It’s officially sweater season and if you’ve invested in some good cashmere sweaters to get you through the colder months, you want to make sure you’re keeping them in good condition. If you’re like me, you probably wear the same sweaters over and over again. I also like to invest in sweaters I can have for years to come but that requires taking care of them. To be honest, I know so little about washing and caring for clothes, but I am starting to realize the importance of doing both properly, especially as I invest more in high quality pieces that will fill out my wardrobe for years. To that end, I’m starting a new series where I share tips for maintaining and caring for your clothing. This week, I thought I’d share how to care for cashmere sweaters, since we’re all wearing so much of them (or at least I am). Caring for cashmere is essential to keep this luxurious and soft fabric in good condition for many years. Cashmere is delicate, so it requires special attention when washing, storing, and maintaining. Here are some expert tips on how to care for cashmere:
Hand Wash or Use a Gentle Cycle: Hand washing is the best way to care for cashmere. Use a mild detergent designed for delicate fabrics. I like this one. If you want to a washing machine, which I totally get — hand washing is a pin — use a gentle cycle with cold water. Place the cashmere item in a mesh laundry bag to protect it from rubbing against other clothes.
Wash with Cold Water: Always use cold water when washing cashmere, as hot water can cause cashmere to shrink and lose its softness.
Use a Mild Detergent: Use a mild, pH-balanced detergent designed for wool or cashmere. Avoid using bleach or fabric softeners, as they can damage the fibers. This one is gentle on your knits and smells delicious. Rinse the cashmere item thoroughly to remove all detergent residue.
Air Dry: Never put your cashmere in the drier or it can shrink and ruin the softness. After rinsing thorougly, never wring or twist cashmere garments, as this can cause stretching and damage the fibers. Instead, gently press the water out of the cashmere item by rolling it in a clean towel. Then lay the cashmere item flat on a clean, dry towel to air dry. Gently reshape it to its original dimensions.
Never Hang Your Cashmere: Avoid hanging cashmere items, as this can cause stretching.
Keep Away from Direct Heat: Do not expose cashmere to direct sunlight or direct heat sources, such as radiators or heaters, as this can cause the fibers to weaken and fade.
Store Carefully: Store cashmere items folded in a cool, dry place. Avoid hanging them, as this can lead to stretching. To prevent moths from infesting your cashmere, store it in a sealed container or use moth repellents like cedar balls or lavender sachets.
Remove Pills: Cashmere may develop small pills (tiny balls of fibers) over time. You can remove these pills gently using a cashmere comb or a fabric shaver. I like this one and this under $15 one and this one.
Dry Clean Sparingly: While hand washing is the preferred method, you can also have cashmere items professionally dry cleaned. However, make sure to choose a reputable dry cleaner experienced with cashmere and do only sparingly to extend the life of your knits.
Following these steps for how to care for cashmere sweaters will help ensure they last for years to come and you want to protect that investment because a good cashmere knit never goes out of style.
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