place using breathable garment bags or cotton sheets. Avoid plastic bags, which can trap moisture and cause mildew.
3. Moth Prevention: It is the moth larvae that cause the damage to wool. Use natural moth repellents like cedar blocks or lavender sachets to protect against moth damage. It is also good practice to check over your kilt once in a while, checking through all the pleats, to make sure there are no sneaky stowaways. Use a gentle brush to remove any you might find.
4. Clip Hanger: Due to the volume of fabric used to make a kilt, they are surprisingly heavy. By using a purpose-made kilt hanger which has 4 instead of 2 clips, you will reduce the risk of the cloth stretching out of shape.

1. Refreshing: To refresh your kilt or tartan accessory between cleanings, hang it in a well-ventilated area and allow it to air out overnight.
2. Rotation: Give your tartan wool garments a break between wears to let the fibres relax and recover their shape.
3. Kilt Pins: The front apron of a kilt suffers a little bit of damage every time the pin is pushed through the cloth, we advise that you take great care when using one, gently working the pin into the cloth and leaving it in place.