How to Care for Cashmere

Cashmere garments are some of the most beautiful and comfortable pieces you can have in your wardrobe. They also tend to be rather expensive, so it's worth taking the time to care for them properly. By learning how to care for cashmeres, you'll be able keep them looking new for years to come.

How to Wash Cashmere

If you're wondering how to wash cashmere without damaging the delicate natural fibers, here are some tips to help

First of all, cashmere items really shouldn't be washed that often. Assuming they haven't gotten unusually dirty, you won't need to wash them more than twice during the season (usually after about six wearings).

For knitted cashmere items, even though the label reads "dry clean only," hand washing will make the garment softer over time and save if from the damaging effects of dry cleaning chemicals. Woven cashmeres, on the other hand, should be dry cleaned to help them keep their shape.

You can hand wash cashmere items in mild shampoo or laundry detergent like Woolite. If you use shampoo, choose one that won't strip out the natural oils.
To wash a cashmere garment, fill a basin with warm water and dissolve your cleaner of choice in the water. Immerse the garment and gently press it into the water until it's thoroughly soaked. Swish the garment around a little until the water becomes cloudy. Then pour out the water while holding the garment in the basin. Do this a few times with soap, then without soap until the water runs clear. When the cashmere is clean, rinse it with hair conditioner to make it softer. Chamomile conditioner is perfect for this.

Next, gently press or squeeze the excess water out of your cashmere. It's tempting wring the garment to get the water out faster, but twisting wet cashmere will stress the fibers and stretch it out of shape. Finally, blot the cashmere with a towel to take out as much moisture as you can. To dry your cashmere garment, lay it flat on a towel or sweater drier away from direct heat and sunlight.

How to treat a stain on cashmere
If you spill something on a cashmere item, spot treat it immediately. Just dab a little cold water or club soda on the stain and carefully blot it. Never rub a stain on cashmere because you're likely to create a hole or rough spot. Before you wash the garment, pre-treat the stain with a very mild cleaner. Never use bleach or any other harsh cleaner to treat a stain on cashmere.

Eliminating pilling
Although higher quality cashmere won't pill as much as the cheaper varieties, you can still end up with pilling if the garment is repeatedly rubbed in one spot. It typically shows up under the upper arms or on your side where your purse rubs. To prevent pilling, try not to let anything rub against the cashmere garment, including jewelry or rough clothing. If you need to get rid of pills, just pick them off by hand. Don't brush or you'll make the problem worse.

How to iron cashmere
Careful washing and drying will take most wrinkles out of cashmere, but if you really feel the need to iron, use a high quality steam iron and work on the inside surface of the garment. Don't touch the garment with the iron. Just hold the iron above the garment in one hand and steam while you smooth out wrinkles with your other hand.

How to store cashmere
Before you store your cashmere garment, make sure it's completely clean and dry. Stains that weren't completely washed out could set while the item is in storage. What's more, food particles in stains attract moths.

To store cashmere sweaters, fold each side in by a third so you don't get a fold line running down the front of the sweater. Never hang a cashmere sweater as the pull of gravity will cause it to stretch out of shape.

Wrap your cashmere in acid free tissue to keep it protected without the risk of chemical reactions from the paper. Then put it in a plastic bag with small air holes to let air circulate and prevent mold and mildew.

The ideal place to store cashmere is a cedar chest or cedar-lined closet as the scent of cedar deters moths. If you store cashmeres in ordinary drawers, put some cedar chips or balls in with them.

Because of the risk of mildew, cashmere shouldn't be left in the attic, basement or garage. If you have no other choice, though, put the cashmere items (wrapped in tissue paper and plastic) in a plastic storage box with a tight-fitting lid. Add something to absorb moisture like a few bags of silica gel and periodically check for moisture.

Learn to properly care for cashmere and you'll be able to enjoy your beautiful garments for decades. When you know how to wash cashmere and store cashmere correctly, you won't need to spend money to replace worn out items and you can invest the savings in a few more cashmere pieces.