cashmere care
Luxurious cashmere garments are designed and destined for many years of wear and love.
So, how do we ensure we get the most out of our favourite high-quality knits? The secret is proper care: namely washing, drying, and storing them correctly.
Firstly, and importantly, cashmere garments do not have to be dry cleaned! In fact, dry cleaning cashmere can damage the garment and reduce its longevity. Hand washing is always the most preferable method.
How to hand wash cashmere
The importance of water temperature cannot be overstated: fill your basin with room temperature water. If the water it too cold, it will set stains; too hot, and it can result in incredible shrinkage.
Add in a small squirt of gentle soap, be it a specialty cashmere wash ,natural unscented detergent, or even baby shampoo. And remember, more soap doesn’t mean a cleaner garment, it can actually add residue – so be frugal with your soap allocation.
Turn the garment inside out – this protects the outside surface of the garment from rubbing during washing, and will keep the world-facing exterior looking better, for longer. Fully submerge in the tub, gently swirling and pressing or squeezing to absorb the water. Next, drain the water, and refill and drain the sink with clean soapless water a couple of times, to rinse thoroughly – always being careful not to agitate the fibres excessively.
How to dry cashmere
Wet cashmere has weaker fibres, and the twisting and stretching action of wringing out or hanging a garment can disfigure it.
Instead, once removed from the water, gently ball up the cashmere garment and squeeze out excess water, or press it against the side of the washing basin. Lay it flat on a towel, and roll both up into a tight cylinder, squeezing excess water out of the knit and into the towel. Unroll, and lay the cashmere flat on a clean, dry towel or drying rack, gently arranging it into its normal shape.
Re-shaping is an important step in the drying process, as the garment will essentially remain in this shape until the next wash. It is usually a simple process if the garment has been handled delicately during washing, however, some knit structures are prone to ‘monkey arms’ when wet: where the sleeves become stretched and skinny. To correct this, lay the damp garment flat and gently adjust the sleeve width, working from the shoulder down to the cuff.
And always dry out of direct sunlight, to avoid fading and sun damage.
How to clean spot stains on cashmere
Spilt or splashed something? Make sure you take a gentle approach to the tackling that spot – if you scrub or dab furiously at a stain, the garment could end up with a damaged or fuzzy surface. Instead, gently massage a stain remover into the area before the next wash. Another trick is to attempt (gently!) working the stain out from the opposite side, rather than pushing it further into the fibres.
How to remove pilling from cashmere
Pilling refers to the little balls that form anywhere on a garment that is touched by regular friction, and is an unfortunate inevitability in oft-worn and well-loved garments. Pilling is a natural characteristic of even the finest cashmere. In fact, if it doesn’t pill, it most likely isn’t true cashmere. The occurrence of ‘shedding’ in the first few wears is the natural process of the fibres relaxing and actually makes your garment softer to wear.
Managing pilling requires regular de-fuzz sessions, using a cashmere de-pilling comb for delicate knits. We have included one of these with your knit
How to store cashmere garments
Always fold cashmere garments, never hang, as it can lead to distortion and stretching. And for end-of-season long-term storage, use cotton storage bags (breathable and bug- and dust-proof!).
Always wash your garments before stowing them away at the end of the season. Even if you’ve only lightly worn the garment, any wear residue at all will provide food for moths.
Enjoy Your beautiful luxurious Cashmere 🤎
