Caring for Cashmere
Firstly, always be sure to read and follow a garment’s own cashmere care label when washing cashmere knitwear or homewares. Cashmere can normally be washed by hand, or sometimes gently machine-washed, but if in doubt should be dry cleaned. No matter how you wash your cashmere garment, we recommend turning it inside-out before washing for extra protection.
It is advisable to regularly hand wash your garments by immersing them in a solution of warm water and a gentle wool wash product. When you do wash by hand, don’t rub, but instead squeeze the suds gently through the fabric. Never wring or stretch the fabric in any way. Finally, rinse the garment several times in clean lukewarm water until the water runs clear without traces of detergent.
Certain cashmere products could also be washed using the hand-wash, delicates, or woollens cycle on a washing machine, but be sure to check the garment’s care label first to make sure that it is suitable for machine washing. If you do decide to wash your cashmere in this way, ensure that you use a specialist cashmere or delicates washing liquid rather than your general purpose product. Never wash cashmere above 40 degrees; ideally wash it at less than that. Avoid biological detergents.
Do not leave cashmere garments wet. As soon as you can, dry it to prevent odours from developing. Do this by squeezing out any excess water before lifting a wet cashmere garment (or alternatively use a slow spin cycle on the machine if the care label permits). If you are not careful, it may stretch; so take great care.
Once washed, smooth your cashmere gently back into its original shape and place it flat on a towel, allowing it to air-dry naturally. Avoid direct heat such as radiators or strong sunlight. Never hang cashmere on a line to dry as this will cause stretch marks and lines. Only ever tumble dry cashmere if the care label specifically permits this.
Once your cashmere garement is dry, it can be gently pressed with a cool iron to remove any creases.
Look after your cashmere so that it can look after you!