Introduction-
Cashmere wool is considered to be one of the most luxurious natural fibers in the world. It is gentle, light weight and extremely warm hence it is so sought after in sweaters, scarfs and accessories. Nevertheless, it is very fragile and, therefore, it needs to be taken care of. A lot of individuals would question themselves on how to wash cashmere wool without ruining it. Shortly washing cashmere in the wrong way may cause it to shrink, pill, and lose its softness.
Luckily, one can keep cashmere at home provided he/she knows how to handle them. Having the appropriate washing schedule, you can keep it beautiful and prolong its life. Here, you will be guided through hand-washing, machine washing, drying, storage and professional cleaning options so that your cashmere will always appear at its best.
Can You Wash Cashmere Wool at Home?
It is widely understood that cashmere wool should be dry-cleaned all the time. Although the use of dry cleaning is also an option, it is not the only solution. The reality is that under the right methods you can also wash cashmere at home.
The correct guide to washing cashmere will show you that hand-washing can to be the safest way. Machine washing can be done only in extreme care by busy people. Learning how to wash cashmere wool properly, you save money spending at the dry cleaner. Home washing gives you the option to wash with less harsh chemicals that do not ruin the softness of the fibers.
Hand-Washing Cashmere: Step-by-Step Guide
Preparation
To begin with, pour some lukewarm water (approximately 30 o C) into a sink or a basin. Put in a soft, cashmere-safe detergent or a cashmere hair shampoo. Find detergents that contain lanolin or natural oils to condition the fibers. Lots of wool detergents contain lanolin or oils to maintain the fibers soft. In case you do not have special wool soap, a mild shampoo baby soap will suffice. In order to avoid destroying fibers, one should always use a pH-neutral cleaner without bleach and enzymes. Add the water and mix it with the detergent.
Washing
Second, place the cashmere into the soapy water and then swirl it. Add in the sweater and take it through the water. Do not rub, scrub or wring the fabric or this may lead to pilling and distortion. Rather, squeeze the garment a couple of times to break the water. Allow the clothing to sit in a few to ten minutes to allow the soap to enter into the fibers. Never leave it to soak longer than is necessary and always keep the agitation to the gentlest.
Rinsing
Wipe off the soapy water and replace the basin with cool and clean water. Rinse the cashmere in the water pressing it. Several rinses are common to wash every bit of soap, therefore, you can drain and fill with fresh water more than once. Wash it again with fresh water until all the suds go. Do not, again, wring or twist the garment, but squeeze out all the extra water a little at time.
Drying
Lastly, do not wring, twist or hang wet cashmere. These movements have the capability to elongate and bend out the fibers. Rather, place the sweater on a clean towel and roll it all up to remove moisture. Blast on the rolled towel to take out more water without wringing. Unweave, re-weave the cashmere and then lay it flat on a dry towel in its original size. Turn the garment twice when it is drying so that both parts get to dry evenly. It is best that you put the drying sweater in a cool, well-ventilated place. Do not subject it to direct heat or sunshine, which will cause the wool to become smaller or light.
Can You Machine Wash Cashmere Wool?
Risks of Machine Washing Cashmere
Machine washing cashmere may easily destroy the fibers. The agitation and a high temperature can make it shrink or felt. Pilling or stretching can also be caused by friction in the machine drum. An example is when cashmere is overly agitated in a rough cycle, it will lock and tighten into a small ball.
Guidelines Machine Washing Cashmere
When you have to use a machine, be very careful. First, inside-out pour the sweater in a mesh laundry bag. This assists in the preservation of the surface against friction. Choose the softest (wool or fragile) cold water cycle. Wash it with a light wool detergent and a short, low spin wash cycle to reduce the stress on fibers. Think about an additional rinse cycle because of all the soap. Additionally, new front load machines tend to be less harmful to wool (they do not have an agitator in the middle). Never use top-loaders that have agitators, or not at all spinning when your machine is too rough.
Hand Wash vs. Machine Wash
Washing hands is less aggressive and provides you with complete control over temperatures and movements of the water. Machine washing is however faster and more dangerous. You can only trust your machine when its wool cycle is gently so. In most cases, hand washing is the safest and most long-lasting, and use of machine washing is a last option. Practically, it is commonplace that most individuals wash their cashmere by hand so it does not shrink.
How to Dry Cashmere the Right Way
- Do not wring, twist, or hang cashmere: Wringing or hanging a wet sweater may stretch it, and change its shape. Never place the garments upside down after washing.
- Lay it flat on a towel: Having washed, roll up the cashmere in a clean towel to squeeze out all the moisture. Then roll and put the item on a different dry towel and re-shape it to its size.
- Keep away heat or sun: Store drying cashmere not near radiators, heaters or the sun. The heat can make the fibers shortening, and cause color to lose. Dry in an airy and shady place.
How Often Should You Wash Cashmere Wool?
Wash cashmere only as needed. Natural fibers do not have an odor and therefore cashmere can be used several times and then washed. Experts usually recommend to do laundry to cashmere after a few wears (such as 2–3). Spraying it outside between uses will help it to remain clean without any laundry. What should always be done to cashmere is to wash it towards the end of the season and then store it. This eliminates body oils and sweat that is prone to attract moths. Excessive washing may overly fray the fibers, and therefore, wash only when the garment is dirty.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Washing Cashmere
Hot water: do not use hot water because this results in shrinking of cashmere. Use cold or warm water.
Washing with harsh detergents: Do not use strong detergents or bleach and this may strip the natural oils and make the fibers weak.
Fabric softeners: Do not use, because these cover cashmere fibers and make them less soft.
Dryer: Cashmere should not be placed in the dryer. The hot and tossing motion will cause shortening and destruction of the cloth.
Application of excessive detergent: An overload of detergent may be left behind in cashmere. Always apply little of a mild soap and spray it under water.
Drying: Never hang any moist cashmere garment to dry, it will stretch and change its shape. Always dry flat.
Excessive washing of cashmere: It wears off the fragile fibers in excessive washing. Wash sparingly.
How to Store Cashmere After Washing
Fold instead of hanging
Fold cashmere clothes rather than hanging. The Hanging can both stretch the shoulders and distort the shape. Store flat in a drawer or a shelf so that the shape of the sweaters is not distorted. Use no wire or tight hangers which may snag or snatch the fibers.
Store in breathable bags
Store folded cashmere in cotton or linen storage bags that can be breathed into. Cotton keeps the air flowing and does not trap moisture. Do not use plastic or covered containers, which trap moisture and make them attractive to moth. Pest protective Natural fiber bags allow the fibers to breathe.
Use lavender or cedar balls.
Put cedar balls or lavender sachets in your cashmere storage. These are natural repulsives that prevent moth and bugs. The smell of cedar and lavender covers the fibers without rough chemicals. Change or substitute them often to make them effective. Keep your cashmere in a cool, dry environment that does not face direct light or heat in order to avoid any damages.
Read More>> About the itchiness of Cashmere wool.
Washing Cashmere Accessories (Scarves, Hats, Gloves)
Likewise Scarf and Hat Care
Treat cashmere scarves, hats and gloves as sweaters. Wash them in cold water with the same weak detergent. These items are smaller and thus, they tend to wash and dry quicker. Do not wash them and tie them up.
Preventing Misshaping
When wet, make sure to take small cashmere items carefully. Beat out every scrap and place it in its right shape so that it can dry. They should not be pulled or hanged, causing the fibers to be stretched. In the case of gloves, each finger is to be easily re-shaped as it dries to ensure a good fit.
Conclusion-
Cashmere wool is subtle and luxurious, however, it can last many years when taken care of. With proper knowledge about how to wash cashmere wool, you can prevent shrinkage, stretching and loss of softness. Always select soft hand-washing as much as possible, and machine washing should be applied with a lot of care. Note that it is also equally as important to dry and store cashmere than it is to wash. A cashmere will always remain soft, warm and beautiful through a season or two with just a little patience and proper care routine.
Read More>> About how cashmere wool is made.
FAQs
Yes, cashmere can be washed at home in hand-wash or delicate machine cycles. Washing with hands is always the best choice of keeping soft. One should wash in a mesh bag, cold water, and in mild detergent only by machine washing.
Mild wool detergent or special cashmere shampoo are the best detergent to use on cashmere. The formulas are aimed at the protection of fragile fibers. Use no ordinary laundry detergents because they remove natural oils and destroy softness.
Always use cold water or lukewarm water to avoid shrinkage. When washing do not wring or rub the sweater. Last, place it on a towel to dry in its natural form.
In order to keep it soft, make sure to rinse well to get the detergent out. Take mild wool or cashmere shampoos that feed the fibres. Allow it to dry flat and in no case subject it to heat or direct sunlight.
Yes, it is possible to iron cashmere, but only taking precautions. Always put the iron on the lowest heat and also cover the fabric with a piece of cloth. Light steaming is also conducive to wrinkle removal, without damaging the fibers.
This guide makesBlog comment creation a great point about folding cashmere instead of hanging it—something that often gets overlooked but really helps maintain its shape. One extra tip I’ve found helpful is laying cashmere flat on a dry towel and gently rolling it to remove excess water before air-drying, which speeds things up without stressing the fibers.
Washing cashmere requires gentle care! Hand wash in cold water with mild detergent, then lay flat to dry—never wring or hang. Your tip about using a mesh laundry bag for machine washing is genius for busy folks. That vinegar rinse trick to maintain softness? Absolute game-changer.
I always thought cashmere was a bit too delicate to wash at home, but after reading this, I feel more confident about hand-washing it. The drying tips are super helpful too—air drying seems so much gentler than machine drying!