How to Care for Cashmere

caring for cashmere

Cleaning and caring for your cashmere garments can feel like a challenging task. As cashmere is such a fine and delicate material, taking your knitwear items to the dry cleaners might seem to be the easiest way to clean them. However, this is often not necessary. With a few extra steps and a little more time and effort, you can care for your cashmere garments at home, achieve expert results, and save a trip to your dry cleaners.

How to Wash Cashmere

Washing your cashmere knitwear will require some planning in advance. We also only recommend washing your garments after several wears, as this will help to preserve the quality of the fibres. For any washing method, use a gentle wool wash or extremely mild detergent approved for delicate fibres. We highly recommend reading the care label on your knitwear to determine its respective process of washing.

HAND WASHING

  1. Fill up a basin, sink, or tub with cold water only and mix with an approved wool detergent.
  2. Submerge the garment in the water and wash quickly for only a few minutes; DO NOT soak.
  3. Carefully rinse the garment with cold water. Squeeze as much water out of the clothing piece as possible being careful to not twist or wring the garment as cashmere fibres are even more delicate when wet.
  4. Wrap the garment in a towel to remove any excess water.
  5. Pull garment back to shape and lay it flat on a new towel to let it dry in a cool place – DO NOT dry the item with direct heat or sunlight as this can lead to shrinkage.


MACHINE WASHING

Using a washing machine to clean cashmere garments isn’t out of the question, though at Cable, we advise only washing these garments in a machine when using a wool/hand wash cycle and cold-water setting. 
  1. If you possibly can, remove the garment as soon as you notice the stain and wash, as this will help prevent any permanent staining.
  2. Dab the area with a solvent-based stain remover or eucalyptus oil, applying a small amount at a time and working inwards to avoid spreading. Make sure to dab the area – DO NOT scrub, pull, or us a scrub brush on the stain.
  3. Rinse the treated area with cold water and then wash as per washing instructions. Ensure to always try a test patch on the garment before attempting to remove a stain.

     Cashmere Knitwear

    How to Dry Cashmere

     

    As with washing, drying your cashmere garments will take some time and effort. We recommend that you stay as far away from the dryer as possible. As highlighted above, your cashmere knitwear should not be dried in the dryer, as this will shrink the cashmere and wool fibres.

    Instead, after washing the garment, use a towel to carefully squeeze out all excess water until the garment is damp. Reshape and place on a dry towel in a dark and dry area or on top of a drying rack. Cashmere will take time to dry, so make sure you allow for plenty of time for the garment to dry before needing to wear it.

     

    How to Store Cashmere

     
    Knitwear should be folded and stored flat, never stored on a hanger as this will cause stretching and the garment will grow out of shape. When packing your knitwear away for the summer season, ensure they are freshly washed and dried completely – Do NOT pack away if they are slightly damp.

    Pack your knitwear in an airtight sealed container away from direct sunlight. For extra protection from moths, we recommend using a moth repellent and storing it in a sealed container.

    Tips & Tricks for Caring for Cashmere


    Properly caring for your cashmere knitwear will help extend the life of your garments and this will help keep their quality and shine for years to come. 

    PILLING

    If you’re finding that your garments are pilling, that is, little balls on the surface of the garment caused by rubbing during wear, there are a few ways to help remove them. Some ways to help prevent pilling include:

    1. Turn your garments inside out when washing. After your garments have been washed a few times their fibres will strengthen, which will lessen the pilling.
    2. Use a razor to remove excess pilling. Be extremely careful with this method and use a light hand, as to not snag the threads.
    3. Use an electronic fabric shaver to remove pilling. Lay on a flat surface and in circular motions, use a light hand to remove the pilling as to not snag the threads.

    IRONING

    It is very important to read the care label on your knitwear to determine the ironing instructions. 

    1. Set the iron on the wool setting or medium.
    2. Lay the garment flat and reshape gently by hand.
    3. Spray the garment with a little water before applying the iron to the garment surface. You can also use the steam function and apply steam to the garment instead.
    4. Use a very light hand and small amounts of pressure to iron the garment. Too much pressure and heat can lead to scorching or the surface becoming shiny.
    5. After ironing, lay the garment flat to cool for 5 minutes before folding and storing as this will create further crease lines.
    6. If you’re not comfortable ironing your garment, try using a steamer instead to remove wrinkles. Steam is a lot less harsh on the fibres as it fluffs the fabric. It also acts as a natural refresher as an added bonus.

    Repairing Holes & Snags


    Knitwear garments are delicate items that need to be handled with care. It is recommended to remove all loose jewellery when dressing to minimise pulls and fabric snags. Belts, bags and other items that rub on knitwear can cause pulls and pilling and cannot be recognised as a manufacturing fault. If you have received your CABLE garment with a hole or snags, please contact us on (03) 9827 7527 or info@cablemelbourne.com and we will organise an assessment of the garment to get repaired or replaced.


    Explore the range of cashmere knitwear available at Cable Melbourne.