How to wash cashmere and keep your favourite clothes feeling nice and silky
Cashmere is an incredibly soft and luxurious material that feels like a warm hug – but you’ll know that if you already own a cashmere garment. For this very reason, many people find themselves wondering how to wash cashmere properly without the wool losing its wonderful softness. Don’t worry: with the right care and a few simple tips, your cashmere garment will not only keep its shape, but will also be as soft as when you first bought it.
November 13, 2024 • 3 min reading time
Tips for washing and caring for cashmere correctly
Cashmere is a very fine and delicate material that is naturally susceptible to damage. To protect the fibres and extend the lifespan of your cashmere jumper, you should take care when washing it.
The golden rule: hand-washing is always the gentlest method. Simply fill a tub with cold to lukewarm water and use a special detergent for cashmere or wool. Leave the garment to soak for a few minutes and then gently swirl it around in the tub. After hand-washing, you can rinse the garment in cold water and lay it out to dry.
Nowadays, the washing machine is also an option for washing cashmere – provided you keep a few important points in mind. Firstly, always use the wool cycle or a similar delicate cycle. The water also shouldn’t be too hot (maximum 30°C) and the spin speed should be low. Here too, be sure to use a gentle detergent that is suitable for cashmere. Fabric softeners are an absolute no-no!
The good news is that cashmere doesn’t have to be washed after every wear. In fact, you only need to wash your cashmere jumper every few weeks or after wearing it several times. But why is this?
Frequent washing can put unnecessary strain on the fibres of this fine material and wear it out more quickly. In most cases, all you need to do is air out the garment to freshen it up again – you can confidently rely on the self-cleaning properties of wool. This will keep your cashmere jumper looking good for longer and prevent damage to it from over-washing.
Not every detergent is suitable for delicate cashmere wool. Special detergents for cashmere or wool are definitely the best choice, as they are more gentle and formulated specifically to cater to the needs of the fibres. They also contain nourishing substances that keep the cashmere wool soft and in shape.
When buying cashmere detergent, always make sure that it doesn’t contain any enzymes, bleach or softeners – these ingredients can damage the fibres and destroy the naturally soft texture of your clothes.
Also avoid all-purpose or colour detergents, as they can damage the natural protective layer of delicate cashmere wool. Using a gentle detergent without aggressive ingredients is the key to prolonging the life of your cashmere garments.
After washing cashmere, the next challenge arises: drying it. The most important thing is to never wring out or hang up cashmere. Wringing the material can cause it to lose its shape, while hanging it while wet can cause the fibres to stretch as a result of the increased weight.
Instead, simply lay the garment on a towel after washing, roll it up carefully and gently squeeze out the excess water. Alternatively, you can put your wet cashmere jumper between two towels and gently press them together.
Afterwards, spread the jumper out flat on a dry towel and pull it into shape. It’s best to leave your cashmere garment to dry outside or in a well-ventilated room. Be careful not to place your wet cashmere directly in the sun or on the heater, as this could dry out the fibres.
Over time, your cashmere jumper may lose a little of its softness. But don’t worry, you can get it nice and soft again! An important tip is to take proper care when washing – always use cold to lukewarm water and make sure you use a suitable detergent.
If small pills start to form on the surface, you can gently remove them with a special cashmere comb or lint shaver. This makes the material smoother again and leaves your garment looking almost like new. However, make sure that you do so gently to avoid damaging the fibres.
A cashmere jumper is often a big investment in comfort and style. This makes it all the more important to look after your cashmere clothes properly. Here is a list of a few additional care tips that may help:
Use your washing machine with care: when putting your cashmere garment in the washing machine, always use a gentle cycle and place it in a laundry bag. This will prevent it from being damaged by the drum.
Hand-washing is still the best way to go: hand-washing is and remains the safest method for cleaning cashmere. It may require a little more time and effort, but it’s worth it for your favourite piece.
Prevent pills from forming: pilling naturally occurs with cashmere, but you can reduce it with the right care. To prevent pilling, avoid wearing your cashmere clothes under tight jackets, bag straps or other tight garments that cause friction.
Protect cashmere from moths: cashmere wool is particularly susceptible to moth damage. If you won’t be wearing your cashmere clothes for a longer period of time, store them in a cotton bag and add lavender sachets or pieces of cedar wood to keep the little pests at bay.
For particularly stubborn stains or very expensive items of clothing, you may need to leave things to the experts and have your cashmere garment professionally cleaned. Just make sure that the dry cleaner you use actually specialises in the care of delicate materials such as cashmere.
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