Cashmere Care Guide
We believe a good collection of cashmere sweaters is an essential of every well-edited wardrobe. Wearable, all-year-round, cashmere is a sought-after textile for good reason: if taken care of, it lasts for decades. Cashmere is one of the world’s finest and most delicate natural fibres. Look after your cashmere pieces properly and they will continue to feel even softer and more luxurious after each wash.
To ensure you take the best possible care of your cashmere pieces, it helps to get familiar with the full cashmere care process, which includes washing, drying, storing, de-pilling, keeping moths away, and repairing if needed. It's easier than it sounds, and if done regularly, it helps to keep your cashmere soft and wearable forever. Here's our step-by-step guide.
WASHING CASHMERE
Hand washing will always produce the best results for washing your cashmere garments. Cashmere is a protein fibre, much like our own hair, and responds well to the same gentle washing approach. Ensure you wash your cashmere sweaters every 3-4 wears, even if not visibly stained, as moths will flock to sweaters that have any remnant of debris.
1. Preparing For The Wash
Wash with specialist cashmere wash, baby shampoo, or a gentle, low-alkaline detergent. The more alkaline a detergent is, the harsher it will be on your cashmere. If you’re washing more than one item, separate pieces into two piles, one light and one dark, and start with the lightest-colour styles first. Use tepid water.
2. Washing
Soak for at least 15 minutes and gently swish the sweater around in the soapy water.
drying cashmere
3. Rinsing
Press out the excess water, but do not wring, and take care not to stretch the fabric. Avoid rinsing under hard running water, which can stretch delicate cashmere. Very wet cashmere can take up to days to dry, so to cut the time in half, use a large salad spinner to rid off any excess water.
4. Rolling to Remove Excess Water
On a flat surface, place a clean white or light-coloured towel that’s large enough to accommodate the whole sweater. Starting at the top of the garment, roll the towel and the garment together, gently pressing down on the roll to help the towel absorb the water in the garment. Unroll.
5. Lay Flat To Dry
Lay the item flat to dry in its natural shape, so the style keeps. Do not iron – it will damage the yarn. You can also place your cashmere pieces on a mesh drying rack until they’re completely dry
PROTECTING YOUR CASHMERE
6. Removing Stains
Treat stains immediately with cold water and apply a stain remover. After the stain remover has penetrated, wash your sweater as normal. As a last resort, take the cashmere piece to a specialist dry cleaner.
7. Storage
Never put away cashmere dirty. Sweat, hair, and stains attract moths. Instead, store your cashmere in a drawer or storage box with cedar balls or lavender sachets, which are your best protection against moths as they don’t like the smell. Remember to replace these products each season as the smell fades. If you are thinking of storing your cashmere over a longer seasonal period, place your cashmere into plastic zip bags so moths can’t penetrate.
8. If You Suspect An Infestation
If you see a moth flying around and suspect that it’s been near your cashmere, it’s not too late to take preventive measures: Seal the affected items in a plastic bag and place them in the freezer for three days. Then, take out the bag out and let them your cashmere return to room temperature, wash, and lay flat to dry.
Pilling & Repairing Cashmere
The fuzzy, little balls that form over time are a natural occurrence. Referred to as "pilling", they are not indicative of bad quality, it is an inevitable consequence of the delicate processing of fine cashmere.
De-Pilling Cashmere
Take a razor, electric de-bobbler, or cashmere comb to the sweater. By removing the pills in this way, as opposed to pulling them off, the sweater will soften even more. If cared for properly, your cashmere will maintain its original luxurious quality.
Repairing Holes in a Cashmere Sweater
Whether it has occurred due to a moth or a snag, holes in cashmere can be repaired. If the hole was created by a moth infestation, make sure you freeze the piece first, as outlined above. You can then send it to Love Cashmere Care Service in Hawick, Scotland. They’ll return your cashmere pieces as good as new.