There are so many reasons to love cashmere! 🙌🏾 Not only is it soft and warm, but it's also a crease- and odor-resistant material. Airing it out in between wears makes it possible to wash it less frequently.
MACHINE WASH
When it's time to wash your cashmere, make sure to select the most delicate wash cycle. A 'Wool' cycle will be gentler than your standard 'Delicate' cycle, so definitely choose 'Wool' if you have the option.
When machine washing cashmere, don't fill up the drum. It's better to wash only 2-3 wool items at a time. Keep in mind that too much agitation, as well as hot or icy water, can shock cashmere and cause shrinkage.
HAND WASH
If you've invested in your cashmere and feel wary of machine washing, your safest bet would be to hand wash. To do so, follow these five easy steps:
⚪ Step 1: Turn cashmere inside out
Prior to washing, inspect your cashmere for stains. Use a gentle stain spray to pre-treat stains, then turn the garment inside out.
⚪ Step 2: Measure out your delicate detergent
Fill a sink or tub with lukewarm water and add some delicate detergent for wool, like this yuzu detergent from Tangent GC. Always follow dosing instructions (a little goes a long way).
If you don't have delicate detergent on hand, you can also use a pH neutral shampoo. Cashmere is the hair of goats, after all! Submerge the garment in the sudsy water.
⚪ Step 3: Soak & gently massage
Soak for 10 minutes, then stir or massage your cashmere. Be very gentle in order to avoid damage and shrinkage. Continue by soaking for up to 30 minutes. Drain and refill your sink with lukewarm water and repeat this step until the water runs clear.
⚪ Step 4: Roll in a fresh towel & squeeze
Lay your cashmere on a clean white towel (dark towels might result in color transfer). Roll up the cashmere in the towel and gently squeeze to remove excess moisture.
⚪ Step 5: Reshape & lay flat to dry
Reshape the cashmere with gentle pulling (don't forget to remove any jewelry from your hands that could potentially snag on the material).
Lay your cashmere flat to dry on a clean towel. Do not tumble dry with heat or hang dry—these actions can cause your cashmere to shrink or become misshapen.
Enjoy wearing your freshly washed cashmere! You can find our favorite products for keeping winter clothes and accessories looking their best here.
Words and gifs by Team Clean
Cashmere by Vince