HOW TO WASH CASHMERE

Cashmere is a luxurious, natural material that has the ability to not only be beautiful, but also warm and irresistibly soft. Therefore, clothing and accessories in cashmere, such as a cashmere sweater, cashmere scarf or socks in cashmere, are very popular through all ages. Cashmere is also of high quality and lasts long if handled properly, which you naturally want, right? Giving a long life to your clothes is good for both your private economy and the environment. That's why we have compiled our best tips on how to wash and take care of your fine cashmere clothes. 

  
HOW TO HAND WASH A CASHMERE SWEATER 

A cashmere jumper or sweater should not be washed unnecessarily. The material has the ability to clean itself, just like any other type of wool, and therefore a cashmere sweater can advantageously be aired or steamed instead. However, If you don’t have access to a steamer, or if you feel that a wash is necessary, it’s best to wash a cashmere sweater by hand. Every now and then you actually have to wash a cashmere sweater as the dirt particles can attract clothes moths – and we don't want that! 
  

Fill a clean tub or clean sink with lukewarm water. It should be a good temperature so you don't burn your hands, but not so cold that the detergent can’t resolve. Pour in a small amount of detergent. If you use too much detergent, it can be difficult to rinse everything out, which is not good for the wool fibers. 
 

Leave the cashmere sweater soaked for about 5-10 minutes. Squeeze the garment into the water so that the soap enters the material and cleans at all places. If you have specific stains on the sweater, you can rub them gently. Then empty the tub or sink on soapy water and refill it with fresh, lukewarm rinsing water. Squeeze the water gently into the sweater and leave it to soak again for about 5-10 minutes. Then drain the rinsing water. Does the sweater still feel soapy? Rinse the same way again until it doesn’t.  

HOW TO MACHINE WASH CASHMERE   

Don't want to wash your big cashmere scarf by hand? We understand you, this is a little bit of work. And in fact, you actually can wash cashmere in a washing machine, but it always comes with a small risk. As you know, all washing machines have a number of different functions and washing programs, and as soon as you press the start button you lose control. 
  
If you still feel confident in washing your cashmere clothes in a washing machine, you should use the wool program with short washing time and skip the spin completely. Cashmere should never be washed in excess of 30 degrees and it can be advantageously washed in a laundry bag – or in a pillowcase that you tie together. 

CHOOSE CASHMERE DETERGENT 

Cashmere is, as we mentioned, a precious natural material that should be washed carefully. Otherwise, the wool fibers can be destroyed and lose both shape and shine. Preferably use a liquid detergent for fine washing or wool washing. The important thing is that it’s completely free of alkalis. A liquid detergent is also better since powders tend to get stuck in the material. 
 
For tough stains, you can use natural stain removers like bile soap or Savon de Marseille soap. Savon de Marseille soap is a classic French soap made from naturally cleansing substances and can be used for both the body and for washing delicate materials. 
  
You can either gently rub the soap directly onto the stain when the sweater is wet, or take small pieces of the soap and put it into the water. Don’t use a softener when washing cashmere since it can stay in the fibers and destroy them.  

HOW TO DRY A CASHMERE SWEATER   

Regardless of whether you have chosen to wash your cashmere sweater by hand or by machine, it should be dried in the same way. Do not twist the garment as it may deform the sweater. Instead, roll it into a ball and gently squeeze out the water. 
  
When most of the water has run out, you can put the sweater in a clean towel and roll it together so that the towel wraps around the sweater. Squeeze the towel roll so that even more water can be sucked up. 
 
If you have a hanging dryer rack you can hang the sweater over that. Not on a string, but flat over all strings. If you want to put it on a heating element, it’s important that you don’t use excessive heat. Low heat or no heat at all is best for the cashmere, otherwise it might shrink. If you have no drying rack at all, you can let the sweater dry flat on, or in between two clean towels. 

CAN I DRY CLEAN CASHMERE? 

Have you had the misfortune of encountering really hard stains on your beloved cashmere garment? For example, makeup stains on the cashmere scarf, red wine stains on the cashmere sweater or bloodstains on the cashmere socks? Then it might be best to dry clean the garment. You can try to remove the stain yourself first, but remember that some dry cleaners want you to leave the stain completely untreated. It simply varies between different laundries, so check that up before you decide what to do. 

GENERAL TIPS FOR CASHMERE CARE  

To avoid washing cashmere more often than necessary, you should take care of your clothes properly. Remember, care and love bring long life to your favourite clothes. For a delicate (but also durable) material such as cashmere, we advise you t to do the following: 
  

• Air out cashmere sweaters, scarves and socks after use. 
• Cashmere can burl a little at first because the short wool fibers are searching their way up to the surface. Remove the burl's with a wool comb or similar and the sweater will look nice and fresh again. 
• Fold your cashmere sweater instead of hanging it, otherwise it may lose its fit and get marks after the hanger. 
• Keep cashmere dark, cool and horizontal in your wardrobe.
• Wash cashmere from time to time (but not too often) to remove dirt and bacteria that can attract clothing moths.  

   
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