How to wash cashmere?

Cashmere is a natural fiber, a very special type of wool that originally comes from the breed of goat from which it takes its name. Sweaters, scarves, gloves, cardigans… garments made with this fiber are a delight to the touch and also provide warmth like few others, making them perfect for staying warm in the coldest months of the year. The problem arises when washing them because cashmere is a delicate wool, which requires some care to keep it in perfect condition. Learn how to wash cashmere or cashmere step by step in this article and take note of some tricks so that your clothes remain as beautiful and pleasant as the first day for a long.

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Topics Covered in This Article

1 How to wash cashmere step by step
2 Cashmere care

How to wash cashmere step by step

As a first piece of advice, it must be said that it is not advisable to overwash this type of garment. Of course, you will have to do it when they are dirty, but a cashmere sweater should not be washed constantly (for example after a single, brief wear). When necessary, wash your cashmere garments following these steps and you will see that they do not become deformed or damaged. The best way to do this is always by hand washing .

Before washing, shake the garment gently to remove any loose dirt and turn it inside out , that is, wash it inside out.
Take a large container, a basin, and fill it with warm water . The temperature of the water is a very important detail when caring for cashmere. Never use hot water because it will undoubtedly damage these delicate wool fibers. The water should be between cold and slightly warm, without exceeding 20 ºC.
Add 1 – 2 capfuls of liquid soap to hand wash delicate items (do not use powdered soap). Another option may be to wash the garment with a neutral shampoo. Stir with your hand so that the soap dissolves and creates foam.
Introduce and immerse the cashmere in the water without squeezing or rubbing. Let it soak for between 8 and 15 minutes , depending on how dirty it is, but do not exceed the time. Too much soaking could contribute to warping the garment.
After this time and only if it is essential due to the presence of a stain, you can increase the action of the soap by slowly and extremely gently removing the garment with your fingers in a subtle ‘massage’ for a couple more minutes.
When rinsing, empty the container and add clean water (also warm). Do not wring the garment. Let the water act, leaving the cashmere in the clean water so that it releases the soap. After a few minutes, empty it again and if there is a lot of foam left, you can repeat the operation .
Finally, comes the delicate moment of removing excess water from the garment and letting it dry. When you finally empty the basin, carefully press the cashmere sweater (or any other item of clothing) against one of the sides of the container to remove much of the retained water. It involves pressing lightly so that the water drains , without twisting the garment in any case.
After this first drying step, put the cashmere on a clean towel and roll it loosely with the garment inside. Leave it like this for a few minutes so that the moisture passes from the cashmere to the towel.
Finally, spread the garment on a flat, smooth surface, placing it on another cloth or towel, and let it finish drying naturally . Do not hang it, to avoid deformation, nor leave it exposed to dry in the sun. The ideal is to leave it spread out in a room in the house that is well ventilated so that it takes less time to dry. Even if it takes a while, it will be worth it because it will look like new.

If you are in a hurry and need to wash the cashmere in the washing machine , you can do so by always protecting the garment in a special washing cover (also putting it in a pillowcase). In addition, you will have to choose the specific washing program for delicate garments, avoiding spinning.

Cashmere care

In addition to washing cashmere the correct way, some tips that will help you keep your garment looking splendid for years are:

Always avoid using dryers because heat is the enemy of this particular wool.
When ironing cashmere , always do it at the lowest temperature and without steam. To avoid any damage, also place a thin cloth between the sole of the iron and the garment.
As far as possible, store the cashmere on a shelf or closet drawer so that it does not hang . Try not to fold the garment too much when storing it.
If you need to remove lint, always do it with a comb or brush to remove lint from wool , specifically for this purpose.
If your cashmere garment is clean but accidentally got a stain on it, you don’t need to wash it completely . Simply put a little neutral liquid soap on it. Leave it on for a few minutes, apply a little water, without scrubbing, and let it dry.

Now that you know how to wash cashmere step by step and the best care so that it lasts longer in perfect condition, you may want to learn about other fabrics and their care when washing them: